Are online galleries a bad idea for selling your prints? Why you need far more

[@KeithCooper]

Please just ask if you've any questions? Don't forget the full categorised index of all my videos at www.northlight-images.co.uk/keith-cooper-photography-videos-index/ If you'd like to make a small donation towards my testing, I have a Kofi page: "Buy me a coffee" ko-fi.com/keithcooper See the video notes for article links. Buying stuff? I also have some affiliate links which earn me a small commission if used. US Amazon photo/print gear: amzn.to/3l9vJC6 B&H Photo: www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=2008&KBID=2711&DFF=d10-v1-t8-x4 Adorama: www.adorama.com/?

[@imajez1]

A video I'd like to see you do is do a cost breakdown of printers AND their inks. How much is it to print say an A3, A2, A1 etc print on each one and maybe amortise the cost over printing saying 200/500/1000 prints including initial printer cost. Also it would be interesting to know how much ink comes with each printer, because I know some companies do partially filled cartridges and when a new set of inks is £600 and the cost of the printer is around £1k... Years back I worked out that buying say a much more expensive A2 printer was much cheaper than buying an A3 printer once you took buying ink into consideration and did some actual printing. Plus you could do bigger prints. I would really like to get a printer again, but the nightmare and opacity of real world costings is a huge barrier.

[@aronlengyel]

I love your frank and down to earth suggestions. Thank you so much for making these videos. I learn a lot from them.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - glad it's of some interest.

[@jasoneldridgephotography]

Same here!

[@sammys_erLeben]

it's so refreshing to listen here, I don't sell my prints, I just trade them // thank you so much for the wonderful work

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - glad it's of interest

[@boristahmasian9604]

Keith, this video is so on point. Thank you for your fantastic videos. An online gallery on its own is not a business. You are absolutely correct. Most people do not know that you still have to promote it and try to show the physical print somewhere, somehow. That is why physical galleries still exist. I may buy a $50 or even a $100 print from an online store but when it comes to serious money as in thousands of $$$, I would want to see the physical print to make sure I like it before forking over a lot of money for it.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - the marketing is often the bit people neglect when thinking of this.

[@oldpothead420Photography]

THANK YOU thought it was just me. I print a lot but it's for me except for Equestrian crowd. They love prints But of them & there horse. I print for me because it helps me grow, push ideas. So I do print most of my work. Never really thought of selling because of every issue you said. Thank You

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - glad it was of interest

[@blackcygnus3177]

Love this video Keith. You are spot on! People buy photo's that they connect to and there are various reasons why they like the photo. Prints are even more challenging as unlike images on a screen they are viewed for far longer and therefore must be even more special; in my opinion, this makes certain genre of photography easier to sell prints, eg portraiture, where as street/landscapes are more challenging. Personally I found your points really interesting as although I sell images a few large prints each month, they are connected directly to the clients. I was in the process of setting up an online gallery for landscapes and other general photography to sell prints of these subjects. You have given me pause to think about the approach!! Thank you so much for your insightful video.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - it's about knowing your audience

[@chromagraphphotoart]

I think an Online shop window AKA Gallery is an essential tool in your armoury if you are looking to sell images (whether as prints or digital) but, unless you have a way of driving traffic to it, then it won't generate income on it's own. A successful KZbin channel would help, but even KZbinrs with 500k plus subs don't generate that much in online sales. My little channel doesn't even do that, but it also helps just by acting as confirmation of what you are. An online presence is often required for the art/craft fair world just to get your application approved and of course sales of physical objects like cards or prints can drive traffic too, so long as there is a link back to the gallery. Social Media can drive traffic too and other online shops like ETSY, but really you aren't going to make your first million, or any other million come to that. Of course, there are ads...🤔

[@KeithCooper]

Very true - it's part of the marketing toolkit

[@jean-lucr961]

Excellente analyse…👍 Merci Mr Keith Cooper

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@stephendouglas4545]

I work at a grocery store and everyone loves my images and are always telling me I should "sell" them. Today I was asked what I would do if I won a big bank lottery. I said I would buy a building, where I wanted to live forever, and I would live in the back and have a 24" roll paper printer and framing shop and in the front a gallery with couches and tables with wine tasting and warm ambiance so customers could relax and look at my gallery. I would sell everything at cost. If I sold the occasional picture then, great, if not, then I'm still happy because I'm financially secure. That is my dream--just to share my art and continue doing it. To the degree that I "had" to sell my art is the degree that my life becomes more frustrating and I experience less freedom. Keith made me realize that without saying it. Don't enter the arts, in this case photography, with the idea that you can do what you love to do in your spare time and try to make it a full-time single source of income. Instead, master this art hobby and then slowly integrate it into your life as a source of income to the point where it begins to take away that freedom that you get from it and then back off from there. Your freedom is more important than the dream.

