Ready to turn your photographic passion into profits? This 2500+ word guide will teach you everything you need to successfully sell prints and digital downloads online.
I‘ll cover choosing a niche, setting up shops, snapping professional-grade shots, leveraging print-on-demand (POD) and tons more.
My goal is to arm you with the latest tactics and tools across photography, ecommerce, marketing so you can ditch your day job and support yourself 100% through selling your images.
Let‘s get started!
Step #1 – Identify The Most Profitable Photography Niches
First things first – you need to identify popular niches that buyers actively spend money in.
Rather than guessing, we can quantify demand using free tools like Google Keyword Planner.
Here are some of the most high-volume photography searches in the US annually with their exact volumes according to Keyword Planner data:
- Landscape photography – 274,000 searches
- Beach photos – 246,100 searches
- City skyline wall art – 201,000 searches
- Food photography prints – 112,500 searches
- Dog photography gifts – 88,100 searches
The core lesson here is to niche down. Rather than just "selling photos online", specialize around things like landscapes, travel destinations, wall decor, food or pets.
You‘ll face far less competition and it‘s way easier to rank for searches like "Grand Canyon posters" instead of just "posters".
We can verify these keywords actually drive buyer intent by looking at photography print sales data too.
According to Photizen‘s 2022 market research:
- 31% of print buyers purchase wildlife photos
- 27% buy landscape prints
- 23% purchase floral designs
- 22% buy travel focused images
So things like dramatic nature scenes, cute animals and bright flower arrangements seem hottest in 2023 in terms of buyer spending potential.
Next, head over to photography marketplaces like Etsy, Shutterstock and 500px. Enter your top niche keywords into the search bars there. If you get back lots of relevant results it confirms solid demand exists.
Conversely, explore competitor sites in your chosen niche(s) to size up the playing field. Can you differentiate or bring a unique style/offering verses others in that space?
With market demand verified and a plan to stand out from rivals, you‘re ready to focus in around highly profitable genres of photography for your business!
Step #2 – Set Up Your Ecommerce Store(s)
Now that you‘ve picked your "blue ocean", it‘s time to start legally selling your masterpieces online!
You essentially have 3 options here:
- Your own standalone photography website
- Online marketplaces like Etsy or Shutterstock
- Or ideally – both!
Let‘s explore the pros and cons of each approach…
Option 1 – Create Your Own Photo Store
Having your own website gives you full control and flexibility over everything from branding and design to what products you offer.
However, you‘ll need to manually attract site traffic via SEO optimization and social media marketing verses marketplaces that have builtin buyer audiences.
The 2 best DIY ecommerce platforms for photography sellers are:
Shopify
Pros:
- Extremely beginner friendly. Easy visual editor.
- Tons of themes and add-ons specific to art/photographers.
- Robust features like abandoned cart recovery emails to drive sales.
- Growing marketplace with over 1.7 million active shops.
Cons:
- Monthly fees are higher than competitors ($29/month basic plan). But there‘s a free 14-day trial.
WooCommerce
Pros:
- Totally free! It‘s a WordPress plugin.
- Extremely customizable since it‘s open source. Add any features via extensions.
- Huge developer community provides support.
- You control hosting so can better manage overhead costs.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve for setup and management verses Shopify.
Hopefully that gives you a sense of the top players that make selling photography online a breeze.
I walk through exactly how to get setup properly on both Shopify and WooCommerce over in this in-depth store setup guide.
Option 2 – List On Photography Marketplaces
Alternatively, you can list your images across prebuilt online photography sales platforms and communities.
While you don‘t fully control the buyer experience and may pay higher fees, these sites have eager built-in audiences of hungry photo purchasers so can significantly expand your reach.
Here‘s a comparison of 5 top photography marketplaces to consider joining:
As you can see, each platform has unique strengths and weaknesses. I‘d recommend testing print and digital download sales across 2-3 of them to see where you get the most traction.
Just be warned – most marketplaces have application processes to officially join as a seller, so you‘ll need to demonstrate portfolio quality and production capabilities upfront.
The cool thing is marketplaces continue marketing and selling your work 24/7 automatically through their properties after approval. Allowing you more time for shooting!
