Photography As a Career?

[CG415]

How does one go from a hobby photographer to taking photos as a career. Not saying that I'm thinking about it now, But how do you start selling photos. I know that I will never get into weddings and other events like that. But some day I would like to try and sell some of my land scapes and flower shots.

Thanks,

Chris

[gldiana]

Chris,

there are a million things to take into consideration when you want to become a (paid) pro. I'm taking right now a business photo course and it's helping me see new things that I didn't know before, it's about getting published. I have recently got a coffee table book printed and that's doing ok and I placed my first postcards in a local store. There are many ways to do business but first you have to decide how you want to do it. You can't do and be all.

[CG415]

Luca,

Thanks for the info. I always wondered how someone started selling their prints. I see on other peoples websites that they say you can buy a print in what ever size for so much money. How do they figure out what price, do they take the price it would cost them to get the photo processed and then add 10 to 30 percent on to that, so that they start making money?

Thanks,

Chris

[gldiana]

Chris,

I think 10%-30% of the cost of printing is very low and I don't think you'd survive more than a grocery store trip with that kind of income unless you sell hundreds of photos a day.
To set my prices I looked around galleries in town and see what they sell for and then set a similar price, just a little lower but not much lower otherwise I'm diminishing the value of my work.
I recommend to print a portfolio, that's how it started for me. I put together a nice book and people seeing it asked me to buy prints. Many prints I sold at "discount" price to friends, but some I sold for as much as $450 framed for 24X16.
Betterphoto has a course on how to design a portfolio.

[CG415]

Thanks Luca,

There's not many gallaries around my area. But Saint Augustine, and Jacksonville are close, so I will look around them and see what I can find. When you first started off did you just sell by word of mouth or did you submit your work to the different gallaries? I'm just trying to understand how it all started.

Thanks for all of info,

Chris

[hw771230]

Chris,

I'm at the same stage as you right now. My first step from here is to put together a portfolio. The I am planning on getting some gallery space. I am also looking into courses that could help me with where to go from there. I have sold very few prints (only to people I knew). My main goal right now is exposure. I am also looking at getting my prints displayed at local businesses.

Caleb

[gldiana]

Hey Chris,

most of the sales are still word of mouth, it does limit the market somewhat but it saves me on commissions. Just showing my work around has been successful. I don't have any photos displayed in galleries as Jackson is a funny town, real estate is so expensive that most galleries are owned by well known photographers and they only display their own work or others that only display abstract stuff. I can't really afford a $3-4K rent/month.

Today it felt good though, I visited the Mangelsen gallery and saw a new Fall photo of Mt. Moran and Oxbow bend which is a lot less nice than mine (photo in the link below). Still, he's the one making $11 million/year.

Oxbow Bend in the Fall

[Bonish Photo]

DAYMN Luca, that is a nice shot!

I'd for sure have that in a gallery in your area if I was you.

[hw771230]

Beautiful shot Luca. The lighting is perfect.

Caleb