If you plan to become a freelance photographer, chances are you already have the necessary photography skills and editing programs (i.e. Photoshop) to produce good work. Now, how do you make people pay for what you produce? With photography, there are many different routes you could pursue, and by no means should you stick to just one.

1. The first step is to build your online portfolio. Before someone hires you for a gig, they will want to see the sort of work you produce and make sure it fits with their vision. These photos can simply be ones you took independently, but try to get others to comment on and review your work. The website that houses your portfolio should be professional and feature a wide range of your work. You should also draw attention to relevant work you've done in the past. The most effective personal photography websites tend to be minimalistic with as little text as possible and numerous high resolution photos to peruse. Example: The Photography Website of Brooklyn Artist, Joanne Leah. Here is a screenshot of Joanne Leah's Website:

   

   The fact that Joanne keeps it simple with a dark background and only barebones information, truly draws the eyes into the image and keeps viewers wanting to see more. Joanne happens to be an art photographer, but similar rules apply to those who want to freelance. You could include some of your rates as well (don't know what to charge? search around the Internet for going prices, or ask colleagues). Once you have your portfolio up, create social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.) that link back to your site to further promote your work. You want to create a following among friends and acquaintances. One way to do this is to connect with others photographers and businesses over Twitter ("tweet" at them to introduce yourself).

2. Stock photos. Yes, someone like you actually takes those photos and gets paid for doing so. One place to start is the website Society6. While not exactly a stock photo website, Society6 allows you to upload artwork and photos, for which you determine the price. Customers can then choose to use your image, whether for art prints or perhaps a shower curtain. Society6 takes care of the work and you retain the rights to your image, while making a profit. Warning: it takes a LOT of effort to get something like this off the ground to the point of being profitable. Some others websites to consider are covered here on this business blog. (Beware: there are many.)
3. Actively search for freelance photo jobs. Sometimes you will have to do a little more investigative work to find what's out there. Local and community newspapers are a great place to start as they often cannot afford to have a full-time staff photographer, and rely on people like you, which helps you build your portfolio. (You might even get to attend some exciting events!) Likewise, you can also approach media sources and offer your services. Look to get on board with websites that rely heavily on original work. You can also search for other freelance jobs on websites like JournalismJobs.com, and nearly every site listed in the "best resources" section. Ask your former colleagues where they're finding work. Once you build a relationship with your "employer," you will likely be asked to do more work in the future or continue working on an ongoing basis. It's essential to build a solid network, so always be timely and professional in your work.
4. Offer your services to friends and acquaintances for weddings, engagement/bridal/baby showers, children's birthday parties and more to get off the ground. Try to get in touch with an organization that might need a regular photographer (i.e. a concert house). Consider even starting with volunteer work. Nearly every professional photographer starts off with weddings and portraiture. This is a natural launching point for those who wish to freelance as well. Offer better prices than competitors (at first! don't sell yourself short!) but have a sampling of images ready to show clients. You could also post your services on websites like Craigslist. Submit to local contests to gain more recognition.
5. Put together a book! If you're more of an artistic photographer, look to collaborate with a small press or even self-publish to get your work into book format. You could even look into starting an online/print journal that may someday bring in a profit. Otherwise you could submit your work to similar such journals to get your name out there. Give out a certain number of complimentary copies wherever you get published. Please leave more advice below!