Option 3 – Hybrid Approach
Realistically, combining both your own photography website and listing products across marketplaces will maximize distribution and money making potential.
This does increase overhead slightly managing multiple storefronts but provides more overall exposure.
Just be sure your branding and messaging stays consistent across channels to avoid confusing buyers.
So those are your ecommerce store setup options boiled down!
Still overwhelmed or need any help getting your shop live? Feel free to DM me over at @IGhandle and I‘m happy to provide 1-on-1 guidance!
Step #3 – Master Taking Incredible, Profitable Photos
They say the best camera is the one you have on you. But phone snaps aren‘t going to cut it quality and composition-wise if you want shoppers to pay for your photography.
Let‘s explore how to capture incredible, highly sellable images…
Photo Gear – DSLR, Lenses, Lighting Kits & More
First, you need the right equipment. Namely – invest in an entry level DSLR camera like the Canon EOS Rebel T8i or Nikon D3500 which run ~$750 with a stock lens.
These have much larger image sensors for clearer, higher resolution photographs than your iPhone. You can always buy used or older models as well to save money.
Next, consider upgrading to a 50mm prime lens which offers wider apertures for crisp, colorful shots. Primes generally capture richer images than stock zoom lenses. Expect to pay $125-$200 new for solid third party options.
Down the road, you‘ll want accessories like:
- Telephoto zoom lens for distance shots
- Wide angle lens to capture more scenery
- Off-camera speedlite for regulating lighting
- Reflectors & diffusers to maximize natural light
- Tripods for stability
But don‘t break the bank early on! Start simple and reinvest profits over time into better gear that unlocks new technical capabilities.
Photography Technique – Composition, Editing & More
Great photography isn‘t just about expensive equipment though. You need artistic talent and technical skills too.
Composition Tips
Creative framing of shots is truly an art but keep these core principles in mind:
- Follow the rule of thirds – Mentally divide your frame into vertical and horizontal thirds. Place subjects along these lines instead of dead center.
- Lead the viewer‘s eye – Use paths, fences, shorelines etc to intentionally guide focus across imagery.
- Leverage patterns and symmetry – We inherently find order, geometry and repetition visually appealing. Use this to your advantage.
- Frame scenes artfully – Foreground foliage, structures and other natural frames make photos more intriguing.
Editing Best Practices
Post-processing is equally as important using tools like Lightroom and Photoshop. This lets you fix errors and artistically enhance shots.
Some editing fundamentals:
- Adjust temperature to fix color cast issues
- Carefully tweak vibrance to make selective colors pop more without appearing radioactive
- Use the crop tool to cut out boring edges and tighten up important central aspects
- Dodge and burn areas to intentionally guide viewer attention
Develop Your Style
Besides mastering technical elements, the pros have a truly distinct style that sets their work apart from others.
So don‘t just carbon copy what‘s selling. Study photographers you admire but make conscious style choices of your own consistently:
- What themes and topics visually interest you? Do you prefer capturings candid moments of joy or thoughtful peaceful landscapes or stunning architecture?
- What editing techniques do you gravitate towards? Do you prefer black and white versus vibrant color or a faded film look using Lightroom presets?
- How can you make technical choices that create a signature style? Do you opt for wide angle and fisheye lenses to catch full scenes or macro for intimate details?
Lean into these personal preferences and photograph subjects you genuinely connect with. That passion will come through in differentiated work buyers value over generic shots.
For even more photography tips and examples, grab my Advanced Photo Composition Guide free when you join the mailing list!
Step #4 – Outsource Print Fulfillment Via Print-On-Demand
You likely imagined wanting to sell both digital photo downloads and physical prints, canvases, albums etc right?
Manually printing and shipping all those incoming orders sounds miserable though.
Thankfully print-on-demand (POD) services swoop in to handle literally everything from production to packaging to returns for you automatically with just a few clicks!
POD allows you to upload your portfolio then each time a customer purchases a product, whether it‘s a canvas print or throw pillow, the supplier prints and ships that one-off order without you needing to carry any inventory.
You simply collect your profits on each sale after the printing and shipping fees get deducted.
When assessing print-on-demand platforms, pay attention to:
- High quality printing – You want vivid image reproduction and durable, archival level materials suitable for art photography.
