I was curious if anyone is actually selling prints through their websites. I only recently (beginning of this year) started offering prints for sale on my website. I currently use Photoshelter to sell prints but am thinking about switching to something different because it is rather expensive, not to mention I've only had a couple of sales. What are some other good photo sites that allow you to sell prints (and control sell fufillment of photo printing) and can also be customized+integrated into your own website, and that are less expensive than Photoshelter ($30+/month)?
I have sold 1 print through my blog and am in talks w/an iphone app developer on the use of another and have a pretty low following (100 hits/month --> not unique hits)
If you really want to sell prints you have to do shows or have them in a gallery or something. In general, just having a link to contact you to purchase a print is probably going to generate just as many sales as having a whole integrated setup... I have the whole cart setup from WideRange galleries, and still, nearly every online purchase starts with the buyer sending me an email asking for info regarding buying a print.
Posted by Zack Schnepf on June 13, 2010 at 11:36 PM
I think Floris is right on the money here. I do sell some prints through my site with just a link to my email. He's also right about generating print sales. Not many photographers make a ton of print sales online. if you really want to generate print sales you need to have a gallery show or fine art show. That's my experience anyway.
Hey Zack, the only place you will make a large volume of print sales is through the art show circuit. Online sales are very low, and most art gallery foot traffic is also to low to make much in sales. My small art shows draw ten thousand people and the large one draw up too a half a million. So your chances of selling at these shows is much greater then in the galleries. If you do the art shows your work better be very good, because you will have a lot of competition, (sometimes up to twenty or twenty five other photographers for customers to pick from. I know photographers that have gone into the business and failed big time because their work couldn't compete. So it's not a guarantee to make sales, you still have to be a excellent photographer to make it in this business, but then you have to be an excellent photographer if you what to make it in any venue.
Ditto to what Mike and others have said. A web site is useful, however. I had on lady stop by my booth to purchase a piece who said she had been looking at it on my site for 2 years.
Larry Reitz
I use Smugmug. They are one among several that provide a similar service. Their fee for a 'Pro' site is less than half what you are now paying. They take care of the printing and the commerce end of things with guaranteed satisfaction and take a commision on sales. I don't have to deal with credit cards, shipping, etc. for unsigned, unmounted prints.
I also found their print service to be faster, less expensive, and better quality than other on-line and local print services I've tried. (I'm not sure what you mean by "control sell fulfulment")
Almost all of my sales have been to folks who I had a face to face contact with and who later purchased prints. I did make a sale of a usage license to an advertising agency who found an image with a keyword search. The Smugmug site has more than paid for itself, but I'm certainly not making a living at it. Business wise, I think of my website as nothing more than a brochure. How many business could survive from the sales generated by their brochure alone?
I've actually made a couple of out-of-the-blue sales through my NPN portfolio.
Art shows are where you make the money as others have said, but I will re-emphasize the need to have amazing images and amazing displays. Many of the high-end photographer booths will have over $1000 in each of their large framed pieces with the custom frames, etc. Their booths will look like a peter lik gallery with lights, carpets, etc. This is important to remember when apply to art shows because these are the guys you are competing against to get into the high end shows where the big money is (they require images of your booth setup).
Posted by Jim Sabiston on June 14, 2010 at 2:15 PM
Zack,
I'll echo the general trend here. I do make some sales through my web site, but the rare one is the one that occurs without some direct contact before the sale. I recently had a first when I received a multiprint order within a few hours of posting an image in the NPN Man & Nature gallery (see 'Before The Mast' in my Gallery) and the purchaser contacted me through the NPN site - so it does happen! The web site is generally a marketing tool as it seems necessary these days to give you some legitimacy when presenting yourself. I had ashow yesterday and virtually every visitor requested the web site info and a business card. Some of these will generate sales.
Most of my sales come from three venues: Galleries and gallery shows and outdoor shows. Gallerie sales (where I have some wall or bin presence pretty much all the time) generate a nice monthly income, but as mentioned, is subject to the 30-40% commission rate. Still, they are sales that I otherwise would not make and there is the benefit of constant, if somewhat low key, exposure. Gallery shows ar eless frequent, bu tI tend to move a fair number of prints when I happen to be in one (10 prints at a recent holiday show - still subject to commision, but prices tend to be a bit higher in that environment).
The real meat (for me) is in the outdoor art show sales. The primary overhead is travel costs, booth/display set up and entry fees. You will have to learn which are the best shows and eventually you will learn what type of image sells in each show. Some shows sell smaller images and cards best. More art oriented shows are better for larger prints, etc. One thing I've learned is that images of local subject matter draws a LOT more interest and sales. I've been doing these shows (up to 4-5 a season now and growing) for 4 years now and I'm still learning.
Hope that helps a bit! I'm also becoming convinced that my gregarious wife may well be my best salesperson!
