How do you sell your photos?

[jl_moped]

I am new to this photography business and trying to set up a website to display some of my work and perhaps sell some photos. My dad has been a life long landscape and astro photographer and has many magazine quality photos that may worth something.

1. Is there a particular photo hosting software (gallery, my photo gallery, etc) that is good for hosting photos and providing an option to sell the photos online?

2. Do you put a signature or copyright logo on the photo for sale?

3. A photo can be sold to multiple people, but I still own the rights to the original?

4. Prints that have been published in magazine, can I still sell them?

Thank you for your advise.

[RTMiller]

1. Is there a particular photo hosting software (gallery, my photo gallery, etc) that is good for hosting photos and providing an option to sell the photos online?
There are many hosting sites out there. I have a Smugmug Pro account (referral code w7inhfZdZ4we6). You can set your own prices, customize the website, get traffic reports... I have had no problems at all and they have very good customer support.

2. Do you put a signature or copyright logo on the photo for sale?
I do not. Some people do. I look at it from the buyers perspective. If I bought a photo, I would not want a distracting signature or logo on the front. Smugmug Pro has a new option where you can print a few lines on the back of the pictures you sell. I put my web url and phone number on the back.


3. A photo can be sold to multiple people, but I still own the rights to the original?

Yes. Basically, as the picture taker, you own the copyright. You can sell it to as many people as you like. I said 'basically' because things can get more complicated if you sign a contract or are working for some one else, like a newspaper. But you would have to sign something to relinquish the copyright to photos you take (basically...).


4. Prints that have been published in magazine, can I still sell them?
See above.

[jl_moped]

Hi Todd,

Thanks for the link to Smugmug. How do you direct buyers or general public to view your site? Do you get a lot of traffic? As far as setting the price, is there a general rule of thumb of how much to charge? I understand Smugmug takes 15%.

Also, do you recommend getting a business license before selling photos? Getting a license will cost money, but is there any advantage in doing so such as writing off equipment expense for tax, able to give out business cards and asking permission before taking pictures, etc?

[coreypolis]

well by law you have to have a business liscense, and you will save on tax advantages.

remember you have to charge sales tax and report it quarterly, and keep it seperate.

[coreypolis]

1. Is there a particular photo hosting software (gallery, my photo gallery, etc) that is good for hosting photos and providing an option to sell the photos online?

check out photo biz and eos template, the links to those and more aree in the bottom link in my sig


2. Do you put a signature or copyright logo on the photo for sale?
on the back only for me

3. A photo can be sold to multiple people, but I still own the rights to the original?
yes, assuming you word the contract that way. there are times when someone may want the legal rights to that or for you to not sell it to others, and make them pay accordingly if you are ok with that


4. Prints that have been published in magazine, can I still sell them?

read the contract with the magazine, usually you have to wait 90 days or even 6 months, and then it can't be sold to a competitor etc

make sure you are sending your image to the copyright office too

[jl_moped]

How does the copyright process work? Is it a government office? Do it submit individual photo to be copyright? What is the cost on that?

To sell a "copy" of the photo and not the rights to it, how do you specify that?

To get a business license and reporting the tax, with the license fees, web hosting and additional photographic equipment, I think I will be in the negative balance at least for the first year, will I raise a red flag with the IRS? If I end up not making it and fold the business, would I have any tax liability?

I am considering converting a hobby into a side business, is this the way to do it by putting some photos for sale on the web?

[coreypolis]

How does the copyright process work? Is it a government office? Do it submit individual photo to be copyright? What is the cost on that?

you should send a cd of low res images on a cd to them quarterly with what you've shot. cost is $35, but if someone illegally uses your image and its copyrightered there, you can sue them not only for damages, but lawyer fees and punitive damages.



To sell a "copy" of the photo and not the rights to it, how do you specify that?


find some contracts similar to this online, rewrite it to meet your needs, have a lost cost attorney check it. www.score.org (http://www.score.org) can also help


To get a business license and reporting the tax, with the license fees, web hosting and additional photographic equipment, I think I will be in the negative balance at least for the first year, will I raise a red flag with the IRS? If I end up not making it and fold the business, would I have any tax liability?

almost all business have this problem. you can be in the red for up to 5 years before you would have real problems, though why would you want to. a business loan to get started might help


I am considering converting a hobby into a side business, is this the way to do it by putting some photos for sale on the web?

sure, check out some of the gallery/software link in the bottom link in my sig. but do it right legally, get teh liscene, you can then wrote everything, including your car and house (to an extent) off. theres a lot of good tax reasons to do it. make friends with a cpa too