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Any easy way to sell photos?
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Sep 25, 2016 16:52:54   #
eyebidder
 
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many different cameras over the years from Mamiya, Hasselblad, Bronica, Nikon F, and just recently got a D7000. Recently retired since April and would love to get back to shooting every day. D7000 was in my budget so I was not able to get any upgrade but I think the 7000 is plenty of camera for me. Also have a Nikon 35mm 1.8 and a Nikon 18-70 f3.5 DX.

Well, I'd like to supplement my retirement income with some photo sales. I was going to try the online stock photo places and see what they might be able to do for me. Not sure where else to go so if anyone has any suggestions I'd love the advice!

D7200 18-70 f3.5
D7200  18-70 f3.5...

D7200 18-70 f3.5
D7200  18-70 f3.5...

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Sep 25, 2016 17:49:20   #
mas24 Loc: Southern CA
 
You have to have a knack to be successful in doing this. Those that have the knack, gets the snacks. $$

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Sep 25, 2016 19:34:12   #
SharpShooter Loc: NorCal
 
Eye, welcome to the Hog!
My answer might be a bit different, but it will work.
Your question was heavily laden with equipment dropping. Selling pics is not about equipment. Selling photographs is about unique and striking composition.
Now that you're retired, you've probably got the time. So look around and find yourself a community college, 4 year college or art university with a GOOD photography program. Enroll in that program and about 10 classes later you'll have the answer to your question.
The secret is to immerse yourself in composition heavy course-work, not cameras.
Also find a large PSA(Photographic Society of America) club that is heavy into the competition end of photography and NEVER miss a competition. That will also hone your skills very quickly. When you consistently win competitions, your composition is good.
It still won't be easy, but you'll have a leg up and a fighting chance!!!
Again, welcome to the Hog and good luck!
SS

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Sep 25, 2016 22:36:05   #
Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC
 
"Any easy way to sell photos?" Simply exceed the expectations of your clients...

Best advice? Child and family portraiture is and has been the leading source of revenue for commercial photographers...
What to strive for is primarily a customer for life... i.e. shoot a senior portraiture, then save the date, the wedding event and then their children...

The traditional route into commercial photography? Assisting other top commercial shooters in your market...

Stock Agencies? They want imagery of people in their work place... known as environmental portraiture...

While you example imagery is aesthetically pleasing it has virtual little if any commercial worth/value...
Simply Google "top landscape photographers" and behold your competition... You are not at that level nor will you likely get there with a camera... Commercial work is 80% (and more) post production... Landscape is nearly all a result of high end HDR processing and stitched panoramas... At this juncture you would be well advised to master Adobe Photoshop if you are serious about competing in the commercial side of the still photography equation... Please keep in mind that video is the major market now, stills are disappearing faster than snowflakes on a Phoenix sidewalk in August...

btw, I'm only the messenger here...
Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Please enjoy your retirement, k?
Thanks!

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Sep 26, 2016 07:41:28   #
russelray Loc: La Mesa CA
 
A few years ago I wanted to completely change my career, at the age of 59. Since I've been a marketing guru for a few decades I knew that it would not be difficult, just time-consuming, but since I was working 8 hours a day anyway, no big deal. I needed my new career to replace the income from my old career to the tune of about $10,000 a month, so I set that as my goal, and I wanted to do it in 3 years. It took less than three years. When I saw that I was well on my way, I shared my tactics with everyone here. See this thread; it's still relevant: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-327835-1.html

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Sep 26, 2016 08:05:10   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
eyebidder wrote:
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many different cameras over the years from Mamiya, Hasselblad, Bronica, Nikon F, and just recently got a D7000. Recently retired since April and would love to get back to shooting every day. D7000 was in my budget so I was not able to get any upgrade but I think the 7000 is plenty of camera for me. Also have a Nikon 35mm 1.8 and a Nikon 18-70 f3.5 DX.

