If you’re a freelance photographer, whether professional or passionate about capturing moments, marketing your prints might be the last thing on your mind. Street, landscape, contemporary, classic, or architectural – regardless of your photography style, selling your fine art photography as a business might not have crossed your radar. However, to truly make it a business, it’s time to consider your strategy and take those first steps toward making your art a profitable venture.
With a well-thought-out marketing and sales plan, your chances of success will be high. You might think that simply uploading your images to platforms like Pixels.com is enough, but remember, you’re competing with countless other photographers doing the same thing. Standing out in the crowd requires a robust promotion strategy.
This guide aims to provide valuable insights into marketing and selling your fine art photography effectively.
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Practical Steps for Marketing & Selling Your Digital Fine Art Prints
No academic degree or photography course is necessary to start this part of your business. Joining a community of photographers selling their photos online or developing your recognizable website is vital. Defining your style is also critical before getting your prints seen and purchased. Here’s a deeper dive into how you can maximize your fine art photography sales.
Start Marketing Your Photography via Social Media
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are fantastic starting points for your marketing campaigns, even if you don’t have a personal website or blog yet. Establish accounts on these platforms, remembering that every follower is a potential buyer. Utilize the various advertising options to showcase your edited photos, enhancing your visibility.
Please encourage your friends and colleagues to like or follow your page and share it within their networks. Let everyone know you’re selling fine art prints – word of mouth combined with social media ads can rapidly increase your reach. Engage with potential buyers by answering their questions and posting short, informative pieces related to your work. Although this might be time-consuming, the possible positive outcomes make it worthwhile.
How to Market Photography via Your Personal Website or Blog
Having your own website gives you more control over interactions with potential customers. Although it requires more time and effort, it’s a long-term investment. You can set up a store using your domain name or create an online store on reputable platforms like BigCommerce or Shopify. These platforms have small fees, while others, like Wix, offer free templates. Choose templates that integrate payment processing and order forms. Purchasing a domain provides even more selling options.
If web development isn’t your forte, consider hiring a company to create a photography website tailored to your needs. A developer can also provide basic training on maintaining the site, integrating SEO keywords, and optimizing your site.
Launching a personal blog where you showcase your fine art stock photography and write engaging articles on photography is another effective strategy. It allows potential customers to email you with inquiries or requests for shipping details. Payment services like PayPal make receiving payments convenient.
Create Email Lists and Marketing Campaigns
As your blog gains followers, start creating email lists for further communication. Whether you use social media or other websites to showcase your images, a direct communication channel with potential buyers is crucial. You can send newsletters and notifications about your latest fine art photography pieces here.
Share just enough to keep your audience interested and engaged. Your followers should see you as a natural person and appreciate your work. If you have a blog, inform them about your new ideas and allow them to know the artist behind the art.
Collect email addresses through giveaways, raffles, Facebook contests, or local events. These small marketing campaigns can significantly boost your sales and provide numerous benefits.
Use Local Options
To tap into new markets, consider developing local interest in your photography. Offer to display your artwork in local coffee shops or approach art galleries about exhibiting your photos. Local businesses might be interested in using your fine art images or promotional materials on their walls.
Local libraries could also be venues for displaying your work every month. Consider placing your fine art photos in local art stores like this fine art gallery in Victoria—they’ll charge a fee only if your artwork sells. Leave business cards for potential buyers to contact you directly.
Participating in art fairs is another excellent way to network with fine art enthusiasts and peers. Learn how selling your photography at these fairs works, including the terms and potential fees. Bring prints to sell on the spot and leave your business cards and flyers with organizers. This is a fantastic opportunity to gather email addresses and contacts of potential buyers. Consider hosting a raffle to win one of your prints and engage the audience.
Final Thoughts
Are you serious about selling your fine art photography? Prepare for challenging but rewarding work. Engage with your potential clients, letting them know you and your work. Start small marketing campaigns to get noticed and focus on easily manageable sources and methods.
Remember, this endeavour will require substantial time and effort. Don’t rely solely on selling fine art photographs for your livelihood. Begin as a hobby and watch your business grow online and offline. The satisfaction of seeing your art in homes and offices is a success worth striving for – so get out there and start now!