I am working on a portfolio to show to one of my local state parks. Last time I was in the visitors center I dont remember seeing any of the parks images on the post cards that were for sale. Just generic shots of animals and such. So far I have some nice Fall Colors and some summertime shots.
I am new to the photography business, and I have just sold a few prints. How would I go about trying to get them to purchase some of my images for post cards or other items to be sold in the visitors center?
How should I approach them?
This park is outside of a small rural community (only a couple thousand in the town) where should I even start at with the price?
Should I actually get some cards made up from someplace like vistaprint and have them on hand to show off (along with my portfolio)... and maybe have them purchase cards thru me?
Keep in mind that I prob couldnt sell a fire extinguisher to a burning man so any and all help would be appreciated.
Kevin, IMO you should definitely have them printed yourself. That way you can bring in your portfolio of larger prints to try to interest them in selling the bigger prints in the gift shop, as well as buying your postcards. If they say no to the larger prints you may still make the postcard sale if you have some nice examples.
You may be able to sell the postcards outright to the store or they may sell them, keep part of the sale price and pay you monthly or quarterly.
If it's an outright sale, I'd first check to see how much the current postcards are selling for and how much the printing would cost you through Vistaprint. You'll of course have to sell them wholesale to the store for more than your cost of production in order for you to make money, and you'll have to leave enough room in your pricing for the store to mark them up so they make money. It's possible they'll cost you enough to produce that both you and the store cannot make money on the deal if they're priced the same as the current cards, but that will depend on what you find out when you get a bid from Vistaprint and see the current card prices.
Also, in some states the buying of gift store items is done through a single department that handles such products for the whole park system, and the products sometimes are all ordered through a single clearinghouse, with the park system only able to order through that clearinghouse.
But you don't know until you try. Even if that type of unwieldy system is in place in your state, it's possible local state park managers have some discretion, and it would simply make sense for them to sell products that feature their own park.
I'd just bring in your portflio and cards and ask for the manager or whoever does the gift store buying and assume that person has the ability to make purchases from you. You'll learn soon enough if they don't, and if they do, that simple one-on-one relaxed contact between you and that person will go a long way, even if it turns out that person is busy and you have to set a day and a time to return and discuss it.
And you won't have to make a hard sales pitch. If the images are good they'll sell themselves. You may be surprised at how easy it can be. It's also worth noting that, if they buy from you and/or allow you to sell prints in their gift shop, you are beginning what you hope will be a long-term relationship, so you should think of it that way and be easy to work with.
Having volunteered for a state park, let me add a few more words. IMO, while you're busy shooting, you also need to get to know the folks who work in the park. Find out who does the purchasing and set up a definite appointment to show this person your work. You may wish to put together a small sample case of 4x6 images in a zippered folder to carry with you. This will show off color and composition, as well as possible quality.
Remember that many folks who visit state parks are tourists and they are more likely to buy post cards, maybe note cards, and possibly posters in a tube (for ease of traveling).
Posted by Nelcha Cross on May 19, 2008 at 12:38 AM
One of the State parks I photographed I asked the same question about. As I DO go there often and volunteer there also let me say that as stated above, it can be different from State to State as these ARE State parks....
In CA at the park I was photographing the decision is made by a board, mainly with the final approval
by the Head Ranger, ONCE a year when they have their $ in the budget to buy things to sell in their store.
It was made clear that I would have to have them printed ahead of time and submit them for approval.
So also consider any stores in the nearby area...so when you made the trip you can also re-stock the shelves
at those stores? They also might be interested in things the budget of the Park may not want to sell.
.... just my 2 cents... Good Luck!
" Having volunteered for a state park, let me add a few more words. IMO, while you're busy shooting, you also need to get to know the folks who work in the park. Find out who does the purchasing and set up a definite appointment to show this person your work. You may wish to put together a small sample case of 4x6 images in a zippered folder to carry with you. This will show off color and composition, as well as possible quality.
Remember that many folks who visit state parks are tourists and they are more likely to buy post cards, maybe note cards, and possibly posters in a tube (for ease of traveling)."
And Nelcha said:
"One of the State parks I photographed I asked the same question about. As I DO go there often and volunteer there also let me say that as stated above, it can be different from State to State as these ARE State parks....
In CA at the park I was photographing the decision is made by a board, mainly with the final approval
by the Head Ranger, ONCE a year when they have their $ in the budget to buy things to sell in their store.
It was made clear that I would have to have them printed ahead of time and submit them for approval.
So also consider any stores in the nearby area...so when you made the trip you can also re-stock the shelves
at those stores? They also might be interested in things the budget of the Park may not want to sell.
