How do you sell your prints? Anyone with any ideas or experience?

~nikkhidragonfly Jun 9, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

I have been doing photography for quite a while now and have quite a pile up of amazing photos I would like to sell, but I really do not know how to market myself. I have put some up for sale on etsy...and have made a photo book on lulu.com. I am not sure if I am moving in the right direction or not. I have also turned some photos into cards and have sold 4 out of 100! I have also sold a few prints just kind of randomly through friends and at a craft sale. I am sure there has got to be a few of you fellow photographers out there who have had success selling their prints and so I am putting my question out there...any advice?

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~nikkhidragonfly Jun 19, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

just thought I would add my 2 cents to the post updating my efforts. We have a local art gallery where you can become a member and submit works...this is looking good and I will be around other artists of all kinds which is great. I am not just a photographer, I actually specialize in fiber arts. But yes my photos can gain some interest. As well we have a local tourist program for studio tours...so if I open my studio to the public I can be put on the program list, which will also bring people to my farm, so YAY!!!! Also my local area has 0 local postcards...so....They will soon! I am really excited about this venture! I am thinking of starting up my own website when my hubby gets a chance to create it. The most exciting news though is that giving my book idea a bit of a push i have generated quite the interest in a larger hardcover coffee table type book and I am having some meeting with the publishers this week. To see my photos in print in a book would be a wonderful dream! To all you out there not knowing what to do with your photos or any other art...I have learned that you very much have to be your own marketer and keep pushing! I still have to keep pushing too! I have also taken some of the great advice here and turned my attention away from selling via random find on the net and selling in person(and marketing the stuff I have available online in person!) Cheers! <3

~photomark Jun 15, 2012 Hobbyist Photographer

I sell at markets as well as through a few gallery's , my bigger prints are in some demand as well because I still use a dark room I can do wall size prints that still have a lot of detail in them , biggest I have done is 2m x 1.2m and sold it for $2000.

Interesting to note that because of the decline in dark room printing I get more now than I have ever got for my prints, I just wish I had more time to print.

I dont sell a lot of prints personally as this is not my job so I can only do what time will allow me to do . I also moved house 5 months ago and have not got my dark room set up yet and it may be another 6 months until that is up and running again.

~nikkhidragonfly Jun 16, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Wow, yes film and self developing was my start oh so many years ago. I only did it as a rare hobby activity, but I really did enjoy it. That is so great you are keeping it up, and I hope you can get your equipment all set up nicely in your new place soon!...Thanks for sharing your journey and cmments!

`FallisPhoto Jun 15, 2012

Looking at your gallery, the only thing I can suggest is to look for a stock agency (and shoot a LOT).

~nikkhidragonfly Jun 16, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

please tell me more. I am somewhat familiar with stock photography, but not much as I do not do photoshop (do not even own a program...lol) What would make you think my stuff would be a good match for stock photos? Please help me understand, I am interested in this idea. When you look at my gallery what is your opinion?

`FallisPhoto Jun 16, 2012

Well, no offence, but the stuff in your gallery is very non-controversial and is the kind of stuff I am used to seeing in government buildings and doctor's offices. I wouldn't have a clue how to market something like that (it's way out of my area), but stock agencies do. As for owning a program, I'd suggest that you download a copy of Gimp (it's free) or at least something like Graphic Workshop Professional that will let you adjust color levels, contrast, sharpness and brightness.

~nikkhidragonfly Jun 16, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Oh that's great! I have often been comforted and inspired by wonderful photos in cafes and dr.s offices etc! I have no real desire to be controversial! I just want to add a moment of beauty and some happiness to otherwise empty spaces, and to share some of the amazing things I have seen! Looking at your gallery I can see we have very different styles. I am still interested in this stock photo idea, I will have to look into it. I had thought stockphotos were ones used for photoshopping, but I have since learned they are used for more than that. Thanks so much for the stock agent suggestion! I think it turn out well! I looked into Gimp but I cannot seem to get it going with Linux...ah well...Maybe one day I will buy photoshop. Who knows.

`FallisPhoto Jun 17, 2012

Well, you at least need some kind of basic program that will allow you to adjust color levels, saturation, contrast, and brightness. The problem is that the manufacturers of digital cameras purposely set them to have low contrast, low saturation and they have too much brightness. They do this because they want to capture as much detail as possible in the highlights and in the shadows. Unfortunately, this leaves most photos looking washed out and milky. You are expected to adjust this in post editing so it will restore the color, depth and value needed to make it more appealing to the eye. Not editing your photos is not a virtue.

^Kaz-D Jun 15, 2012 Hobbyist Photographer

HI!
You've been featured -> [link]
Enjoy

~nikkhidragonfly Jun 16, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

o wow, thanks for helping to get this post some attention...I am sure my question is a common one and hopefully the answers found here will help some other folks out there too!

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