- Product variety – The broader the merch selection – cases, cards, garments etc – the more chances buyers will find something they love.
- Fast fulfillment – Customers expect Amazon Prime-like shipping speeds. The entire production plus transit time should be under 72 hours.
- Global distribution – Make sure they have printing facilities close to your buyers for quicker delivery.
Based on in-depth testing and client feedback across 12+ print-on-demand suppliers, these 2 stand out offering best in class quality, item selection and fulfillment:
Recommendation #1 – Printful
Printful is my #1 choice for photography print-on-demand.
They utilize industry leading direct-to-garment printing for apparel and professional grade HP Latex tech for art prints producing gallery quality reproduction.
Their product catalog is vast – over 250 unique items from leggings, pillows and shower curtains to phone cases, greeting cards and posters. Most fulfill in under 24 hours too thanks to their 7 warehouses across the US and Europe.
POD integration happens seamlessly with support for Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce and more.
There‘s zero signup costs too. You pay only when orders come through. Definitely check Printful out.
Recommendation #2 – Redbubble
Redbubble is another very popular marketplace integrating printing and order fulfillment.
The product range isn‘t quite as broad Printful‘s but still supports dozens of printable products like leggings, masks, puzzles even duvet covers!
Redbubble promotes best selling pieces across their site to help take the marketing burden off the artist. However, their 8% base commission fee on works sold is on the higher side.
So if you want a turnkey marketplace model that requires little external promo from you at the cost of larger cuts from each order, Redbubble is a big player in that space specifically for visual creators.
Let me know if you have any other questions on optimal print-on-demand setup!
Step #5 – Effectively Promote Your Work
Alright – your online photography store(s) are locked and loaded with stunning prints, canvases and digital downloads!
Now it‘s time to leverage marketing to drive traffic and sales. Let‘s explore proven tactics…
Instagram Hashtag Marketing
Over 1 billion people actively use Instagram monthly and ~500 million+ check their feed daily according to recent stats. High attention plays!
Start by identifying 10-25 relevant hashtags to incorporate with each photo you post like:
#landscapephotography
#naturelover
#outdoors
#hikingadventuresTools like Display Purposes help you research related tags with 500K – 5M lifetime posts for good exposure potential without excessive noise.
Share shoppable photos across these niche tags daily. Consistency compounds!
Convert visitors into buyers by linking to your store site prominently in your Instagram profile too.
SEO – Optimizing Website Content
If running your own photography portfolio site, SEO is crucial for rankings.
Sprinkle targeted buyer keywords across page elements:
- Headers & titles
- Photo file names – "yellowstone-wildlife-elk-herd.jpg"
- Image descriptions – "A majestic elk stag surveys his herd at sunrise in Yellowstone National Park"
- Alt text – "elk herd yellowstone"
Also use relevant semantic headers:
Wildlife Photography
Nature Prints for Sale
Landscape Canvas Wall ArtBy optimizing for searcher intent, your content quality score improves, boosting you higher in free organic results!
I cover step-by-step SEO implementation details over in my comprehensive guide.
Email Marketing
Finally, actively build an email subscriber list to stay top of mind with past customers and fans.
Offer compelling lead magnets in exchange for emails like:
- free monthly photography tips
- printable shallow depth of field guide
- access to new releases before the general public
Send occasional promos about freshly added portfolio collections available for purchase.
Just don‘t overdo it or risk getting labeled as spam! I find once a month is ideal.
Final Thoughts
Congrats friend! You now know exactly how to successfully sell beautiful photography online thanks to choosing hot niches, launching stores, photographing professionally, leveraging print-on-demand fulfillment and deploying marketing best practices.
Remember – persistently polish your technical skills and artistic style over time. Experiment across various print products and photography genres. Double down on what earns the most raving fan feedback.
Selling photos can absolutely replace your 9 to 5 income with a bit of hustle. It‘s tremendously rewarding supporting yourself entirely through sharing beautiful art!
I hope you found immense value in this 2500+ word reference guide as a beginner photography entrepreneur. Wishing you much success!
To get more regular tips, grab my free Turn Your Photos Into Profits email course! Just drop your email via the signup box below:
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Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments! I‘m always happy to help aspiring artists perfect their online shops.
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