In a down economy, a lot of people are trying to find alternative ways of adding income. Some people engage in hobbies that are not only interesting, but may actually be worth money--if you can find the right buyer. Photography is one of those hobbies that is fun to do, and if you’re a competent photographer, you may have images that other people may be willing to pay for. Craft fairs are traditional venues for photographers to offer their prints for sale. Following are a few tips for selling photos at craft fairs.
Have Confidence
If you hope to sell your photos to other people, you must have confidence not only in yourself, but in the quality of your work. Unless someone is a very good friend and is trying to make you feel good, no one is going to pay you for subpar photographs. They must be images that portray subjects of interest to the buyer, be of superior quality, and be better images than the person you’re trying to sell to can take themselves.
Promote Yourself
Once you decide to try and sell your photos at craft fairs, you’ll need to begin promoting yourself so potential buyers will know that you’re in business and where they can find you if they want to purchase an image. Buying space in a newspaper or magazine is an option, but being able to take advantage of free advertising is a better way to go, at least when you’re just starting out. You can send e-mails to everyone in your contacts list, telling them where you’re going to be and the hours the show is going on. Another free method that is extremely useful is to promote yourself and the show on social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Package Your Photos Securely
If you hope to sell your photos, you’ll need to display them attractively. They must also be packaged securely, so they won’t be damaged when people handle them. The images should be matted, with a backing board so they won’t bend easily, and placed inside a plastic bag to keep the prints from getting dirty, wet, or scratched. If you sell framed prints, they must be attractive, and the glass should be clean and free of smears.
Sell Yourself
In order to be successful selling your photos at craft fairs, you’ll have to learn how to sell yourself. That’s because when people come into your booth they’ll expect you to be friendly and knowledgeable, as well as willing to share your expertise, and describe how you were able to get the shots you’re selling. A lot of people who enter a photo booth at a craft fair are interested not only in your images, but in the art of photography. They may be amateur photographers looking for information or simply want to share their own photographic experiences.
Your Booth Should Be Eye-Catching
Your photographs by themselves may not be sufficient to draw people’s interest. The booth itself should be attractive enough to catch their eye. If you have scrapes of paper lying around, or things piled haphazardly in the corners, people may be put off and not bother stopping to look at your pictures. Your display tables should be covered with an attractive cloth, and should reach nearly to the ground or floor--that way you can store boxes and other things beneath the table, and they won’t distract people.
Offer Different Size Prints
Due to the fact that different people have varying taste, and may also lack available wall space, you should offer your prints in various sizes. It would also be a good idea to package your matted prints in standard sizes, so people won’t be forced to purchase custom frames for them--specially sized frames can be very expensive. People may love a certain picture, but they either don’t have the space for a large print or can’t afford the bigger ones. Offering the same photo in smaller sizes will allow people to purchase a picture they like, even if they can’t get the size they’d prefer.
Be Affordable
Try and keep your prices as low as you can, yet still make a profit from them. The lower your prices are, the better your chances of selling enough prints to make displaying them at craft shows worthwhile. Of course, you don’t want to devalue your work, but you should be realistic in pricing the prints. After you do a few shows, you’ll be able to determine whether or not there is a market for your photos and if they’re priced right.
Patience Is a Virtue
When you’re trying to sell your photos at craft fairs, don’t be discouraged if you’re not immediately successful. You should enter this endeavor with the thought that it’s a marathon, and not a sprint--which means that you need to be patient. Not everyone is cut out to try and sell their photos directly to other people. You’ll find out quickly whether or not you enjoy doing it and whether or not you are willing to put in the time it takes to establish your photography business.
Guest post from Cameron Gray.
Have Confidence
If you hope to sell your photos to other people, you must have confidence not only in yourself, but in the quality of your work. Unless someone is a very good friend and is trying to make you feel good, no one is going to pay you for subpar photographs. They must be images that portray subjects of interest to the buyer, be of superior quality, and be better images than the person you’re trying to sell to can take themselves.
Promote Yourself
Once you decide to try and sell your photos at craft fairs, you’ll need to begin promoting yourself so potential buyers will know that you’re in business and where they can find you if they want to purchase an image. Buying space in a newspaper or magazine is an option, but being able to take advantage of free advertising is a better way to go, at least when you’re just starting out. You can send e-mails to everyone in your contacts list, telling them where you’re going to be and the hours the show is going on. Another free method that is extremely useful is to promote yourself and the show on social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Package Your Photos Securely
If you hope to sell your photos, you’ll need to display them attractively. They must also be packaged securely, so they won’t be damaged when people handle them. The images should be matted, with a backing board so they won’t bend easily, and placed inside a plastic bag to keep the prints from getting dirty, wet, or scratched. If you sell framed prints, they must be attractive, and the glass should be clean and free of smears.
Sell Yourself
In order to be successful selling your photos at craft fairs, you’ll have to learn how to sell yourself. That’s because when people come into your booth they’ll expect you to be friendly and knowledgeable, as well as willing to share your expertise, and describe how you were able to get the shots you’re selling. A lot of people who enter a photo booth at a craft fair are interested not only in your images, but in the art of photography. They may be amateur photographers looking for information or simply want to share their own photographic experiences.
Your Booth Should Be Eye-Catching
Your photographs by themselves may not be sufficient to draw people’s interest. The booth itself should be attractive enough to catch their eye. If you have scrapes of paper lying around, or things piled haphazardly in the corners, people may be put off and not bother stopping to look at your pictures. Your display tables should be covered with an attractive cloth, and should reach nearly to the ground or floor--that way you can store boxes and other things beneath the table, and they won’t distract people.
Offer Different Size Prints
Due to the fact that different people have varying taste, and may also lack available wall space, you should offer your prints in various sizes. It would also be a good idea to package your matted prints in standard sizes, so people won’t be forced to purchase custom frames for them--specially sized frames can be very expensive. People may love a certain picture, but they either don’t have the space for a large print or can’t afford the bigger ones. Offering the same photo in smaller sizes will allow people to purchase a picture they like, even if they can’t get the size they’d prefer.
Be Affordable
Try and keep your prices as low as you can, yet still make a profit from them. The lower your prices are, the better your chances of selling enough prints to make displaying them at craft shows worthwhile. Of course, you don’t want to devalue your work, but you should be realistic in pricing the prints. After you do a few shows, you’ll be able to determine whether or not there is a market for your photos and if they’re priced right.
Patience Is a Virtue
When you’re trying to sell your photos at craft fairs, don’t be discouraged if you’re not immediately successful. You should enter this endeavor with the thought that it’s a marathon, and not a sprint--which means that you need to be patient. Not everyone is cut out to try and sell their photos directly to other people. You’ll find out quickly whether or not you enjoy doing it and whether or not you are willing to put in the time it takes to establish your photography business.
Guest post from Cameron Gray.
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