Overall, I sell few prints over the web, but the web has directed a few folks into the gallery where my prints are located. IMO, most people want to see first hand what they're buying, unless you're a known quanitity, ie, Galen, Ansel, Guy Tal, etc. I've never tried the art show circuit so I can't opine on that.
I make a few sales through my website, but most are made at my art shows. I currently have two shows going, and some people will order prints online after seeing my show, but I don't know that I've made any sales from people who had never seen my work before. I have put paypal on my site, and then once I hear from paypal that someone has bought something, I will print it and ship it to them. This is nice because I don't have to pay a monthly fee. Hope this helps!
-Cam
Hi Zack, to begin by answering your question, any site that offers ecommerce is as good as the next when it comes to selling your work online. It can be a challenge to find the one that fits your needs I agree, but all the typical template based websites catered towards photographers seem to be about even when it comes to just the selling option. That is the main reason I am moving away from the smugmug, photoshelter, photium, ifp3, zenfolio ect. they all offer pretty much the exact same thing just make it look different. Template based slow loading flash pages are horrible when it comes to a clean professional looking fast loading website for photography. Not to mention anyone finding your website through general searches say for "nature photography" will be non-existent. You know the second you see one of these "typical" template sites just from the common look and in my opinion cheapens the look of ones work. Your photography is a very personal expression, your website should be as well.
I believe websites are of value to show examples of work. Minimum sales can be made directly but that should not be the reason you have a website. It was from setting down with a client and viewing images on my website that I was able to make a sizable sale. This would never have happened without some kind of personal contact.
Most have commented that the only way to obtain good sales is from art shows. I would strongly disagree with that. It can be "One" way to increase sales but to say you have to do shows is simply not true. The same goes for having prints in a gallery, again one avenue for sales (be it small) but absolutely not the only way. Combine the two and of course you increase you chances of sales.
What strikes me about the comments is there are no mention of proper marketing. Art like any commodity needs to be marketed properly. I have had personal contact with 3 photographers who make a very nice annual income (well into the 6 figure mark) two of which do no art shows and have no intention of doing them and the third who only does an occasional big show locally. He does well at the show but then again he has thousands of dollars in prints in which to choose from.
How do they make their income, simple, they market properly. They know their customers and they market to them. I would say stop worrying about which cookie cutter website to use and start concentrating on how to get your work in front of the people who are looking for your work. That is really the secret to sales. Find the buyers, the competition is way to great to wait for them to find you no matter what kind of website you have.
This forum is "Photo Marketing" I posted this question a few months back about exactly that. The how, what and whys of marketing ones photography. I had 2 great reply's, one from Hank P. and one which happened to come from Charlie Borland. Charlie then posted the same question on his blog Pro Nature Photographer (that link will take you to the question posted by Charlie). This time with NO comments from anyone about this subject. I have counted 11 comments you have received from asking a question about selling all telling you what website they use or you "have to" do art shows and put your work in galleries, really? Makes me wonder just how serious anyone really takes the subject of marketing, you know, sales/marketing, they kinda go together. Maybe they think it's just too much work.
There is one thing that I know for sure and have seen proof of it, the ones who do take marketing serious are the ones who get the sales.
You received very helpful comments to your question so I won't repeat what has already been said. It is clear that the number one factor in regards to success in sales is your marketing. To keep this short, let me say this: If you do not market your work, one thing will happen: nothing.
I mention this because I have seen too many photographers start a business and hope to make a good income without doing much, if any, marketing. Opening a website without doing any marketing is waiting for a miracle. Opening a gallery without doing any marketing is committing suicide.
You received very helpful comments to your question so I won't repeat what has already been said. It is clear that the number one factor in regards to success in sales is your marketing. To keep this short, let me say this: If you do not market your work, one thing will happen: nothing.
I mention this because I have seen too many photographers start a business and hope to make a good income without doing much, if any, marketing. Opening a website without doing any marketing is waiting for a miracle. Opening a gallery without doing any marketing is committing suicide.
You received very helpful comments to your question so I won't repeat what has already been said. It is clear that the number one factor in regards to success in sales is your marketing. To keep this short, let me say this: If you do not market your work, one thing will happen: nothing.
I mention this because I have seen too many photographers start a business and hope to make a good income without doing much, if any, marketing. Opening a website without doing any marketing is waiting for a miracle. Opening a gallery without doing any marketing is committing suicide.
Discussion
14 repliesLarry Reitz
I use Smugmug. They are one among several that provide a similar service. Their fee for a 'Pro' site is less than half what you are now paying. They take care of the printing and the commerce end of things with guaranteed satisfaction and take a commision on sales. I don't have to deal with credit cards, shipping, etc. for unsigned, unmounted prints.
I also found their print service to be faster, less expensive, and better quality than other on-line and local print services I've tried. (I'm not sure what you mean by "control sell fulfulment")
Almost all of my sales have been to folks who I had a face to face contact with and who later purchased prints. I did make a sale of a usage license to an advertising agency who found an image with a keyword search. The Smugmug site has more than paid for itself, but I'm certainly not making a living at it. Business wise, I think of my website as nothing more than a brochure. How many business could survive from the sales generated by their brochure alone?