Well, I'd like to supplement my retirement income with some photo sales. I was going to try the online stock photo places and see what they might be able to do for me. Not sure where else to go so if anyone has any suggestions I'd love the advice!
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many d... (show quote)


If you get an "in" with a stock photo company, you could make some money, but it's a crap shoot. We used to go to NH in the summer, and while out sailing one day, I thought of a good name for a photo company: Keel Shots. I would motor alongside a sailboat as it heeled over and showed its keel. Fortunately, I came to my senses before I bought a power boat, etc. Motoring around a large lake and shooting boats and passing out business cards might get you some business, but it's an iffy situation. I've never seen anyone on the lake taking pictures of boats, so you could be the first. Of course, there's always the chance that you'll get a shot of the boss on his yacht with his beautiful young secretary. That could be good or bad. You could blackmail him, or he might put out a contract on you.

I read a book written by the "world's greatest salesman." He sold cars, and he left his business cards absolutely everywhere.

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Sep 26, 2016 08:27:00   #
dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl
 
eyebidder wrote:
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many different cameras over the years from Mamiya, Hasselblad, Bronica, Nikon F, and just recently got a D7000. Recently retired since April and would love to get back to shooting every day. D7000 was in my budget so I was not able to get any upgrade but I think the 7000 is plenty of camera for me. Also have a Nikon 35mm 1.8 and a Nikon 18-70 f3.5 DX.

Well, I'd like to supplement my retirement income with some photo sales. I was going to try the online stock photo places and see what they might be able to do for me. Not sure where else to go so if anyone has any suggestions I'd love the advice!
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many d... (show quote)


As others have said on here, selling photos is a difficult crap shoot. I have seen many excellent photos and photographers that will never be "professional" because they haven't found a buyer or steady buyers. I have also seen "photographers" that are "professional" only because they have the right connections but what WE on here would say were lousy photos. You have to develop a network of buyers whether it is a relationship with a stock company, a "framing service" that sells pictures in frames to local housewives and decorators, etc. If you go the rout of stock photos and framing services, don't expect to get top dollar for your images as they have to have room in the pricing to resell the photos.
Personally, I am fortunate to live in an area of Florida that has quite a few large houses (mansions) and a few contacts that are Realtors with large budgets. I shoot quite a few real estate shots for the realtors and that is basically by developing a relationship, taking an interest in my customers (both the realtor and the home owner), helping with the staging of the house (never shoot a house as the customer left it because they "LIVE IN THE HOUSE" and never give the house that "magazine" look. I and my wife (who has a great eye for staging, go through the house and remove "personal items", move plants, hide dirty dishes, make sure the beds are made and all of the other stuff (including making sure the pets are in the garage and out of the shots). As I mentioned, your buyer has to have confidence in your images and that they are going to be of value. You've seen stock photos that you've said, "wow, I can't believe someone paid money for that!!" and you've seen photos that you've said "wow! I wish I had been there to take that!!". We all have. But, that great photo is just a member of your portfolio until you actually have a buyer and they are hard to find and cultivate.

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Sep 26, 2016 09:13:19   #
Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA
 
I am retired and began selling my pictures at local art shows while I was still working. You have to invest in a 10x10 foot tent and other display paraphernalia which all cost $$$. Its a lot of physical labor, but it is encouraging to have total strangers say nice things your pictures. A few people seem to be making money, but I wouldn't recommend it as an income supplement!

If it was easy to make money online, we would all be rich by now. Sadly, that just doesn't seem to happen.

In my area, shooting weddings will make you some money. I shot many weddings with a D7000, and my customers were very happy with the shots. You can start out by shooting weddings for friends and relatives for a reasonable price. I started at $300 for 3 hours. Many people today just want a jump drive full of pictures, and they go online and build a book and get a few prints. The more weddings you shoot, you may want to invest some of your earnings in flashes, portrait lenses, and so on. I learned a long time ago that the secret to success is hard work. For me, retirement gave me the time to focus on things that were important to ME instead of somebody else. GO FOR IT!

