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Author Topic: Selling photography  (Read 16149 times)

jjj

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Selling photography
« Reply #20 on: April 20, 2008, 08:05:46 pm »

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What I did want to avoid was the dreaded 'Gallery' pages which I doubt are seldom studied to anything like the degree that the photographers rather fancy they are. I feel the impact and message are immediate on my site, although I think that yellow font on the home page is in desperate need of replacing with something a little more subtle.
GAlleries are the most important part of a photographer's website. Everything else is addition to them. Thinking otherwise is crazy. In fact I still can't believe you even wrote that. You are a photographer aren't you?  


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The same applies to the flyer, but it can't be that bad as I actually get requests for it. It's bright, concise, optimistic and gets noticed. Being encapsulated means that it doesn't get thrown away either.
Something being encapsulated would simply mean it went in the non recycling bin, no the paper bank, if I didn't like it.

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Trouble is, that I have nothing to compare it directly with, how many other photographers have done anything similar. How do you sell yourself for instance?
Through my charm and personality!    Word of mouth mainly and showing my portfolio around, always having a mini portfolio on me as you never know when you may meet  a potential client, a business card that people really like...

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ps. Just looked at your site and indeed it is a good 'un.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=190393\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
And it's nothing but galleries!  
And in dire need of replacing by a new one. I have the design all done, just waiting for all my storage to get sorted, so I can easily access all my images easily. Bought lots of shiny expensive kit that doesn't work well, at all or harmoniously. Macs are just as shite as PCs, but more expensive, so even more annoying. Grr RANT, RANT!!


It seems you have been riped off by some designers and same scam 3 in a row? But maybe if you went to a good/reputable designer recomended by someone else, then it would be money well spent.
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #21 on: April 20, 2008, 11:55:11 pm »

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What I did want to avoid was the dreaded 'Gallery' pages which I doubt are seldom studied to anything like the degree that the photographers rather fancy they are.

You've got it totally ass-backwards. You are a photographer; the whole point of your web site should be the display of your work. Galleries (or some sort of organized exhibition of one's photos) are absolutely the most important (and most viewed) part of any photographer's web site. Your work (and contact information) is the primary point of your web site , and should be prominently displayed in a concisely labeled, easy-to-navigate fashion. Your work (assuming it isn't a bunch of crap) is the most powerful argument you have for persuading people to part with their hard-earned money to pay for your services. Everything else (artist statement and other such fluff) is window dressing, and in most cases is the bullshit that the potential clients don't bother to look at. If clients really like your images, they will willingly pay for your services. If not, the most cleverly constructed artist statement or any of the other crap that finds its way into many sites isn't going to change their minds.

I just got a job on staff with the photography department of the US Capitol on the basis of the photographs posted on my web site. It's also how I've gotten a lot of paying business. A business card with a URL pointing to some carefully selected images can go a long way toward establishing your credibility as a photographer, and be a key ingredient in a potential client deciding to hire you.
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Justinr

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« Reply #22 on: April 21, 2008, 07:33:24 am »

Look again.

I've called my galleries blogs which implies that something is being said and not just shown. Each is limited to six images from a particular event or occasion, they are all on the same page so folk can just scroll down rather than wait for reloads. Many businesses and private customers away from town are still on dial up around here, so this is an important feature. My 'Why use' section employs just four images per page, the idea being that the photos might actually be looked at rather than glanced upon. Again, I need to get more commercial stuff up there. Text is kept to a minimum, in fact I have often wondered whether it is really necessary on a photo site at all!

There is a developing concept behind it all but of late I have been sidetracked down the event photography route (offered to me from the site BTW) so have been trying to get that right although I am not at all convinced that it is that big an earner at these local events. But the site will change, will either of yours? I have refrained from comment upon them for now (other than I like many of your photo's JJJ) but I too have opinions which may be disagreeable in one or two respects.

But most importantly of all I can go in and change the site now, without waiting, or paying, for a third party to p*ss about with it on my behalf. It is a living, evolving thing which is pointed out on the home page. Likewise the flyer which I shall be leaving on desks in addition to a business card when I call. It'll be remembered (even if only used as a coffee mat) for a fair while.

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Everything else (artist statement and other such fluff) is window dressing, and in most cases is the bullshit that the potential clients don't bother to look at.

Couldn't agree more, but there are many, many other people on this site who need to take this to heart more than I.

Justin.
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #23 on: April 21, 2008, 09:10:24 am »

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But the site will change, will either of yours? I have refrained from comment upon them for now (other than I like many of your photo's JJJ) but I too have opinions which may be disagreeable in one or two respects.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm currently a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and most of my computer gear is packed away in storage (including the desktop configured with my site editor) while the doctors decide whether I'll be able to stay in the Army or not. Prior to being sent here for treatment, I was busy in Iraq and Germany with a lot of things other than photography. The Army is encouraging patients who are in long-term treatment but are medically capable of doing some sort of work to find employment with local companies and government agencies, since sitting around in a glorified hotel room with nothing to do for months on end is bad for morale.
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Justinr

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« Reply #24 on: April 21, 2008, 05:56:40 pm »

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In case you haven't noticed, I'm currently a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and most of my computer gear is packed away in storage (including the desktop configured with my site editor) while the doctors decide whether I'll be able to stay in the Army or not. Prior to being sent here for treatment, I was busy in Iraq and Germany with a lot of things other than photography. The Army is encouraging patients who are in long-term treatment but are medically capable of doing some sort of work to find employment with local companies and government agencies, since sitting around in a glorified hotel room with nothing to do for months on end is bad for morale.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=190959\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Although I am naturally concerned to hear of your indisposition I am not entirely sure what bearing this has on the matter. Many of us out of the services are busy paying an inflated price for oil which finances the great misadventure as well as the consequences thereof.

