selling photographs

Some churches in the Archdioces of Philadelphia here in PA have a Christmas bazaar this year. So this year i plan on selling some of my photographs at 2 of them in my area. Now the date is November 17th and 18th so it's coming up soon, and i'm starting to worry about how i should present myself and my photos to the people at the bazaar. This is my senior year in high school, and i'm going to college next year to pursue the same interest in photography and graphic design, so i am planning on using this money towards college fees, and i'm also going to be buying the 30D also in December, so it'll hopefully fuel that too. But my questions are, what should me plan be? Around how much would all the printing cost? Should i advertise myself to do on location shooting for a small price? Should i have a little jar for donations for my cause? Things like that. So far, i have a 20 X 30 print of one of my photos, but that would be used as an example, to show how large i can get their orders printed, since i use Mpix. So what do you guys think?

can't anyone answer this?

Well a lot of your questions are a little difficult to answer beacuse they are up to you really. If you want to shoot on location then go for it, advertise that you'll do that. Remember to price yourself correctly so you don't seem too cheap. If you're too cheap people will hire you and waste your time, been there, done that.

The printing is really dependent on what you're showing what kind of printing you're doing, how many printsd you're bringing. I couldn't tell you really. GENERALLY you would price the prints so there is a %150+ markup from the materials depending on skill level and experience.

I would advise you to not put out a jar only because it has kind of a desperate feel too it, know what I mean? You're not starving (I hope).

I'd say go there as a professional and present yourself as you would want to be hired out. If you want to be a portrait photographer be professional and organized and direct. If you want to be a fine art photographer be edgy and weird and ever so slightly confused, lol, it's really hard to say. Just be yourself and you'll be fine.

To be up-front about it you're the only person that can know how to price or present yor work. We get quite a lot of these kinds of queries here on the subject and what is obvious is that the markets are very different, not just between country and county but even districts only a few miles (relatively) apart. We can suggest ways that you can set your business up but ultimately it depends on you learning your business.


First step is to look very critically at your work as if you were a potential customer. Compare it with other people's work as though they had the stand next to yours, not just the technical quality but the artisitic creativity, the presentation. Does it withstand the comparison? If it does, compare prices, and bear in mind that it doesn't usually pay to cut prices - people tend to equate cost with quality, presntation counts too.

Look around your neighbourhood, is there any competition already or are you bringing something new? Lucky if you are but more likely it may be a different take on a similar theme. Now you if you've looked at prices while you looked at their products you know roughly what your locality will stand.

Cost everything that goes into making the print and don't forget to add in a factor for the deterioration/replacem​ent of your gear - it doesn't last forever, there will be wastage if you do your own printing and mounting and so on, remember your time too, it may be a hobby now but when it becomes your job you're doing it to earn a crust and a roof over your head you need to rice now as you would if it were your daily work. Now put all that together and compare the cost with the prices you can sell at, a good starting point is that the costs should amount to less than 50%.

Teaching someone how to run a business takes more than a few lines so there are whole areas not even touched on here. You're going to have to go out there and test the water and learn.

dont put out the tip jar or use the college thing as a reason for people to help you out by buying some picture.

act professionally and sell your photos or services.

There is a woman that sets up a table with very nice matted photos of all the places she has been, each is matted, wrapped, signed, and they are terrible shots of wonderful places. (very touristy) her setup is very nice, she has a full display, and easels and all that... and sells almost nothing.

from my experience this type of selling isnt exactly a way to get rich quick. In most cases the pic that people buy is the one that means something to them. not just a pic you took on vacation to france.

offer to do portrait work or kids' parties or something. if you want to make a bit of money fast with less overhead, that might be a way to do it. you need to be equipped to do the work though. the camera youll probably buy in december is not going to make you any money right now.

dress nicely, present yourself as professional as possible... and good luck. it is not easy.

What, you expect an answer in 19 minutes of less? Then try a forum search. Similar questions come up several times a week.
Here's a place to start: How to sell my photos?
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=36657
Online Photo Printing for Selling Images
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=138432