My friends ask me how to sell photography on Etsy all the time. So I’m spilling it here.
What is the first step in selling your photography prints on Etsy? Define your focus. Narrow your collection. Pick a theme.
When many people start selling photography prints online they make a huge mistake– they try to cast a wide net. They try to please a wide audience. They try to have something that will appeal to everybody.
It’s natural to think that appealing to a wide audience would mean more buyers, but it just doesn’t work like that.
If you have a few macro shots of flowers, some nice beach images, several old barns in rural landscapes and you open your shop with a diverse collection, you may make a nice impression with people browsing your shop. Nice, not memorable. Even if the images are lovely by themselves, the mix often robs them of their individual appeal. Together they are less.
You are much better off to offer a tight, distinctive, curated set of images that rocks some people’s socks off than try to cover your bases with something for everybody.
Pick a theme within your existing images and develop it into 24 or more images to open your shop. If your orchid macros are to die for, go with that. Leave the rustic barns for later.
A tight set of images isn’t necessarily defined by subject. Some photographers manage powerful visual cohesion with a variety of subjects. It’s just easier to develop a tight set of photographs with a narrow subject.
Some people will love your orchids. They will tell their friends on Facebook. They will blog about your work and pin your photos on Pinterest. They will be your people, your buyers.
Remember when Amazon sold only books? They got known as the place online to buy books. Simple. Memorable. Later they added small kitchen appliances, pipe wrenches, and music. They didn’t start out trying to build a reputation as the place to buy anything and everything online.
Take a look at your photographs. Pick a theme.
What do you think? Am I brilliant? Full of bologna? Leave a comment. Tweet this post.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Truly appreciate the insights, Tricia. Newbies like me don’t know where to start, and we’re pulled in so many different directions without your guidance. So glad you posted on the etsy forum. I’m a new subscriber. I’ll be reading your past posts, as well to catch up!
I have to agree with what you’re saying here… I thought the same thing when I opened my shop, but I somehow ended up with a mess of photos anyway, haha.
Thing is, when I shoot urban I tend to go more with desaturation, contrast, or black and white, whereas with nature photos I tend to go more pale and colourful. Apart they work, but put together it is definitely a bit odd!
Anyhow, I found your blog through Etsy (I am NancyFphotos there) and you’ve got some interesting reads so I linked you on my (fairly new) photo blog.
Nancy´s last [type] ..A day at the fair to end the summer
Sounds right to me. I’ve often wondered if I should be mixing my watercolors with my photography. Some times it overwhelms me. I’m trying to be all things to all people and I love it sometime and don’t so much at others.
Great blog,
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
CheyAnne Sexton´s last [type] ..Exquitse Pink Peony Watercolor giclee SOLD
This makes a lot of sense! I wish I had an area of specialty lol, well, what binds my photos together is mostly their feel. I’m into the vivid super saturated stuff so for the time being I’m going with that theme if I may call it that. I’ll have to gather quite a collection before I can focus on something, maybe cats haha.. Thanks for the tips!
Zoe´s last [type] ..How to Increase Your Facebook Fan Base
Hi! im not new to photography bu ti am new to etsy and selling photography. i was wondering, how do you determine pricing? and can you sell the same photograph to more than one person? and also, how do you keep people from going to the photo on your etsy shop, right-click and just save it instead of buying it? any other selling tips would be appreciated(: Thanks!