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Sep 26, 2016 10:56:08   #
JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco
 
eyebidder wrote:
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many different cameras over the years from Mamiya, Hasselblad, Bronica, Nikon F, and just recently got a D7000. Recently retired since April and would love to get back to shooting every day. D7000 was in my budget so I was not able to get any upgrade but I think the 7000 is plenty of camera for me. Also have a Nikon 35mm 1.8 and a Nikon 18-70 f3.5 DX.

Well, I'd like to supplement my retirement income with some photo sales. I was going to try the online stock photo places and see what they might be able to do for me. Not sure where else to go so if anyone has any suggestions I'd love the advice!
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many d... (show quote)


Your photos are well done, but fairly generic scenic shots. There is an oversupply of those, and they have to be really exceptional to make money in stock. If you can find some niche subject you will do better. People shots, and especially occupational or lifestyle photos are in shorter supply. Of course, then you have to find subjects, get model releases, etc. Years ago I went to a seminar with a very successful stock photographer who specialized in health industry shots. He would approach hospitals or health care facilities and offer to shoot their people working and let them use the shots for their own publicity in exchange for the rights to use them for stock and the model releases.

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Sep 26, 2016 11:06:07   #
JPL
 
SharpShooter wrote:
Eye, welcome to the Hog!
My answer might be a bit different, but it will work.
Your question was heavily laden with equipment dropping. Selling pics is not about equipment. Selling photographs is about unique and striking composition.
Now that you're retired, you've probably got the time. So look around and find yourself a community college, 4 year college or art university with a GOOD photography program. Enroll in that program and about 10 classes later you'll have the answer to your question.
The secret is to immerse yourself in composition heavy course-work, not cameras.
Also find a large PSA(Photographic Society of America) club that is heavy into the competition end of photography and NEVER miss a competition. That will also hone your skills very quickly. When you consistently win competitions, your composition is good.
It still won't be easy, but you'll have a leg up and a fighting chance!!!
Again, welcome to the Hog and good luck!
SS
Eye, welcome to the Hog! br My answer might be a b... (show quote)



This is a very good advice.

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Sep 26, 2016 11:26:02   #
PW4GDF
 
I used to do quite a lot of pet and family portrait work, it did not pay much as I did not charge much but my name got around. But I find that now just about everyone has a smart phone or i-pad or tablet they are quite happy to take their own pictures. That goes for the scenic vacation pictures also. You only have to look on Facebook to see how many post their pictures and are happy with them.

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Sep 26, 2016 12:57:20   #
rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA
 
Produce prints, reserve a spot at an arts and crafts festival, and sell away. Start off at a small festival to get a feel for what sells well and what doesn't.

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Sep 26, 2016 13:04:15   #
JimEaco
 
You want easy?
1.)Get a telephoto Lens; document cheating spouses, sell to cheater for moderate price, and then to victim for more.

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Sep 26, 2016 13:04:15   #
JimEaco
 
You want easy?
1.)Get a telephoto Lens; document cheating spouses, sell to cheater for moderate price, and then to victim for more.

Reply
Sep 26, 2016 13:10:20   #
mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey
 
eyebidder wrote:
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many different cameras over the years from Mamiya, Hasselblad, Bronica, Nikon F, and just recently got a D7000. Recently retired since April and would love to get back to shooting every day. D7000 was in my budget so I was not able to get any upgrade but I think the 7000 is plenty of camera for me. Also have a Nikon 35mm 1.8 and a Nikon 18-70 f3.5 DX.

Well, I'd like to supplement my retirement income with some photo sales. I was going to try the online stock photo places and see what they might be able to do for me. Not sure where else to go so if anyone has any suggestions I'd love the advice!
I've had the photo bug since 1965. I've had many d... (show quote)

No, there is no easy way to sell photos. And while your photos are pleasant enough, there is nothing truly striking about them. There are literally millions of similar shots out there, and many which are far more interesting than yours, and even then few are particularly salable. It's the salesman that sells, not the product. If you have the natural skills of a salesman and invest the necessary time and money then you might have some success, but then you wouldn't need advice from us. But if you want easy, then I suggest you don't quit your day job.

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