I've actually made a couple of out-of-the-blue sales through my NPN portfolio.
I'll echo the general trend here. I do make some sales through my web site, but the rare one is the one that occurs without some direct contact before the sale. I recently had a first when I received a multiprint order within a few hours of posting an image in the NPN Man & Nature gallery (see 'Before The Mast' in my Gallery) and the purchaser contacted me through the NPN site - so it does happen! The web site is generally a marketing tool as it seems necessary these days to give you some legitimacy when presenting yourself. I had ashow yesterday and virtually every visitor requested the web site info and a business card. Some of these will generate sales.
Most of my sales come from three venues: Galleries and gallery shows and outdoor shows. Gallerie sales (where I have some wall or bin presence pretty much all the time) generate a nice monthly income, but as mentioned, is subject to the 30-40% commission rate. Still, they are sales that I otherwise would not make and there is the benefit of constant, if somewhat low key, exposure. Gallery shows ar eless frequent, bu tI tend to move a fair number of prints when I happen to be in one (10 prints at a recent holiday show - still subject to commision, but prices tend to be a bit higher in that environment).
The real meat (for me) is in the outdoor art show sales. The primary overhead is travel costs, booth/display set up and entry fees. You will have to learn which are the best shows and eventually you will learn what type of image sells in each show. Some shows sell smaller images and cards best. More art oriented shows are better for larger prints, etc. One thing I've learned is that images of local subject matter draws a LOT more interest and sales. I've been doing these shows (up to 4-5 a season now and growing) for 4 years now and I'm still learning.
Hope that helps a bit! I'm also becoming convinced that my gregarious wife may well be my best salesperson!
-Cam
I believe websites are of value to show examples of work. Minimum sales can be made directly but that should not be the reason you have a website. It was from setting down with a client and viewing images on my website that I was able to make a sizable sale. This would never have happened without some kind of personal contact.
Most have commented that the only way to obtain good sales is from art shows. I would strongly disagree with that. It can be "One" way to increase sales but to say you have to do shows is simply not true. The same goes for having prints in a gallery, again one avenue for sales (be it small) but absolutely not the only way. Combine the two and of course you increase you chances of sales.
What strikes me about the comments is there are no mention of proper marketing. Art like any commodity needs to be marketed properly. I have had personal contact with 3 photographers who make a very nice annual income (well into the 6 figure mark) two of which do no art shows and have no intention of doing them and the third who only does an occasional big show locally. He does well at the show but then again he has thousands of dollars in prints in which to choose from.
How do they make their income, simple, they market properly. They know their customers and they market to them. I would say stop worrying about which cookie cutter website to use and start concentrating on how to get your work in front of the people who are looking for your work. That is really the secret to sales. Find the buyers, the competition is way to great to wait for them to find you no matter what kind of website you have.
This forum is "Photo Marketing" I posted this question a few months back about exactly that. The how, what and whys of marketing ones photography. I had 2 great reply's, one from Hank P. and one which happened to come from Charlie Borland. Charlie then posted the same question on his blog Pro Nature Photographer (that link will take you to the question posted by Charlie). This time with NO comments from anyone about this subject. I have counted 11 comments you have received from asking a question about selling all telling you what website they use or you "have to" do art shows and put your work in galleries, really? Makes me wonder just how serious anyone really takes the subject of marketing, you know, sales/marketing, they kinda go together. Maybe they think it's just too much work.
There is one thing that I know for sure and have seen proof of it, the ones who do take marketing serious are the ones who get the sales.
You received very helpful comments to your question so I won't repeat what has already been said. It is clear that the number one factor in regards to success in sales is your marketing. To keep this short, let me say this: If you do not market your work, one thing will happen: nothing.
I mention this because I have seen too many photographers start a business and hope to make a good income without doing much, if any, marketing. Opening a website without doing any marketing is waiting for a miracle. Opening a gallery without doing any marketing is committing suicide.
Alain Briot
You received very helpful comments to your question so I won't repeat what has already been said. It is clear that the number one factor in regards to success in sales is your marketing. To keep this short, let me say this: If you do not market your work, one thing will happen: nothing.
I mention this because I have seen too many photographers start a business and hope to make a good income without doing much, if any, marketing. Opening a website without doing any marketing is waiting for a miracle. Opening a gallery without doing any marketing is committing suicide.
Alain Briot
You received very helpful comments to your question so I won't repeat what has already been said. It is clear that the number one factor in regards to success in sales is your marketing. To keep this short, let me say this: If you do not market your work, one thing will happen: nothing.
I mention this because I have seen too many photographers start a business and hope to make a good income without doing much, if any, marketing. Opening a website without doing any marketing is waiting for a miracle. Opening a gallery without doing any marketing is committing suicide.
Alain Briot