MerchantAccount.CC - 
Sell that photo! Make Money with a Photography eCommerce Site
So you've got your camera, and a couple of years studying in an Art school for your photography degree. Or maybe you're a hobbyist who's had years of experience shooting frames since childhood and would like to set out into the big, lucrative world of selling photographs.
Luckily for you, the Internet has made it easier for photopreneurs to sell their photos and services. Customers can pick out the photo they want in an instant and you get fast money no matter the location it came from.
There are 2 major ways for photographers to sell photos online:
1. sign up for a photo database and sell your photos
2. get a website up and running and sell your photos
Signing up for a photo database is easy - just look for one and upload your photos, and they'll do all the necessary security measures so your photos won't get stolen(or worse, resold without your permission) - in return for a certain percentage of the sale.
For the more adventurous ones, settling for a photo database is not an option. A website is the way to go.
Sell stock photos on your website
Companies have always loved stock photos - it rids them the hassle of arranging for photo sessions for their photo requirements. Stock photos are photographs bought or licensed for agreed-upon conditions.
Whether it's for a website or a company brochure, photographers have made money from stock photos.
Consider these tips when selling stock photos online:
Luckily for you, the Internet has made it easier for photopreneurs to sell their photos and services. Customers can pick out the photo they want in an instant and you get fast money no matter the location it came from.
There are 2 major ways for photographers to sell photos online:
1. sign up for a photo database and sell your photos
2. get a website up and running and sell your photos
Signing up for a photo database is easy - just look for one and upload your photos, and they'll do all the necessary security measures so your photos won't get stolen(or worse, resold without your permission) - in return for a certain percentage of the sale.
For the more adventurous ones, settling for a photo database is not an option. A website is the way to go.
Sell stock photos on your website
Companies have always loved stock photos - it rids them the hassle of arranging for photo sessions for their photo requirements. Stock photos are photographs bought or licensed for agreed-upon conditions.
Whether it's for a website or a company brochure, photographers have made money from stock photos.
Consider these tips when selling stock photos online:
- Consider your market - what do your customers want? In fact, who are your customers? Get to know them and always consider their potential requirements so you can sell photos easier and faster.
- Pricing is crucial - It's a cut-throat market out there and pricing is important. However, this shouldn't make you tag your services at poor prices. Your photos should be worth their prices, and if you can't help it, please don't discount your photos.
- Portfolio - aside from your website, you should have a separate website to showcase your other works outside of stock photography. You'll never know who's looking at your site or what word-of-mouse can do to your business.
- Develop your specialty - stock photography isn't limited to landscape, or business photos. It encompasses travel, architecture, people, portrait, etc.
- Secure your photos - It has happened more than once - photos ripped from the photographer's site, and claimed by someone else. Protect your works of art with watermarks, uploading just thumbnails (and providing ways to legit customers to view the whole photo without compromising security)
Like all ecommerce sites, you should also provide credit card processing via a merchant account (free or otherwise). Providing payment options for your customers can increase revenue, and commit customers to come back for more photos.
Don't feel blue when your photos don't sell - it requires a great deal to sell your photos online, and we've just started tackling this issue. There are still a lot you can do to your website to engage your customers to purchase. In the meantime, you might want to start practicing and reviewing the photos you'd like to sell. In fact, try to visit other sites to get an idea on what they're doing right and assimilate those ideas when you start your own site.