Why Photographers CAN’T SELL PRINTS | Creative E-Commerce 101

I’m an artist and I’m butt-hurt, lol. Luckily I have a day job😂 -good advice.

Where do you sale?

I don't agree with the take on social media around the 2-3 minute mark. There are tons of talented artists on Instagram and TikTok but the problem with many of them is that the ALGORITHMS are actively hiding the work in favor of highly engaging video content and advertisements. Instagram in particular is bad for artists who post photo content now because nothing except reels get pushed. Putting the fault entirely on the creator isn't reality regardless of how big their following/business is.

I could be wrong but that black camera with the silver lens and hood sitting on the desk, pointed ever-so-subtly towards the viewer might be a Leica. I almost missed it.

I do oil paintings, it takes a few days to make one unique painting. With my camera I press click then make as many identical prints as required. It's different.

This is so much valuable. Even I make videos, focusing on the business side of photography and videography. We should connect soon

Thank you for your insights and the effort for creating this video! It motivated me to get back into this print-business in my city, Berlin! After watching your video I realised I was just trying to do way too many things at a time, loosing focus on what I actually want to do and therefore loosing track of my target audience. Greetings from Germany <3

love what you say about being an artist as a hobby and making the business your profession. Can I steal that from you ;)

I may have skipped over it in the video. But what is the printing service you use to print your work. Looked amazing !

I see your links to merch and sponsors but (being lazy and not willing to search the web) I don't see a link to a portfolio for me to truly assess your skills.
If I may paraphrase your video: Photographers; be an artist with your left and and use that skill to pimp yourself with the right.
It's absolutely true across all genres these days. Sell what sells and do the rest for personal satisfaction. ... and use shipstation (not an ad)

Great Advice 🙏

Fine, but if you actually DO have legitimacy as a fine artist, then selling loads of cheap prints will also cheapen your reputation. Maybe you aren't an artist? Harsh, but true.

I've been doing this to some degree since I had to develop film in my grandparents' basement. After over 25 years, when this popped up in the algorithm I was reticent to watch. Because I remember finding your channel in 2016, I wanted to see what you've learned. This is some of the best advice on the subject matter in the industry. Other people may have differing principles here or there, but if someone follows the first four tips here and does the first two steps really well... Grind it out and in 12-14 months it's a legit stream of income. Be specific, find that niche, and serve your local market really well. And if you're going to pick something, pick the lane you most love. Don't force yourself to shoot commercial work when you want to do fine art; and don't approach business owners if you're trying to attract art directors. If you're going to go for it, go for "your" it not just what you think is more lucrative this moment.

where I can sell my print?

With creative endeavours there may be thousands of people willing to give you 1 penny each for something uncreative but somewhere there will be one person willing to give you thousands for something creative. The problem is encounters. You'll encounter the former readily and misinterpret it as progress and in doing so you'll create content that shuts out the one.

Love your work man ! I who did you use to print your photo books ? We’re you happy with them ?

Really interesting vid

I dont give a fuk about art.. i just want to recover some of this 8 grand investment in family-camera equipment.. just figure ill get an EIN, throw up a website, and figure out how to sell some service once in a while.

This is making me really focus. Thank you. It seems specialty websites/ or pages are a more efficient way to go. Am I wrong in my thinking?

Great video Evan. You’ve given me some real food for thought 🙏.

thanks man

Good! Good! Good! I finally found this channel! And I believe these videos are exactly what I need to hear and learn humbly. You’re my best mentor 🎉!!!

Good advice for business, but if you think you can just switch your art passion to a hobby, you’re definitely not an artist. Maybe that’s the real reason you never made it as an artist. If you really care about art , you can never give up.

Fantastic info! [I came here via a post from Lucy Lumen.]

But seriously, where is that vintage car shop? I would love that 240z.

You are correct here. I sell a lot of digital licenses or my work. Much less actual physical stuff. But I make a calendar of my best images locally and it sold 1200x last year. Now I partnered with a marketingfirm, and the goal is going to 2000x and up over the years. Books also sell well. Just design it yourself. Ask a famous person for a intro. Contact stores. Find a printer that offers a good balance in quality and price. Its pure profit. Slow. But slow profit is also profit.

I’m straight up using this strategy today. Setting up focused instagram pages instead of a general art pages, and selling prints and merch.

idea stolen son!!!!! thanks great advice

I’ve been selling for about 5 months and I’ve sold $10,000 in prints. Now that Christmas is over people aren’t buying anything until tax returns come.

I’ve found it to be pretty difficult but thing we’re going pretty good before the economy slowed down

Thank you for this

to be fair, the only reason you found success in mass produced style images is because you aren't a good artist, you are an influencer. You know how to move dumb people and sell classes/ad spots, not create lasting works. its a whack suggestion for everyone in general, the fine art photography scene is doing very well.

Great video! Thank you

"My biggest mistake was not milking the artist community and movement I helped build."

Your recommendation and rationale are solid. I think that concept is slightly more mature among musicians. An example would be the massive mount of tracks in ARTIST (where tons of people go to download sound tracks for BGM). Many awesome tunes but otherwise un-known (from a billboard artist perspective). I am a hobbyist photographer and full time publicist. Since 2020 when pandemic hit, it really impacted my business. Three years later the business dynamic changed for my industry and it had me thinking hard whether hobby can potentially turn into some sort of means in earning subsidized income. Anyway, a lot of learning from your video. Great work and kudos for sharing. Cheers and have a great 2023.

Hey, thanks for making this man :)

Greatttt video!

great video🎉

Another problem that many photographers have when selling prints is that they’re not opening themselves up to enough online photo selling platforms.
Personally I sell on 4 different platforms:
Etsy
Pic-Time
Pixieset
SmugMug

The other problem... People dont like good photography. Anyways.... Live laugh love! 😆 fml

What kind of material do you use for printing?

You also gave me an idea to make a photography book about my town. My town has become a tourist trap and has lost it's real identity so thank God I photographed the old way it used to be and will highlight that version. The forgotten version.

I've been waiting for someone to say this for a long time and have people believe it. And for not thinking they're out of their minds for saying it. No one cares on IG anymore so to quote Ethan Hawke (paraphrasing) "Why are you running after something (someone) that doesn't love you back?"

To be honest, that really isn’t a great idea. Making money off of prints is incredibly difficult as the vast majority of photographers will admit. Your time and energy are likely best invested elsewhere.

Just watched this for the 20th+ time (twice today) because I swear you're talking directly to me. Excellent info and insight. ^5

Thank you! awesome I just got a great idea to sell prints in my area by watching your wonderful video!

I subscribed because I see we have a similar taste in books. Hope you actually do read them haha!

Hahahahah this was soooo me 7 years ago. Trying to be this so called “artist”.
I really agree about the mindset shift to being a businessman.
I now ran a video creative agency and it has been amazing!👍

I needed this video 7 years ago 🤗
Being an “artist” with no money is not so fun

Great advise Evan!

Super valuable message and very inspiring! Selling photographs as an artist/creator is very difficult. Your shift to a business approach is awesome. Thanks for the great content.

Grifter