how many do this professionally?

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Archive 2007 · how many do this professionally?

Brent Ward
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p.2 #1 · how many do this professionally?

pearlstreet wrote:
Wow, Brent, I'm impressed!!

Sharon

Thanks Sharon!

Dec 19, 2007 at 04:03 PM

dswiger
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p.2 #2 · how many do this professionally?

Question asked..
."Do you have a website that you can sell your photo's from? Once a person has photo's worthy of selling, this would be one of the first steps to take."

I would be interested to know what websites that are used.
I have played with Photo Reflect but am now considering Smugmug as a store front site.

Qualities I am looking for in a site:
1. Dollar/value
2. Ease of use for both seller and customer
3. Customization & professional appearance.

Thanks

Dan

Dec 19, 2007 at 06:40 PM

rdsherwood
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p.2 #3 · how many do this professionally?

dswiger wrote:

I have played with Photo Reflect but am now considering Smugmug as a store front site.

Qualities I am looking for in a site:
1. Dollar/value
2. Ease of use for both seller and customer
3. Customization & professional appearance.

Thanks

Dan

Dan, you might also want to check out Zenfolio. Smugmug allows more customization, but straight out of the box, Zenfolio provides a great feature set, and a more modern, up-to-date design, at a lower cost than Smugmug. They have a deal through the end of the year - $80/year for their premium account, and if you buy it by the end of the year, they'll lock in the $80 rate for as long as you keep the acount. If you use a referral code, you can get it for $75. If you're interested, you can PM or email me, and I'll send you a referral code.

You can set up print fulfillment through either EZPrints or MPix. I love Kodak Metallic paper for landscapes, which MPix offers, so this was a big selling point for me.

Regards,

Ron

Dec 19, 2007 at 07:22 PM

gordon l
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p.2 #4 · how many do this professionally?

I just opened a SmugMug account 1.5 months ago and am still constructing my site. It's up and running enough to visit, but not yet complete. I'm pleased with the resources and help they provide.

I am not professional yet. I've got a good day job but would love to make enough money to justify my expensive camera purchases with the wife.

Gordon

Dec 19, 2007 at 07:51 PM

floris
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p.2 #5 · how many do this professionally?

I really like smugmug, I started up my website with them about 6 months ago, and it's been great so far. Everything is customizable, and the folks on dgrin.com are extremely helpful in getting you started. I have a power user acount, which is $59.95. (you can check out my site to see what you can do through the www link).

Dec 19, 2007 at 10:29 PM

XFBO
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p.2 #6 · how many do this professionally?

Well, aint this the coolest thread going!

As a matter of fact, I, too, am interested in pro photography but not in just landscape but sports and motorsports too.

I actually have 7 more yrs to go before Im eligible for retirement in my current profession, so I have plenty of time for preplanning but I'd like to get the ball rolling now and like someone else mentioned, it'd sure be nice to make enough sales to cover the equipment in the present day.

So please do keep the advice/opinions/info coming along!

I do have a question about inferior equipment, Im glad Chris brought it up cuz its something Ive been curious about for sometime. What would you folks deem as an absolute minimum in terms of MP's before even considering selling some work?

Also Chris Id like to hear about the technique adjustments you've made, if you're up for speaking about them.

TIA!
Frank

Dec 20, 2007 at 02:12 AM

photomandave
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p.2 #7 · how many do this professionally?

Hello Everyone:

This is a great post, and I thought I would offer my two cents in on the subject. I sell my photography various art shows around the Pacific Northwest for a living. Making a living at selling your art at various art shows is possible however it is important to explore other avenues in selling your work. Other possibilities such as selling stock photography, establishing commercial/corporate accounts, getting your work established in galleries, etc...

Currently I am participating in over 25 art shows per year. It is a grueling schedule. Practically every weekend during the summer months I am literally in a new city/town selling my art work. The lifestyle is not for everyone. I do have a website, however it has been my experience that the buying art is a personal buying decision. In other words people want to view art in person and relate to that piece of art work that they are interested in. My website is a chance for the prospective buyers to sit at home with their spouse and view the various pictures they saw earlier in the day and make a decision on whether that piece of art works with the decor and the space that they are looking at filling. The vast majority of the time they will be back the next day to finalize the purchase.

I would view your website as a marketing tool not a selling tool. Now from time to time you will make sales off of your website especially this time of year.

