Selling Prints

I see a lot of people who post on UKNP sell prints via their personal websites.

I was just wondering what success you all have with selling nature prints.

I am just in the process of designing my website and was debating wether or not to add the option for people to purchase prints.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Barry

Hi Barry,

Let's just say it don't pay my mortgage . Then again I'm not the best photographer in the world nor are my Images world class and to be honest I don't "market" myself at all, having said that next year me and my wife plan on doing "craft fairs" as she makes and sells greetings cards fairly succesfully and plan to sell her cards and my images side by side.

Regards

Rob

Barry
I used to sell my framed signed prints evry time I gave a lecture and used to do quite well.
I used to sell up to £200 worth a night at times. I also used to do shows and fairs etc. .
It is nothing like it used to be nowadays though. probably every one's a photographer these days including the people who used to buy them !!.
Cheers
JohnR

Hello Barry,
I think Johns point about everyone being a photographer is very apt. As it is now so easy to print your own work a lot more people are doing so and also trying to sell them. I think the most important thing to remember when selling prints is to price the product appropriately. I recently had a small display of prints at a local Wildlife Centre which has been having a different artist / photographer each month. To date I was the only person whose prints have sold in numbers. On discussion with the staff we agreed that a part of that success was down to the price they were sold at. Many artists / photographers were charging really high prices and consequently didn't sell any. I do not factor into the price the time I take to produce the prints or the time spent getting the image (if I did that, nobody could afford them!), as photography is my personal enjoyment. I make a profit from the sales but as has been said before I couldn't make a living at it.
Targeting outlets is also important. If you can place wildlife prints in a sales area where people go specifically because they are interested in wildlife (eg Nature Reserves etc) then you will make more sales than if you tried to sell through a general art / card store. The Centre where I had my display now have a few of my prints on permanent display and a selection of card mounted and framed prints on sale in their shop.
As for website sales: I have just completed my first small website and will be putting a print sales page on that shortly; after all, any profit would be welcome and the advertising is free.
Sorry for the long reply but I hope it is of some help.
Robert.

If you have the right product then that product commands a price appropiate to it. You don't always have to be lower in price to achieve sales. Admitted if you are far above what is being realistic then yes. There are far to many people out there selling prints at way be low there worth simply to create sales. Your on the road to ruin if you have to resort to those tatics. It doesn't do any of us any favours when you start to sell too cheaply. Outlets are a valid point but doesnt always follow. We have an increasing number of people now who have a keen interest in wildlife. I sell prints & cards from my tyre depot and it works fairly well.
If you go to the bird fair you will see people selling cards at stupid money and with added temptation of by in quantity to get them cheaper. Personaly I think it bad practice but do realise there are a lot of the same all grouped together and all fighting for sales so IMO don't use that as a basis to sell images.
At the end of the day anybody can give stuff away thats not selling.
The chances of you making a living from these sales alone is probably pretty slim after all people like Andy Rouse for instance do not make a living soley based on print sales.
Just my little thing regarding prices mainly. When you have been in the tyre industry for 35 years you will get to know all about priceing.
Not directed at any one person so please dont take offence.

Major.

I agree with what Major is saying and I would most certainly not advocate selling prints at giveaway prices. The comparison he makes with selling tyres is an interesting one. That is also a very competitive market and there is a great variety of tyres at a large range of prices. Whilst every car owner would love to have the very best Goodyear/Bridgestone or whatever is the best brand, there is also a huge demand for less expensive brands to suit the budget of the less well off driver.
Tyres are essential, they are the connection between vehicle and road and they are a legal requirement. Prints are a luxury item. Nobody has to have a print on their wall. However, many people do want them and a lot of those people cannot afford to pay high prices. I'm not talking of the tight wads who just wont pay out money but genuine people with very tight budgets. Those who cannot afford the higher prices can therefore choose to buy a cheaper product from someone who is willing to make less profit, someone whose livelihood doesn't depend on selling their photography. That sale will not affect the high end pro photographer as that customer would not have been able to afford to buy from them anyway. I guess if we continue the tyre analogy, someone wouldn't buy a Range Rover if he can only afford the tyres for a Fiesta. Whilst I can sympathise with professionals who are having to make a living selling their work, there are many amateur photographers out there who enjoy seeing others get pleasure from their work and who are able to provide prints at a suitable price.
It is a tricky subject I know and there will be a diversification of opinion on it. As for myself, I enjoy my photography for it's own sake, but if I can help to finance that by selling a few prints to an appreciative audience then I will happily do: so but believe me, I won't be selling anything unless I can make a 'reasonable' profit.
And don't worry Major, no offence taken.
Robert.

Thanks People I've been pondering about the justification of a web site for myself and wondering if it could be justified by the sales gained from having a web site I Think you have answered it for me, as I do sell a small amount of my work locally I have been wondering about if the web could justify its self.

Thanks from that bloke Downunder,

Charles R Kerr.

Prints sales from my website are much better than zero sales that I expected. The extra income pays for the website hosting and helps with film processing costs. It is far from enough to pay the mortgage though :-) Tristan