[@boristahmasian9604]

While I agree with the premise of your post, I would take a different route. If I were financially secure and did not need the money from my print sales, I would charge a lot of money for what I sold and would take that money and donate it to various causes. In that way, my art would not be perceived as being cheap and I still accomplish my goal of helping others through my art. This is a concept I learned when I did wedding photography some 15 or so years ago. The more I charged, the more the client respected my work and my time. I did my fair share of pro-bono work but when it came to actual charging money, I tried to get the most for my work.

[@stephendouglas4545]

@@boristahmasian9604 No one I know knows what is "cheap" regarding art. You and I know because we live in that world. Most people (potential customers) that I talk to think a 24 x 36" framed print on fine art paper should sell for $100. I have a borderless print on my wall mounted on dibond of the same dimensions that cost me over $500 to have done by Push Dot studios in Portland. Whitewall is in the same price range. How much could I sell it for? If you charged a lot for what you sold you sell a few pieces a year where I live. If I won the lottery I wouldn't care about the respect or the margins, hence the point. I would be giving to charity. I would be giving something that many people would love to have that wouldn't normally be able to afford it. Just selling it, and the wine, at cost would be too much for many people. To keep a 24" printer healthy might cost $1200 a year--just operating cost. So again, your concept of "cheap" comes from your understanding of the market. I might put $500 into an A1 picture. Maybe I should sell it for $1200 then. Based on what? Some ideal. If most people want it but can't afford it then I'm just doing business and not having fun. If I sell it for $400 I'm giving to some level of charity.

[@kevins8575]

NOT at cost! Sell them for an enormous profit! You probably deserve it.

[@KeithCooper]

Not sure what I'd do, but it wouldn't be a 24" printer ;-)

[@stephendouglas4545]

@@KeithCooper That's helpful.

[@alanwilliams8317]

As ever, refreshingly honest

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - guess that means no web site builders or galleries will be rushing to sponsor the channel :-) :-)

[@allynscott1983]

Keith likes the print so much, he had a shirt made out of it - the ultimate canvas print. All kidding aside, great advice.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - Karen says I should wear brighter shirts...

[@warwick505]

Keith I really enjoy your videos 😊

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks

[@warwick505]

Just looking into buying the canon 1100 you may have convinced me

[@KeithCooper]

A good printer - If you've not seen it and want more info, there is a detailed written 1100 review I wrote recently. www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-pro-1100-printer-review/

[@c.augustin]

Some interesting thoughts and advice. Not for me for now, but good to know.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@thedarkslide]

100% agreed. Unless you’re already a well known photographic celebrity, you need physical print representation to sell prints. I had a gallery show my work in print at Affordable Art Fair in the past - that’s the only time I sold large physical prints.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - big prints do need to be seen

[@actionphotopassion5082]

It's trully surprising sometimes what people can find interesting in our portfolio. I proposed a give away of 2 out of 30 of some things I have. And clearly the 2 that were chosen aren't my preferred from far, and I still have difficulties to understand why they stood up amongst the rest... Probably as the photographer and editor we are too much emotionally involved into a scenery. We witnessed the whole scenery so we're not detached from what it brought to us at the time we took the shot. In a way it's kind of a biased interpretation of the final picture I'd suppose.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, it's why I get Karen to curate any exhibition for me. She has arts management and marketing experience.

[@actionphotopassion5082]

@KeithCooper Ah that's quite a good idea. A fresh and external eye to eliminate any personal bound emotion with the art. Good point 👌Thanks for the tip 😅😁

[@jasoneldridgephotography]

I would like to make enough to pay for the printer, ink, and paper… Galleries or shows aren’t something that is accessible in my area. I know print sales are not a solid source of income for most but just maybe it could cover costs so I can get a new toy…. Errr printer… to play with. Thanks for your videos!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - A reasonable aim, but don't forget the marketing effort needed. Some find that far more than the cost of the printer and using it.

[@jasoneldridgephotography]

@@KeithCooperthere you go raining on my parade with honest reality! 😅

[@kevins8575]

While out taking pictures, mainly of birds, I meet people who say, "oh, do you you sell your pictures?" Usually, I laugh and say, "No, I just do it for fun." That's true, but I would really like to sell a couple. I have no idea how to turn their interest into a sale. I'm not likely to buy a large format printer on the wild idea of selling one or two prints per year, but, still, the idea is attractive.

[@KeithCooper]

That's somewhere where an on-line gallery can help. Have business cards you can give them, and be ruthless in deciding what's available. Get someone to help there - photographers are often useless at curating their own work ;-)

[@asheeshkchopra]

Great video …thanks! I have been pondering over creating a website to display my images and aiming to sell prints …and then I came across this video. 🙂 Now not so sure if I need to have a website. However, if not then I wonder how to make my work visible, considering I am just trying to get started on monetising my photography, which has been my passion for over 15 yrs. Any suggestions?

