Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

I currently have a SmugMug website that has been online set up for about 2 years now. I'm getting over 10,000 views a month. I want to it set up now to start selling my photos. There is a current menu tab for my stock photos which is currently not populated. I am planning to set up these galleries to sell my photos; Animals, Birds, Butterflies, Creative, Other Critters, Flowers, Scenic, Travel. I have have the below questions, I would like people to provide me their feedback on.

1. What size photos should I offer? I was thinking about only offering 4x5, 8x10, and 16x20, since they have the same aspect ratio, and I only having to post one size photo.

2.What types of paper should I offer? Should I consider offering canvas prints?

3. How I should I go about setting up prices for my photos?

4. What marketing approaches should I take when trying to sell my photos? I'm currently on FaceBook, Twitter, Google + and send out Emails when I post new photos on my SmugMug website to my friends and family.

5. What type of sales expectations should have once I have photos set up for sales. I have read many different blogs, tips, etc on the web, and it doesn't seem like people are making a lot money doing this.

6. I have one last question. Is it worth while putting all this effort in selling your photos only online without doing anything else like doing Art Shows, getting your photos hanging in art galleries, various stores, etc.?

My website address is http://www.dubinphotography.net

I want to thank you in advance for inputs you provide me.

Arnold

notnoBuddha

[quote=Adubin]I currently have a SmugMug......

1. What size photos should I offer? I was thinking about only offering 4x5, 8x10, and 16x20, since they have the same aspect ratio, and I only having to post one size photo.

2.What types of paper should I offer? Should I consider offering canvas prints?

3. How I should I go about setting up prices for my photos?

4. What marketing approaches should I take when trying to sell my photos? I'm currently on FaceBook, Twitter, Google + and send out Emails when I post new photos on my SmugMug website to my friends and family.

5. What type of sales expectations should have once I have photos set up for sales. I have read many different blogs, tips, etc on the web, and it doesn't seem like people are making a lot money doing this.

6. I have one last question. Is it worth while putting all this effort in selling your photos only online without doing anything else like doing Art Shows, getting your photos hanging in art galleries, various stores, etc.?

#1- Does it involve any more cost or time on your part to offer the different sizes? If not, why not.
#2- Same as above -does this involve any extra effort or money on you part to offer them?
#3- To me it would be the old "market price format". What does a like product sell for in whatever you are selling. Check the sites of others, look at local galleries, and web sites.
#4 & 6 - To me the actual selling of anything is the tough part. For sure the more exposure you have the more eyes will see you work, but at some point you wil question if it is work the effort, time, and costs. Betting if anyone know of what works for everyone they are not talking. Lots of books written for example of how to beat the stock market but how many actully work? I would say the old trail and test method may be called for.
#5 - Not sure why you want a number; how about seeing what you can do and then always trying to improve on that - way too may variables to be specific.

Yes - I know, not really not any insight given but I'm not sure how any can be. To me the marketing aspect of anything is why more complicated then developing either a product or service. Good Luck

clicktime Loc: Yucca Valley Ca.

I checked out your site and your pics are very nice. Yes you should sell them. I am in the same boat as you. I have my captures on a site called webshots as a test to see how many hits I get off the photos and witch ones get the most. Your ahead of me on that. I have been showing my work in local galleries and that seems to get you started with selling them. I receintly sold my first two framed pictures. I enter local judged shows to build my brand and name. This is a good way to meet local pro's and talk to them about there experience with going comercial. I love wildlife photography but I don't think there is much money in it though. If you enter the NAT GEO photo contest that is going on now and win or place your name will soar to the top and you will not have a problem selling. I have an idea to take my inclosed trailer to local events and setup a gallery inside, also use it as a mobil studio to take photos of people and pets. I can take the pics, print them on site and sell them that day. I think it takes alot of hard work and commitment to go comercial in photography. Since I have been doing this seriously I see all the money going to buisness's that sell equiptment and supplies to photographers, not the guys working for the shot.

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

notnoBuddha, Thank you very much and taking your time for your feedback for my questions.

1. Yes, it will require for me to crop different size photos and post them to my website. I experienced a problem when my posted my daughter's wedding reception photos and she had a photograph printed to a different size from the original and it took some people off.

2. I was wondering if people had specific types of paper they like to order. This not a problem to offer all of them and just price them out differently.

Again thanks, Arnold



[quote=notnoBuddha]

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

clicktime, I agree pretty much what you are saying in your responds to me. Yep, selling nature photos is difficult. All I'm hoping is to sell enough prints so I can in buy some more camera equipment. Arnold

Mattie

Frame shops order prints mostly from art companies, but they can also order prints from camera people too. Nothing would be lost if you contacted some frame shops in your area at first to see if they would sell your photo's on consignment or sell them outright to the shop. Most people don't like the shiny photos, they want them in mat, which I'm sure is more expensive for you. But you can see what those shops like. I know Hobby Lobby sells prints and frames there too besides regular frame shops. It's certainly worth a try.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

Something that you may want to look into is selling your work as "Stock Photography". This is where you sell someone a copy of the image and a limited right to copy it for their own purposes. Magazines, ad agencies, producers of brochures, etc are always looks for images and the will often get the from web sites selling stock photos. No print issue because you sell an image file with the specified limited rights. Rights may vary and is a different subject but there is a ton of information on that. Your images are certainly good quality and diverse enough to attract a wide range of possible buyers. With the economy down as it is, photography as art indeed all art is struggling, were as with stock photography you can often save the customer the expense of hiring a photographer.

I looked at your site and see that you have a section labeled "Stock". But I think that with the range and quality of you images that you may want to look deeper into this, maybe a stock photo agent. Contact firms that produce gift cards and calendars (sell some of those nature shots), etc. I think that with the range of your work a good agent could sell enough to buy you that equipment that you want and more. I have a couple friends that do alright between stock and weddings even in the down economy. I think that with the right marketing you might do the same. You have good clean work, like what most people are looking for. Good luck it will still be work, but could be both fun and rewarding.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

Another thing that I did a few years ago, before we moved to a more isolated area, was to offer a couple of images to a local small business to use in their ads and brochures with the stipulation that your name appear below the image as a photo credit. The idea it to have them spread by word of mouth to other local business that you can do good work at a reasonable price, and the photo credit may catch someone eye. In areas with a fair amount of competing local business this can provide a bit of cash, if you are willing to do custom work.

Frank'sPhotography Loc: Terre Haute, Indiana

http://fineartamerica.com Here is a sight I found that will sell your prints in various sizes including canvas, do the printing, billing, send you a check. You get your own web page. You can join for free and ask questions of others about their sales, and see the prints they are offering then decide if you want to pay $30 a year for their services. If you have a facebook page you can link to facebook also. Once you join to sell your name and work will go to all the search engines. They offer frames for the prints sold and you make a percentage off the extra services, you get to give your own markup you wish to make above their base prices. You upload a photo and it shows you the size prints that can be made from what you uploaded. I noticed many of your prints would make great greeting cards, and when a customer orders one they can tell the company what they want on the inside of them when they order.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Arnold, for a start on #6, if your getting 10,000 hits a month go for it, then do the other venues, they can only help. Bob.

jtipps Loc: Dallas

I don't have any advice on selling but your images are awesome!!

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

Mattie, Thank you for your suggestions. You have good suggestions. Do you mean that I have chance of selling my prints to a local Hobby Lobby and not their Corporate location? Arnold

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

JTipps, Thanks for your posit comment, Arnold

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

Frank, You have some very good suggestions. I appreciate you taking your time and providing me.

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

Don Grant, Thank you for your suggestion on how to sell my prints. Arnold