Page 341 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

“

G

UESS I’m lucky,” replied Aaron Rubino, San Mateo (California) Junior
College “frosh” when asked how he had succeeded so well with the side line
to his premedical course. A smiling, black-haired giant of nineteen, Rube, as
he is known, takes pictures with a Graflex plate camera—pictures that sell.
Photography always interested him but it became his hobby in 1935

when he was given a photo finishing outfit. He went to football games and
snapped highlight plays. One Saturday on the field he asked a photographer
for help in getting a picture. The man was star camera man for the San
Francisco Chronicle. He not only gave the advice but told Rube to come to
the office any time he needed information. Rube did, a friendship developed,
and today that newspaper man is a friend of the Rubino family.

The boy spent every spare moment taking and developing pictures. He was
getting orders. He specialized in athletic subjects because he was so “keen”
about sports.

One day he showed some pictures to the sports editor of the Chronicle who
accepted them and offered to buy others as good. Rube submitted them by the
dozen, gaining the liking of the editorial staff by his perseverance and
enthusiasm. He was given use of the dark room and the benefit of expert
advice. At first he supplied his own films and paid his way to photographed
events—many times wasted effort when his photos didn’t sell. But today he
rarely has a failure and the newspaper gives him assignments and pays for
films in addition to pictures used. He has a press badge, gets free passes to all
athletic events, and knows practically every newspaperman in town.

Being “with the staff but not of it” is an advantage, he points out. The free
lance can sell prints and retain his negative, something a staff photographer
cannot do. Rube sells to the United Press, Associated Press, Wide World, and
other good markets. Here are his suggestions to prospective free lance camera