Selling, avenues and what works

shadowraven · 12-26-2008, 10:47 AM

I've been trying to break into the retail side of photo sales. I have looked at the stock photo sites, I've also looked at other photographer sites to get ideas. I see various sites offering yearly subscriptions to a upload and sell format professional websites (zenfolio, smugmug). I see people just offering to sell what they have via email link and paypal.

My questions:

1. What sites seem to work the best for selling
2. How much should one ask for prints
3. Where is the best place to get stuff printed...I've used Apple and I'm waiting on Mpix
4. Any other suggestions?

Frogroast · 12-27-2008, 02:03 AM

1. What sites seem to work the best for selling

Be careful here - I will not recommend any because each one has terms and conditions that you must adhere to, including legal matters, copyrights, licensing of your work, releases, etc. Some stock photography websites require you to give them exclusive use of your images for a certain period of time or pay fees for them hosting your images, then give them a cut of any sales. Read the fine print and look around carefully, then when you think you found one, read up on reviews and opinions.

2. How much should one ask for prints

That's entirely up to you - you know how much prints cost you, but how much are you willing to sell them for? Some pro photographers ask $30-$40 for an 8x10, while some ask for $10. They both probably pay the same for the actual print, but for whatever reason one deems that print to be worth so much more.

Another suggestion would be to start low, then as you start selling, increase your prices gradually.

Do remember that most people who buy stock want to buy digital rights, so you also need to think of how you will handle digital requests, licensing, copyrights, charge per use, etc.

3. Where is the best place to get stuff printed...I've used Apple and I'm waiting on Mpix.

I can say this: If you're going to sell your prints, I strongly suggest staying away from the consumer print places like kodak.com, snapfish, walmart.com, etc and stick to pro-printing houses.

There are at least a dozen nationally advertised print labs out there who will provide you with top-quality prints of images from a 1"x1" to a billboard sized print. I've heard good things about MPix, Collages.net, WHCC, etc, but some will offer items you can't get at the other places. Find out which pro-printing lab will do what you require, then go from there. Most will give you 3-5 preview prints (mostly 8x10 or smaller) to try.

I personally use WHCC for all my for-pay work but once in a while I will go to a local photo lab to get last minute/can't wait/small quantity prints.

4. Any other suggestions?

Don't expect to make any money right away - it just takes a long time to get yourself established and sell prints.
You might sell more via stock-photography than actual prints online. It's just the nature of the business. Companies need good stock to reuse in their adverts and promotion. None will buy a print, but they will buy a JPG/TIFF.
Forget selling prints online - sell local. You might do much better by offering your prints at local art shows, craft shows, fairs, etc.
Protect your work - many people out there think that just because they bought a print, it gives them the right to duplicate and distribute.
See first bullet, rinse, repeat.

Hope this helps!