Selling photo's - is it worth it?

[danic]

I know there are some fantastic photographers out there and a stack of them are on this site. I'm curious as to how many people sell their photo's, other than paid work such as portraits and weddings. I'm more interested in whether people sell photo's of landscapes, macro work, etc etc. Basically everything else that isn't commissioned work.

Do you sell many? Is it worth the expense? Any thoughts?

[Frog]

I don't know but hoping to find out. Been looking at zenfolio since I got one of Mpix s emails advertising it and their connection with it. Has to be worth a hundred dollars for a year to find out, eh.

[jetrim]

Has to be worth a hundred dollars for a year to find out, eh.

Well, that's a heck of a lot cheaper than the little art festivals around here! They start at @ $1500 for the weekend.

I host my photos in a little folder in the back of one of my commercial websites. If you know a little about the mechanics of how hosted websites work, there are some good applications out there that are free and have built-in e-commerce modules. I'm currently using Gallery2 which I like much better than Coppermine (which I had been using for the past 3 years) and it offers a number of ways to sell photos if I ever decided to dabble in it.

BUT

If you're not that tech savy, I've heard nothing but good things about zenfolio, and for what they're offering, $100 is not a ripoff. I'm paying $109 a year for my commercial site, and that doesn't include the SSL for credit card processing or the domain name registration - and that's a deal.

[danic]

Thanks for your input.

I'm just wondering with the amount of how-to's on the internet, whether selling your own photo's has been an easy process, or one that is rather frustrating. I can imagine a lot of people out there believing they can take great photo's, and perhaps even sell them on. Not saying I am ready to start my own website, I am far from it and I realise this.

I'm curious as to what others think...?

[mjs1973]

I'm just wondering with the amount of how-to's on the internet, whether selling your own photo's has been an easy process, or one that is rather frustrating.

Perhaps this is a thread more suited to the Photo Business Forum?

At times it has been pretty easy, and other times it's been frustrating.

I started selling my work 2 years ago. I started out very simple. I would print 4x6 photos, and make them into greeting cards. I would take them to the local Farmers Market on Saturday mornings and set up a table to sell them for $3 each. I got a lot of good feedback and eventually started taking some framed prints with me. Gradually, the cards went in a display rack and the framed, an matted prints took over all of my table space. I had pretty good luck selling things at the market. When not at the market, I set my card rack up in a local gift store. That was kind of frustrating. The sales at the gift store were not as good as I had hoped. I live in a very "artsy" town, and I was expecting more.

Last year, the company I work for put on 2 farmers markes/arts & craft fairs. I was a vendor at both, and it was the first time I used a 10x10 canopy to set up my booth. Both the feedback and the sales were very good. Last fall I also participated in my fist big Art Fair. I had to apply and be jurried into the show. It was an outdoor show and the weather was perfect all weekend. I managed to sell over $1000 worth of my work in the 2 days.

Now I have a selection of my work in 2 different stores in town that cater more to the tourists and things have been going good. Still not the sales I would like to see, but worth the effort.

So in the end, I do find it a rewarding experience, both financially, as well as the sense of personal satisfaction I get from seeing others enjoy my work.

One thing that I have found to be very helpful with my sales is to have a wide selection. I sell mostly nature and landscape images, but I don't focus on one particular thing. For example, I don't just shoot deer. I have a wide variety of things for the customers to choose from. I think that makes a huge difference. Having a wide range in prices also helps. I have bookmarks with my photos on them that I sell for $2 and I have framed prints that I sell for several hundred dollars. So I have something to offer in a wide range of prices.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any more questions you might have.

[danic]

Cheers Mike

That was the sort of thing I was after. Perhaps it's something I can look at in the next few years, as a goal.

Thanks!

[Mr Yuck]

My tip is to find a niche.

I took my camera to autocross (amateur budget car racing) and eventually graduated from cone-runner to club photographer. Some drivers asked me for prints...and then others saw that I was selling them....and now I sell enough to pay for my weekends of racing.

I also attend track days, and though I don't drive those, I get the occasional ride along in a fast car and have sold quite a few prints.

So yeah, I combined two hobbies and they are beginning to cancel the cost of each-other out, I'd say it's worth it.

[mn shutterbug]

Mjs pretty much summed it up. I pretty much use the same tactics as Mike, although with less success. Arts and Crafts shows in Minnesota are a real crap shoot. Some you make money at and others, you lose money. Versatility is important, as Mike stated. I have 98% bird photos, so the area I'm selling in is very important. I have a new idea that I'm going to attempt this year. I'm going to go to the customers instead of waiting for them to come to me. Ever heard of door to door sales?

One more advantage besides what Mike mentioned, and this is a biggie, is all your equipment and mileage etc., can now be written off your taxes. I logged almost 8000 miles last year, mainly looking for birds, and it turned into a real nice tax deduction.

Mike, you get $2 for your bookmarks? I think I'm going to have to start selling in Wi, where people have money.

[mjs1973]

Mike, you get $2 for your bookmarks? I think I'm going to have to start selling in Wi, where people have money.

Yup, that's what I have been charging. I would still be making money if I sold them for less, but I didn't want to have to deal with change.

The tax deductions are a mixed bag for me. Yes it's nice to be able to write stuff off, but it's also a pain in the butt if you don't keep real good records. For example, the speedometer/odometer in my truck doesn't work, so I have to guess and my mileage. Figuring out where my expenses go is also frustrating. Keeping track of my inventory is also a pain in the butt. You would thin that with a degree in business management that I would have a better handle on this kind of stuff, but the truth is, it's just not fun. I would rather be out taking photos, than dealing with the business side. It can take a fun hobby, and turn it into a job. It's still worth it in the end though.