Photography is Fun. Selling Photos, not so Much
Let's face it, most of us are photographers because we love taking pictures, not because we like marketing them. What's more, while it's wonderful to sell your photos, the process of putting them up for sale, printing them and delivering them to the client is a pain in the posterior region. The business of bring a photographer is a lot of work and like it or not, if you're going to generate income with your images, that work has to be done.
Whether you're simply an amateur with some great shots you want to offer for sale or a full-time professional, photography can be a little bit like hunting, in that once you've taken the shot, the fun is over. The hunter has to dress, clean, pack and process the game. The photographer has to download, edit, cull, display, price, sell and print the photos. Not only is the process time consuming, it comes with a lot of overhead.
If you're shooting events, the business gets even more complicated, because you're selling your photography services. That means marketing on a completely different level, as well as the drudgery of preparing and showing proofs, then preparing only those that the client decides to buy. All in all, you can spend a lot more time tending to business than doing what you really enjoy.
By now you're probably thinking this article is nothing but a rant. Actually, though, I'm writing to offer you a suggestion that can help relieve some of the burden of the business and help you get back out there shooting. It's not going to do all the work for you, but it's a step that can simplify much of the process, especially if you're shooting photos of people. It can also increase your chances of making sales without requiring a lot of extra effort on your part.
I'm talking about opening an account with KeepSnap. The minds that created this site had the right idea and implemented it well. If you're like me and would rather be taking photos than selling them, you'll appreciate what this site will do for you. Yes, you'll need to do a little bit of setup work, but compared to “flying solo”, selling with this account is a piece of cake.
You start by signing up. (No surprise there.) It's free for photographers. (Now there's a pleasant surprise.) You'll want to set up your profile to let clients and prospects know who you are. Upload some of your photos. Then, do yourself a favor and personalize and print out your KeepSnap promo cards. These are a little bit more than a standard business card, with both your personal profile URL and a scan code printed on them, to allow clients to access your galleries easily.
Once you've completed that much, you can take your cards with you and leave them with people you photograph anywhere, to let them browse your galleries and purchase any photos they like directly from the site,without any further effort on your part. For events and other purposes, you can create private galleries, which will be protected by a PIN that you can write on the card for the client.
Simple, right? Right. You set the price for your photos and you keep 70% to 80% of the sale, depending on the popularity of the photo. The system simply works, and it won't cost you anything up front. Best of all, your account comes with promotional tools to help bring visitors to your site. There's an optional directory, too, so people that need a photographer in your area can find you easily.
This site deserves a serious look from any photographer that wants to generate more income with less effort. It can even open up new avenues for many. Go check it out. You have nothing to lose and possibly much to gain! Don't take my word for it; Go check it out for yourself.