CaptainC wrote:
Karen, and any of the rest of you reading this and want to sell portrait images:
All the advice about watermarks and low-res is good, but the plain truth is that posting image on line for sale - and I am specifically talking portraits - is a sales killer. Nobody and I mean NOBODY, sees the images until both mom and dad and I are in the same room with their checkbook. Then they see the images and make the purchase decisions. I have some samples - most are 16x20 - of mounted prints, canvas gallery wraps, metal prints, etc. so they can see what finished products look like. (You sell what you show.)
You need to price to make a profit. An 8x10 for anything less than $25 is a money loser. Even a 4x6 should be at least $15.00. Is there really any less work in producing a 4x6? Most successful photographers I know price an 8x10 and everything smaller the same.
The customers know ahead of time that there will be no paper proofs and that is not an option.
I also do NOT offer images on a CD. If asked, I tell them I can do it, but every image is priced as an 11x14.
Go to their home, set up a projector and screen as well as taking along the samples, the customers love it.
I know the response from those starting out is along the line of, "It takes too much time," or, "I cannot afford the sales tools."
But I will tell you my first projection appointment paid for the projector, the software, and the screen.
One more online thing - There are pros and cons to this, but I do not show prices online. If you do, people tend to choose on price. You want people to call you so you can engage them and not have them concentrate on just price.
All of the above is based on experience, not a guess.
Karen, and any of the rest of you reading this and... (
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Karen, I've spent forty years in sales, no not photography, business forms and data processing supplies. Based on my experience I think this advice from Captain D is right on the money. The prospect has to be able to evaluate the quality of the product he is purchasing. You accomplish that with your samples from other shoots, but not their shoot. They can hold them in their hands and understand the quality you provide. Then you can show them the shots from their shoot. Projection would be ideal. If that's not practical I would use a laptop with a large screen rather than an iPad. With an iPad I suspect you would end up selling 5x7s rather than 8x10s or larger prints (just my opinion). By having them view the photos this way, they can't ask to take proofs home with them to decide which ones they want. They have to make their decision right there and that's very important. The person that's going to write the check has to be there when you show them their shots. Otherwise they will say they have to talk to the check writer and get back to you with their decision. The turning point of the whole sales process is getting them to make their first print decision. Once the first olive is out of the bottle, the rest of them should be much easier. As you gather more experience you will likely develop ways to increase the number of prints you sell from each shoot, or convince them to buy a larger size. I would never sell them a CD so they could make their own prints. You would have no control of the quality of their final product and that product is what will establish your reputation. You seem to have pleasing personality and a logical and open mind. If you produce a quality product your reputation will spread. It will take some time, but I think you will do quite well. Good luck!!
I hope you'll keep in touch and let us know how you're doing. ....... Gray Bates/aka/Coot