Selling Images Online

[Rob MacKillop]

I have a couple of friends who keep urging me to start selling my images online. I know that sales are likely to be VERY low, so I'm not expecting to turn this into a business. I've had the ability to sell images through my 500px account, and have sold one digital image for twenty pence

Anyway, does anyone have any ideas what would be the best thing to do? I've spent twenty minutes looking at photobox - all very professional and easy to use.

 

[Tom Dunne]

Rob, I use these http://www.photographersdirect.com/

They are a serious, efficient and very business like and maintain good communication.

You negotiate direct with a potential buyer and you receive lists of buyers requests/requirements.
Some years back i put up about 300 pictures and had a couple of sales but I managed to get £150 each and one at £60 I think. They take a percentage of the sale. You only put up very low res images on the site to show your work. I have not maintained interest now and have not put any more images up.
i thought that rather having images sitting gathering dust on the hard drive they might as well be doing something useful.
Hope this helps

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Tom. I'll have a look.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Very Interesting site Tom .

 

[Beth Carter]

i've been using zenfolio for a few years and have been very happy with them, esp. after their last round of updates. good luck whatever route you choose.

 

[Aldous Lau]

Interesting topic. i did heard about selling images online in overseas that there is not such thing in Hong Kong. I am curious to know whether people is willing to pay for images online? Surely it will not happen over here. Between which site is suitable for new user?

 

[Brian Moore]

i've been using zenfolio for a few years and have been very happy with them, esp. after their last round of updates. good luck whatever route you choose.

@Beth Anthony,...have you sold any images through Zenfolio?

 

[Pete Askew]

There is a commercial back end buried on the Babelsberg site. Maybe it is time to activate it!

 

[Aldous Lau]

There is a commercial back end buried on the Babelsberg site. Maybe it is time to activate it!

Thanks Pete

 

[Beth Carter]

@Beth Anthony,...have you sold any images through Zenfolio?

yes, but it's been photos from events or from people who saw my work at a local show. once or twice it's been a friend of a a friend who was looking for something specific. you do have to sell yourself at zenfolio, they don't really put your work out there for the general public.

 

[Davie Hudson]

hmmm sales is a tricky one, i keep meaning to get the shop section of my site sorted. It is the biggest compliment EVER when someone spends their hard earned cash to buy a photograph, i'm always a little choked up when it happens

 

[Nick Lukey]

Tbh I find selling online my images difficult, I sell more in the gallery and as Davie says its rather a nice feeling knowing someone is displaying your work at home, quite humbling.
I generally use the website to give people an idea about the type of image they want.

I find the internet is awash with imagary, whereas the gallery images sell because I can talk about the image details and give them a real insight as to how it was taken, they are buying you as much as the image.

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Having a gallery is useful...

 

[Nick Lukey]

Having a gallery is useful...

Has a cost though but the space is fantastic allows the works to breathe