As I read it, the OP ask how to start - not how to make gold from day 1.
A TGP is a good start. To get familiar with the structure, organizing and sponsors. Then after 1 month +/-, he can expand to multiple domains and build up some traffic. If he make 100 dollars per month "only" per TGP, then 10,20 or 50 TGPs is still decent money, when it's all on autopilot. Hosting is cheap - so is TGP scripts now. And they support multiple domains. Fake blogs... Less costs...
When time is right, add movies and make combo "TGPs". Then both photo and movie promo is covered.
My general advice is:
- Stay organized on
everything from day 1 (mistake I've done
) Sponsors, codes, database, templates etc. So you can use it across domains and pages.
- Don't spend too much time on design. Surfers watch content, not your design. The simpler the better. Spend it rather on choosing the best content and best/undersaturated sponsors.
- Create portals on your MAIN site. Portals convert more than the galleries. You should guide, not "deliver".
- Make a balanced amount of archives or themes for the sites, and tag them.
- Don't fuck with the surfers.
- Don't fap to your own work.
...
Good luck.