Help Starting Out

[aussieskier]

I don't know if this is necessarily the prefect place for this, but its the only place I could figure so bear with me. I am a Senior in Highschool and I am looking for a way to start selling some of my pictures I have taken on carious occasions of different landscape etc. The problem is I haven't been able to determine a good way to do this with a limited amount of overhead, as I don't have tons of money with college coming 'round the corner. What I am wondering is what are some of the ways that I could sell photos like this where I am not being called out for shoots, but want to sell the pictures i take for people to use as decorations in they're living rooms, mostly because I have had some people over see me showing some of my pictures to people and offer to buy them for that purpose. Any help is greatly appreciated, this forum has always been really helpful, and I am greatful for the community here. Thanks in advance,
Riley

[IndyJeff]

Look for some flea markets, craft shows etc. Sometimes booth rental can be very cheap. Also you might look for a consignment shop. One where you ahve a booth, they collect at the front and pay you on your sales.

[Wilt]

Consider making large prints, framing them, and offering them for sale via hanging on the walls of a small business. Free decoration for the business to use, and you could 'sweeten' the deal for the business by offering them a 'commission' for each thing sold from their walls. Priced reasonably (not too high...consider the budgets of the spontaneous buyer!) and place in restaurants or beauty salons or other places with a large volume of foot traffic, this could get you started. Another idea...make some sample Christmas cards using your photos and offer them for sale as 10 card or 25 card boxes.

[Sam]

Look for some flea markets, craft shows etc. Sometimes booth rental can be very cheap. Also you might look for a consignment shop. One where you ahve a booth, they collect at the front and pay you on your sales.

I second this.

Also, I'm not sure how the community in your area is but Farmers Markets are another place to set up shop with minimal overhead.

[ACDCROCKS]

You could set up a booth at art shows, or sell on line... Post you r pics in magazines, such as dirtbikes etc... I like your phrase "ahh the joys of being a teenager always saving for something..." I 100% agree with that,ever since my firt camera, all my money goes toward a camera, I don't know If I help or not, but I get paid to take pics, oh, I'm a Junior, It get's faster every year.

[IndyJeff]

Consider making large prints, framing them, and offering them for sale via hanging on the walls of a small business. Free decoration for the business to use, and you could 'sweeten' the deal for the business by offering them a 'commission' for each thing sold from their walls. Priced reasonably (not too high...consider the budgets of the spontaneous buyer!) and place in restaurants or beauty salons or other places with a large volume of foot traffic, this could get you started.


Wilt, that is an excellent idea.

[aussieskier]

Thank you all for the advice. I am working on making and framing some latger prints. Luckily I have some friends who own small businesses in which some of my pictures would fit perfectly with decorations and I am going to talk to them as soon as i get everything framed up. Thanks again
Riley

[Wilt]

Aussieskier, you might want to have small notes attached to each print, which give the price for the print alone, and also for the print with frame.

People have no idea how expensive frame materials are, and may be put off by the framed price, but will spontaneously buy the print alone. So you might want to insert the photos in a somewhat temporary manner, so the photo can be removed with relative ease, yet be secure enough that if the customer wanted the complete framed version (as displayed) they simply can pick it all up as one unit and take it home.