.... just my 2 cents... Good Luck!"
There's your roadmap. Local park personnel can be your cheering section, but someone up the chain of command is going to make the decisions in most cases. Presenting your images to them in the right setting, location, format and time period will be key to finding a toehold in their bureacratic system.
Best wishes for success! I bet you can do it once you find the right opening and make a professional proposal.
Discussion
5 repliesI am new to the photography business, and I have just sold a few prints. How would I go about trying to get them to purchase some of my images for post cards or other items to be sold in the visitors center?
How should I approach them?
This park is outside of a small rural community (only a couple thousand in the town) where should I even start at with the price?
Should I actually get some cards made up from someplace like vistaprint and have them on hand to show off (along with my portfolio)... and maybe have them purchase cards thru me?
Keep in mind that I prob couldnt sell a fire extinguisher to a burning man so any and all help would be appreciated.
You may be able to sell the postcards outright to the store or they may sell them, keep part of the sale price and pay you monthly or quarterly.
If it's an outright sale, I'd first check to see how much the current postcards are selling for and how much the printing would cost you through Vistaprint. You'll of course have to sell them wholesale to the store for more than your cost of production in order for you to make money, and you'll have to leave enough room in your pricing for the store to mark them up so they make money. It's possible they'll cost you enough to produce that both you and the store cannot make money on the deal if they're priced the same as the current cards, but that will depend on what you find out when you get a bid from Vistaprint and see the current card prices.
Also, in some states the buying of gift store items is done through a single department that handles such products for the whole park system, and the products sometimes are all ordered through a single clearinghouse, with the park system only able to order through that clearinghouse.
But you don't know until you try. Even if that type of unwieldy system is in place in your state, it's possible local state park managers have some discretion, and it would simply make sense for them to sell products that feature their own park.
I'd just bring in your portflio and cards and ask for the manager or whoever does the gift store buying and assume that person has the ability to make purchases from you. You'll learn soon enough if they don't, and if they do, that simple one-on-one relaxed contact between you and that person will go a long way, even if it turns out that person is busy and you have to set a day and a time to return and discuss it.
And you won't have to make a hard sales pitch. If the images are good they'll sell themselves. You may be surprised at how easy it can be. It's also worth noting that, if they buy from you and/or allow you to sell prints in their gift shop, you are beginning what you hope will be a long-term relationship, so you should think of it that way and be easy to work with.
Good luck!
Remember that many folks who visit state parks are tourists and they are more likely to buy post cards, maybe note cards, and possibly posters in a tube (for ease of traveling).
Good luck,
Carol
Here is one of the images that I am gonna try to sell them. Critiques welcome and encouraged.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m49/southernwolf/Nature%20Shots/Fall%20Colors/0711vcsp015-WEB.jpg
In CA at the park I was photographing the decision is made by a board, mainly with the final approval
by the Head Ranger, ONCE a year when they have their $ in the budget to buy things to sell in their store.
It was made clear that I would have to have them printed ahead of time and submit them for approval.
So also consider any stores in the nearby area...so when you made the trip you can also re-stock the shelves
at those stores? They also might be interested in things the budget of the Park may not want to sell.
.... just my 2 cents... Good Luck!
" Having volunteered for a state park, let me add a few more words. IMO, while you're busy shooting, you also need to get to know the folks who work in the park. Find out who does the purchasing and set up a definite appointment to show this person your work. You may wish to put together a small sample case of 4x6 images in a zippered folder to carry with you. This will show off color and composition, as well as possible quality.
Remember that many folks who visit state parks are tourists and they are more likely to buy post cards, maybe note cards, and possibly posters in a tube (for ease of traveling)."
And Nelcha said:
"One of the State parks I photographed I asked the same question about. As I DO go there often and volunteer there also let me say that as stated above, it can be different from State to State as these ARE State parks....
In CA at the park I was photographing the decision is made by a board, mainly with the final approval
by the Head Ranger, ONCE a year when they have their $ in the budget to buy things to sell in their store.
It was made clear that I would have to have them printed ahead of time and submit them for approval.
So also consider any stores in the nearby area...so when you made the trip you can also re-stock the shelves
at those stores? They also might be interested in things the budget of the Park may not want to sell.
.... just my 2 cents... Good Luck!"
There's your roadmap. Local park personnel can be your cheering section, but someone up the chain of command is going to make the decisions in most cases. Presenting your images to them in the right setting, location, format and time period will be key to finding a toehold in their bureacratic system.
Best wishes for success! I bet you can do it once you find the right opening and make a professional proposal.