TikTok’s typical users may be on the younger side, but 30-year-old photographer Alexander Stemplewski didn’t let that stop him from using the widely popular video-sharing app. In fact, he used it so well he’s now able to make photography and social media a source of income.

Key to Rapid Growth

Insider | Alexander the Great belongs to a particular subgenre of photographer and videographer TikTok users

Stemplewski, who’s also known as Alexander the Great on the platform, has amazingly amassed over three million TikTok followers in just three months. But how did he manage to do that?

The creative is not like many of the top influencers on the Beijing-made app. While others were making comedic short videos shown over music, Stemplewski put his photography skills to walk by creating a unique brand of street photography. He goes on walks and gets strangers as well as popular influencers to pose for him for photos and that led to his growth on the app. His influence has even led to other users copying his style.

Photography’s Popularity

TikTok | The photographer also uses unconventional photography props to create his portraits (right)

With photography being a popular topic on the platform, hashtags like #photographyeveryday, which Stemplewski actually prefers to use, garner more than 690 million views. Meanwhile, content tagged with the more general #photographer gets almost a billion views.

As the TikTok photographer revealed, he knew that the organic reach on the platform was phenomenal. Eventually, he figured out that street photography performed really well thereafter he’s produced a lot of content. Stemplewski was then approached by a TikTok creator manager who reportedly helped him grow his following. More importantly, the manager gave him advice on how to use the app for business opportunities.

How He Earns

Unsplash | Stemplewski does his photography coaching via Skype calls

Thanks to that, Steplewski can now do TikTok and photography full time. He’s actually already decided to leave his job as an insurance actuary recently so that he can focus on his new venture. At the moment, the influencer has three main sources of income from his TikTok fame. For starters, he gets paid for using certain songs in his videos.

He’s also looking to earn from doing brand partnerships like other influencers and is in the midst of closing a $5,000 sponsorship deal. Lastly, he teaches an eight-week photography program where he coaches others to do what he does.