Money

Making money

Making money - the easy way

Vintage camera

Have you ever thought how knowledge and experience gained in one field can often open opportunities in other areas? This happened to one person by accident, rather than design, writes business expert Frances Kay

David Kirby is a successful photographer whose interest in the subject started aged nine, when he won a ten shilling postal order as a school prize.

With it, he bought the Ilford Manual of Photography at the local book shop - and never looked back. His photographs sell all over the world, appearing in magazines, calendars, on book covers, greetings cards and posters.

Because he had always enjoyed creating unusual photographic images, he developed the skill of achieving exotic effects with limited means. This often involved modifying or building his own equipment such as special effect filters, lenses and cameras. He never expected this self-taught expertise would become a lifeline.

But one terrible evening, some years ago, his farmhouse and outbuildings caught fire. Within moments most of his possessions and life time's work went up in smoke.

This is a devastating experience for anyone. David had to deal with not only getting life back to normal, overseeing the huge project of rebuilding his home in traditional style, but also how to earn a living with no equipment or facilities. In desperation he had the idea of replacing some photographic equipment by hand building specialist cameras. His first project was a field camera, in mahogany with highly polished brass for the fittings. When a number of colleagues and photographic studios started expressing interest in it, he realised he had stumbled on a new enterprise.

David makes each camera in his specially designed workshop in one of the outbuildings at his home. These ‘modern antiques’ are increasingly popular with landscape photographers and David has enjoyed a steady stream of orders ever since. He has the best of both worlds, a regular demand for his photographs and a full order book for his cameras. What an ideal situation for anyone to be in, particularly someone who's just celebrated his 75th birthday. See the website www.raymentkirbycameras.co.uk

If you have an abiding passion that you’ve always enjoyed, or are particularly experienced in some area, you might find it possible to turn that skill into a profitable business. When you reach the magic age of retirement, remember you are only limited by the breadth of your imagination - anything is possible.

* Frances Kay is the editor of The Good Non Retirement Guide 2008, published by Kogan Page, www.koganpage.com, paperback, 544 pages, £16.99.

* The Good Non Retirement Guide 2008 is available as a special offer to Saga readers. To obtain 20% off the retail price (postage & package are not included in the offer) readers should call or email the distributor, LBS, on 01903 828503 or mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote Reference code MF322.