any advice on how to start a small photo business? (Page 5): you have the right idea...!!!

katbandit Loc: new york city

Jimbo9948 wrote:

I am also retired and have done the same thing. My... (show quote)

you have the right idea...!!!

The Watcher

barbaradear wrote:

Any ideas on how to start a small photo business. I'm not interested in anything big, I like to sell my photos sometimes on canvas, sometimes already framed, etc. I like doing photos in unique ways.... artsy crafty some might say. I'm not really into portrait shooting. Should I have a web-site? Thanks for any input.

Since you want to go public and start a small photo business, why not post some of your work here on this site and see how the members respond to it. I think that would be a good starting point.

hartmanr1

barbaradear wrote:

I'm not looking to make a living doing this - it's just for fun, but thanks.

You believe running a photo business will be fun and you don't have to make a buck doing it. But beware that the business doesn't start running you.

This is meant only as guidance, not a recommendation to quit before you start !

billybob40

Set up a photo booth at fair and event. All the help on this is on youtube. I make from $100. to over $1000. on week ends. You can get other photo work other days if you like also.
Yes you need a web site, I use smugmug.com ( www.NoveltyPHOTObooth.com ) you can display you work and sell you work fon around $40. a year. A lot of you don't know Smugmug puts your listing in search engines useing key words in you listing. Good Luck, Have fun with it and make 2013 a profable one.

mickeys Loc: Fort Wayne, IN

billybob40, did you have a booth at the 3rivers festival here in fort wayne, in

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

gordnanaimo wrote:

quote=barbaradear Oh, I've put in my time - I'm r... (show quote)

Yeah - he has some pretty good advice there - especially setting up a small studio in your home - if you have the space. Reason this is so good is it will give you some idea how business will be and then if you find it necessary - rent the store. And definitely build a website. There's tons of free ones to start with - I use weebly.com. Like you, I'm retired also and do it for fun as well as the love of doing it. Once in awhile I sell something but like you, not looking to make a living doing it. Another great idea he mentioned was get some finished work enlarged. I use this site: http://www.shortrunposters.com They aren't expensive and they do excellent work. I've gotten 18x24 enlargements and the apartment building where I live let me put up some of them because they thought they were really good. They even bought the frames for them! Then get permission from your town hall to have a photo art exhibit in a park. Maybe find a few other vendors with different items. The more to attract, the more chances to sell.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

prestonphoto wrote:

quote=gordnanaimo quote=barbaradear Oh, I've put... (show quote)

I forgot - if you use this site to get enlargements, make sure you get your work laminated. They do it for $2 I think. This brings out and deepens the colors more. Otherwise the enlargement will have that just plain look to it.

thewags Loc: Phoenix

One more tidbit. Trying to fill web site mail orders yourself is tough. It's tedious and expensive for packaging, and the postage may cost more than the item. Sites like zenfolio do it all for you and their shipping rates are half what you would have to charge.

thewags Loc: Phoenix

Preston, thanks for the tip on shortrunposters.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

thewags wrote:

I'm in the same boat, about 6 months ahead of you.... (show quote)

Sorry - had to laugh. "so I have a head start on my Christmas shopping". That was funny.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

barbaradear wrote:

Any ideas on how to start a small photo business. I'm not interested in anything big, I like to sell my photos sometimes on canvas, sometimes already framed, etc. I like doing photos in unique ways.... artsy crafty some might say. I'm not really into portrait shooting. Should I have a web-site? Thanks for any input.

You may have heard this before. Don't quit your day job.

shieldsadvert

barbaradear wrote:

Any ideas on how to start a small photo business. I'm not interested in anything big, I like to sell my photos sometimes on canvas, sometimes already framed, etc. I like doing photos in unique ways.... artsy crafty some might say. I'm not really into portrait shooting. Should I have a web-site? Thanks for any input.

I am also "thinking" of starting a fine art photography business. My initial step is making a portfolio of my work and showing it to various gallery owners to see if the work might actually have a market (I already have one who will display my work and take a 25% commission).
If I am successful here, I will create a website with posted, watermarked images and prices for various sizes and print types (like giclees).
Hope this helps and please keep me apprised of your progress.

Thanks,

Bill

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

shieldsadvert wrote:

quote=barbaradear Any ideas on how to start a sma... (show quote)

Good luck Bill but I still emphasize... don't quit your day job.

shieldsadvert

I'm aware that this business is VERY competitive and that there are far more talented "day job photographers" specializing in fine art photography, so, if I make a buck, great, if not I will look at it as a fun experience.

jimmya wrote:

quote=shieldsadvert quote=barbaradear Any ideas ... (show quote)

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I always keep Google close at hand when I'm browsing here. Now I know what giclee means. :)