[@KeithCooper]

My first thoughts are - think local. Who wants it? - is it what an audience wants? not is it what you do Very much depends on the sort of photography and target audience. See the articles/videos in the links

[@david_yoda]

Hey there my friend I am looking for help and people in the customer support line seem to be clueless... I am having an issue of the Epson ecotank 8550 printer not printing true to the size selected. If I set it at 4x6 its printing out 3 3/4 by /5 3/4 so always about a quarter inch shorter than what its supposed to be. I watched several of your videos on it and was wondering if you had any ideas. Thanks so much

[@KeithCooper]

Test with EPL and plain paper cut to size. Check for borderless and expansion options - see the EPL manual for more

[@david_yoda]

@@KeithCooper Okay thanks I will give that a try

[@TheGoodContent37]

Any sugestion on people living in poor cities with small populations in a developing country to sell prints on a regular basis? Maybe online selling is my only option? I have been thinking on buying the Pro 1100 or pro 1000 just to print a set of my best photos regardless if they are going to sell or not, to have them as a record of my work, with the ink set that comes with the printer, and if possible try to sell those and see if I can buy more ink. Because the printing prices in my country are ridiculous. It would be cheaper to buy the printer and sell it when the ink is gone.

[@KeithCooper]

I've no suggestions I'm afraid, that is so far away from any of my experiences, it's why I always emphasise getting to know your local market

[@Digigraphie]

People buy a photograph as an image, not a photograph as a sheet of paper with paint. Do what you think is right, what you feel, for your own pleasure, not for the sake of monetary gain.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I speculate that they might buy memories, probably not photos for decor. Memories would include their kids having fun, family events. Prints would need to be affordable, so quite small. Maybe albums, rather than something for the wall. I live in Mandurah, as a photographer I could do family photo shoots, headshots for hairdressers. I would expect to be able sell prints of the area as memories to locals and to tourists. Probably for that I'd need some sort of gallery, perhaps a popup in a local shopping centre. Perhaps it could be coupled with portraits akin to Father Xmas with kids. he gallery would have printing facilities to hand so a woman could sit for a few of your standard portraits, choose some for printing in your standard sizes, matted in your standard sizes, framed in your standard frames.

[@brhbrh5572]

I've just watched this video and I'm really not sure what was the point you were trying to get across?

[@KeithCooper]

Don't assume an on-line gallery is all you need sell your prints... I get asked about them by a lot of people who do make that assumption. If you didn't, then good :-)

[@alexandrelimacarneiro5671]

Selling prints is really hard. 😅

[@Kurtiscott]

My takeaway is that printing your own is more profitable and gives you total control over the quality of the end product.

[@Tubeytime]

Is this youtube channel enough to get eyes on your work? You do a good job getting views, couldn't you convert them into sales somehow?

[@KeithCooper]

A reasonable suggestion, but print sales are not really what I'm after for myself. The channel is more about my teaching and review work. The part of the business it supports is the specialist bespoke training here in the UK

[@hz7984]

I wrote a somewhat lengthy comment with well-meant tips for the commenting user above. My comment got posted and then mysteriously disappeared. Whose moderation does that? KZbin? Or is it of your doing somehow, Keith? I'm 'not amused' as the saying goes.

[@KeithCooper]

Not even seen it I'm afraid. Could be an included link in it? That can do it. Sometimes I get an email link to a comment, try to answer and it's gone. A mystery of YT to me - I don't actually watch much on YT myself so I've no idea what happens more generally

[@hz7984]

@KeithCooper Thank you for answering. I was a bit annoyed, sorry, for I saw some well-meant effort meaninglessly lost. No, there wasn't a link in it, so I'm just as puzzled as you are. Oh well... Thanks and keep up all the nice work.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@c.augustin]

That happened to me more than once on different channels, and those were all unoffensively phrased (and not always with links). YT does some crazy things with comments, and it is only occasionally due to the channel owner that comments disappear (e.g. in the case of offensive or unrelated comments).

[@hz7984]

@@c.augustin Thank you for sharing this!

[@longstaffemedia]

Lots to consider here, we sell prints | canvas 36 inch to 12ft | framed prints 36inch to 72inch | wallpaper 35ft x 12ft | 20ft x 20 ft in UK, EU, NZ, AUS, USA. We use Epson 9890 | HP LATEX 360 and in the past Mimaki JV3. Prints, London, New York, Liverpool, The Lakes. 50% online and some on display at print workshop. 2023 we produced 400 canvas to one customer. We use print rips, also we create our website from scratch in house as we have a hosting business and website design agency. Google, Meta ads play a big part.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - that's a print business... Vastly more than many who ask me about on-line galleries ever think about ;-)