Several of you have mentioned that networking is critical in establishing a career as a pro photographer. I couldn't agree more. The more people that see your work in person the more likelihood they will be willing to purchase it.

Just my two cents. Good luck!!!

David

www.lightcapturephoto.com

Dec 20, 2007 at 04:05 AM

winzphoto
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p.2 #8 · how many do this professionally?

It's a business, like any other business, that requires selling, selling, and more selling. You have to get out, meet people, talk about your work every chance you get and people begin to relate to you and your work and then it becomes more than just a nice pretty picture for their wall. I'm on the front end of my professional career and am pursuing both the fine art landscape field as well as outdoor sports (read assignment & stock work). This past month has been committed to selling two 2008 calendars. Purpose being that my work gets out in print form and becomes a marketing tool that also generates a small amount of revenue in the process - http://www.winzeler.smugmug.com/gallery/3880776

I cannot overemphasize having passion about your work and what you represent whenever you are out in the public or around friends, family, and all those you know. For example, I was standing in line at costco the other day, and happen to have one of my calendars with me. So I struck up a conversation with a nice lady about something random and next thing I knew she was pulling out her checkbook to buy a calendar and couldn't wait to see the rest of my work on my website when she got home. I've been in sales for the past eight years (before going full time as a photographer) and can say these types of situations really are all around us and are quite possible for those less into "sales". Relationships will build your business more quickly than anything else. Look for opportunities to serve local companies and build genuine relationships and you'll meet people that will help promote your business and your art. Learn, Serve, Grow.

btw- I've been happy with Smugmug although still working through a few minor tweaks on the site.

Dec 20, 2007 at 07:35 AM

Doug Click
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p.2 #9 · how many do this professionally?

I was going to make a topic similar to this. I just wanted to keep it alive and keep checking in on other peoples opinions and ideas.

Jan 16, 2008 at 01:22 AM

wlpelzmann
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p.2 #10 · how many do this professionally?

Kevin (winzphoto),
I love your Smugmug site customization!

I'm just getting started on mine and have been amazed at how much can be done and all the help they provide. Not having written a single line of HTML code, I've hesitated getting started.

Jan 16, 2008 at 05:29 AM

Troy Gamm
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p.2 #11 · how many do this professionally?

I started selling my photography at art fairs in 2005 in the midwest. I did 4 smaller shows that summer-Central West End in St. Louis, and shows in Bloomington, IL, Palatine, IL and McHenry, IL and my landscapes sold really well.

In early 06 we moved to southern California and my landscapes don't sell out here. I also do florals and those are what sell out here.

From my own experience and what I've seen other photographers post on forums, people are making an average of $1000 per show.

I am still learning all aspects--technical elements of photography, my market, my vision, how to get into the top tier shows, how else to market my work, etc. I do have a website and have occasional follow-up sales from those; I just sold a print in December to a lady whose daughter had seen my print at the 2005 show in St. Louis and had wanted it since then. More than anything, people seem to regard you as more professional if you have a website.

I do find that hanging my work for a couple months in trendy cafes and coffee shops gives me good exposure and some sales. I also try to network at my shows; there can be a lot of good and interesting contacts from those (I've been approached by the set designer from Columbia Pictures for print on demand set design; been approached by a poster company, as well as the set designer for Weeds). I just uploaded some photos to Etsy.com and will see what kind of sales that generates, if any. I also belong to Photomission.com, as my way of giving back, but I have generated sales thru them, to places like Western Theological Seminary.

I eventually plan to show my work at a licensing trade show, but I'm still in the process of finding my niche and the 'right look' for that kind of a venue. I'm still in the learning process, but this has been my experience so far.

"Mrs. Troy"

www.pennyhustedgamm.com

Jan 16, 2008 at 06:17 AM

Alex Nail
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p.2 #12 · how many do this professionally?

photomandave wrote:
I would view your website as a marketing tool not a selling tool. Now from time to time you will make sales off of your website especially this time of year.

Several of you have mentioned that networking is critical in establishing a career as a pro photographer. I couldn't agree more. The more people that see your work in person the more likelihood they will be willing to purchase it.

I couldnt agree more. In my very very limited experience this has certainly be the case. In 6 months since starting my website I have made 3 sales to people I did not know or who had not herd of me through someone else. In comparison I have made 8 sales to people who had seen my prints on other peoples walls. It seems word of mouth is a HUGE factor.