Justin.
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Jonathan Wienke

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« Reply #25 on: April 22, 2008, 12:59:39 am »

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Although I am naturally concerned to hear of your indisposition I am not entirely sure what bearing this has on the matter. Many of us out of the services are busy paying an inflated price for oil which finances the great misadventure as well as the consequences thereof.

You made a comment about web sites not being updated, and I was explaining why mine hasn't been updated in a long time. I've been busy doing my part to help keep oil under $200/barrel...
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Justinr

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« Reply #26 on: April 22, 2008, 03:13:18 am »

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You made a comment about web sites not being updated, and I was explaining why mine hasn't been updated in a long time. I've been busy doing my part to help keep oil under $200/barrel...
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=191141\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


If you have access to a the web then you are able to create a website quite easily using a CMS such as SiteStudio or Joomla (if you can get your head around quite what it is or does.) SiteStudio doesn't offer much scope for adventurous web design but it's quite up to producing basic stuff that works and then you can add things like Copperplate for galleries and stock sales. There are bound to be other avenues. Depends on whether you have access to your photo files.

As for the oil price then this is not the place to discuss such matters but there is the market price (a mere $200 a barrel), the actual price (add in the cost of all the wars fought to secure it) and the true price which is the actual price plus your situation, 4,000 US casualities and the many hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead and injured.

Justin.
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Justinr

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« Reply #27 on: April 22, 2008, 03:17:57 am »

Sorry, duplicate post.
« Last Edit: April 22, 2008, 03:18:50 am by Justinr »
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Steven Draper

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« Reply #28 on: April 30, 2008, 08:30:47 am »

The internet can be a powerful marketing tool for the overall images that you capture.

However there are hundreds of thousands of photo web sites around, with more cropping up each day and they will become even more important in the future. With online printing it seems everyone with a digital camera is dangling the carrot.

I'm busy revamping mine and keep my blog separate. This generates interest too, especially as "your story" may be part of why people buy from you, depending on what you take. A local editor emailed me with the possibility of running a story in a local magazine 8^)

I think the notion of separate web-sites for your areas of photography is the best approach as it give a more specialist feel. Maybe one day I'll take my own advice!

Be careful though, running a photo business with marketing, tax returns, clients etc - suddenly time can start to run out for making pictures!
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image examples are at my website  [url=h

LoisWakeman

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Selling photography
« Reply #29 on: May 02, 2008, 07:35:46 am »

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... my blog separate. This generates interest too, especially as "your story" may be part of why people buy from you, depending on what you take. [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=192655\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
My thoughts too. As the web is so impersonal, forging a bond with prospective purchasers is important - and a well crafted blog can be a good way of adding the personal touch without being mushy. It's a side glance on the work, rather than the main gallery if you like - like being able to talk to the artist.

I didn't get to see your pictures just now BTW: in FF2, I just got a page titled "transferring to website" for ages, then clicking a portfoio link just gives me an "e" in the space where I imagine the image should be. (see below)
[attachment=6384:attachment]
« Last Edit: May 02, 2008, 07:36:15 am by LoisWakeman »
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jjj

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« Reply #30 on: May 02, 2008, 07:28:57 pm »

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I didn't get to see your pictures just now BTW: in FF2, I just got a page titled "transferring to website" for ages, then clicking a portfoio link just gives me an "e" in the space where I imagine the image should be. [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=193091\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Works fine in a proper browser [Opera]!  
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Justinr

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« Reply #31 on: May 03, 2008, 06:58:44 am »

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QUOTE(Steven Draper @ Apr 30 2008, 05:30 PM)
... my blog separate. This generates interest too, especially as "your story" may be part of why people buy from you, depending on what you take.
*

My thoughts too. As the web is so impersonal, forging a bond with prospective purchasers is important - and a well crafted blog can be a good way of adding the personal touch without being mushy. It's a side glance on the work, rather than the main gallery if you like - like being able to talk to the artist.


This may be a cultural thing but certainly the British with their stiff upper lips are not fond of overt familiarity and the Irish would simply wonder why you bothered since they have a second cousin on the wife's side who knows your neighbours aunt.

Justin.

BTW, Nice home page Stephen. It loaded even on dial up (eventually) using Firefox.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2008, 07:23:52 am by Justinr »
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LoisWakeman

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« Reply #32 on: May 06, 2008, 11:34:12 am »

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Works fine in a proper browser [Opera]! 
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=193215\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Na na na na ner...

So, Firefox isn't proper?
« Last Edit: May 06, 2008, 11:34:27 am by LoisWakeman »
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