How To Sell Digital Photography
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So you’ve taken photos with your digital camera and you think they look good.
What next?
Some people’s minds turn to selling their work and providing your photos are good, this canbe an excellent option.
Where to sell your digital photography?
1. Royalty free photo sites
There are plenty of sites that sell what are known as royalty free photos. These are photographs that the customer buys once and then has the right to use over and over again, providing they don’t sell the photos on to other people. You need to do your research on this but if you have lots of good photos - ones that people are prepared to pay for - then this could be a way to get some extra income.
2. Produce your own T-shirts, etc
Sites like CafePress allow you to upload a photograph and get it printed in one-off quantities on all sorts of different items: t-shirts, mouse mats, coffee mugs, etc. They allow you to set up your own “store” and pay you a commission every time an item sells.
3. Get commissioned
Get your portfolio on a web site and sell your photography on it. Say that you accept commissions for work, maybe in specific areas. For instance, if you live in a big city like London or New York, you could offer to take unique photographs of the various landmarks. Equally, if you are in the countryside then you could take rural shots or moody sunset/sunrise pictures. It may pay you to get some of your photographs displayed on sites like Flickr to broaden your reach.
4. Photograph people and events
You can get a portable printer and hook it up to your camera. Take photographs at events and sell the prints to people on the spot. Or if you have an easy way of reaching people after the event, post them a sample photograph (or a link to one) and ask them if they want to purchase an original.
5. Sell limited editions
Although limited editions are often associated with paintings, you can sell limited edition prints of your photographs, individually signed and numbered by you, the photographer.
6. Sell through local shops
Frame some of your prints and talk to local shops such as cafes, who often have blank wall space. Agree a price and a commission for the shop for each photograph they sell.
7. Hold an exhibition
This is more ambitious but once you grow in confidence, it’s well worth exploring the idea of holding an exhibition either on your own or in co-operation with other local photographers and artists.