A website is definitely a must though because even if you are only selling a couple of prints through it a year, you are already paying for he website

Alex

Jan 16, 2008 at 08:44 AM

Mark Metternich
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p.2 #13 · how many do this professionally?

It really comes down to this:

1. Get that world class, top notch portfolio made.
2. Knock on doors, knock on doors, knock on doors.
3. Have and continue to daily develop a solid plan.
4. Don't be afraid of rejection.

Constantly showing your work can be your "bread and butter" and also will lead to the doors of opportunity opening. As Ken Duncan has told me many times, too many photographers are waiting for their fairy god mother. We simply have to go out focused and show our work, period.

Jan 16, 2008 at 07:31 PM

jnow
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p.2 #14 · how many do this professionally?

Thank you to everybody who is contributing to this thread.

To those of you who show at fairs and such, do you select a variety of prints to have on display and then take orders for customers or do you have prints on hand for customers to buy, either framed, with just a mat, or just the prints themselves?

Thanks again,

Jason

Jan 16, 2008 at 07:52 PM

Troy Gamm
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p.2 #15 · how many do this professionally?

Hi Jason,

I hang framed prints in my booth. What I hang has varied; in the midwest my landscapes were popular, so that is what I hung. Out here in SoCal, my macro florals are really popular, so that is what I hang. I basically try to choose what I think will catch someone's eye and get them into my booth.

I offer matted prints of everything that is on the walls, in addition to other compositions. My matted prints are what sells out here (in the midwest I had framed work flying off the walls). I haven't gotten my feel of the Los Angeles market yet, so right now I offer 4 sizes of matted prints: 5x7, 8x12, 12x18, and 16x24. I display 20x30 framed prints on my wall. I offer every composition in every size; learned the hard way that if I have one picture in 12x18 but not in 16x24, I will lose a sale to someone that wants it in 16x24 NOW.

Hope this helps.

"Mrs. Troy"

www.pennyhustedgamm.com

Jan 16, 2008 at 08:37 PM

imaginarydave
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p.2 #16 · how many do this professionally?

jnow wrote:
Thank you to everybody who is contributing to this thread.

To those of you who show at fairs and such, do you select a variety of prints to have on display and then take orders for customers or do you have prints on hand for customers to buy, either framed, with just a mat, or just the prints themselves?

Thanks again,

Jason

The most important thing to remember is that your framed work sell your prints.
Personally, I only really strive to fund the habit. Doing landscape photography as a full time profession would probably rob me of much of the joy of it. so take the rest of this advice with my motivation in mind.

Prints on hand will sell far better than orders. Have lots of them, in different sizes (I do mostly 10x15 and 12x18 sales on hand, with some matted to standard frame sizes). they should be signed and annotated in sleeves ready to go. If you can hand it to them right there they are far more likely to buy it. I dont get too involved in cropping my prints to fit standards anymore. It ruins my art is the way i see it. I have about 30 framed prints (mostly 12x18 prints) on hand reasonably priced. If they dont want one of the ones on hand they can buy a print and get it custom framed.

I have learned to not be too flexible with extraneous stuff beyond printing and the occasional matting. I do all my own framing - at a very high quality level. I have about 30 framed prints (mostly 12x18 prints) on hand reasonably priced. If they dont want one of the ones on hand they can buy a print and get it custom framed. you will have people start asking you "Can you do this? or this? Will you frame this for me? Will you take pictures of my back yard? etc? if you are doing this as your primary job then that is fine, if it is your self funding hobby it will quickly get very tedious if you are dealing with a lot extraneous stuff. It all depends on the amount of time you are willing to invest. I certainly offer to print and ship photos in different sizes - especially the larger prints.

All that is if you are in the same price range as I am $50-80 with larger prints to order.

I also make cards that I sell $4 or 4 for $12. You capture the impulse low budget crowd that way.

Obviously if you are in a high end art show it is going to be a lot different but starting out most likely you will be doing open edition lower priced prints. That is what I do. I make a couple thousand in a show, but only do a few of them, and I am the only landscape photographer gig in some large international merchandise trade shows at most, and I sell to a captive audience that relates to my work. I doubt I will have as much luck in 6 months when I move. Personally, I only really strive to fund the habit. Doing landscape photography as a full time profession would probably rob me of much of the joy of it. I think I could do the travel stuff on assignment if anyone wants to hire me though

Jan 16, 2008 at 08:52 PM

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