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Have you tried selling your photographs/artwork?

Posted by Getty72 • 3/08/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Tags: artwork, Photography, redbubble, selling

I have just signed up with redbubble( www.redbubble.com/people/getty72 )which provides a service for selling artwork/photographs. I was wondering if any of you guys have an account with RedBubble.com or any other similar site? If you have, how successful have you been? Also, if you have, then please leave the addy here so we can come and see your work.

Many thanks

Graham
grahamettridge.blogspot.com

User Comments

3/08/08

Getty72

My link is www.redbubble.com/people/getty72 and have been a member for a couple of days. So far I have had a few viewings but no purchases. I'm sure will take some time and the perfect picture...LOL!. I would be interested to hear about others' experiences

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  globalgirl
  
  Beautiful images!
2. 3/09/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Thank you so much for your kind words.
3. 3/10/08
  
  Dukepro25
  
  Love ur enchanted forest!
  
  www.redbubble.com/people/getty72/art/823827-1-the-enchanted-forest
3/08/08

jafabrit

I decided to try cafe press, but not aggressively pursuing it. I have friends who do well on etsy. Hope Red Bubble works out for you.

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  ender
  
  be careful if you buy one of the "premium" shops on cafe press - at least when i did it a couple of years ago, they insisted on you signing up for auto-rebill and they do NOT send a reminder that they're billing you again.
2. 3/08/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  Thanks Ender. I think I am keeping away from premium shops. I don't see Cafe press doing much for me so far. My feeling is you have to really work on promoting the shop and frankly I would rather put that energy into promoting the gallery that represents me.
  
  arg, I hate auto-rebill type of deals.
3. 3/08/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Jafabrit, thanks this is useful information.
  
  ps. I love your artwork!!!!!
4. 3/11/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  Thanks getty
3/08/08

whojaybe

How much do people usually sell their work for? Just curious...

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  Getty72
  
  That's an interesting question. I had no idea what price to set mine at. With redbubble.com they set a price for how much they will charge for framing/printing etc. Then you put your percentage on top - the default is 20% but is adjustable. Assuming your markup is 20%, a small card is around $3.56 and a Medium Framed Print is around $118.75 (from which you would receive your 20%) I am still quite new at this, so will keep you all posted of how it works and what prices are reasonable.
3/08/08

carlgalloway

Thanks for letting us know about redbubble, its the first time I'd heard of it.

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  Getty72
  
  I have no idea how good redbubble is yet. I'll keep you updated.
3/08/08

Anok

I've only sold my work in galleries....I have no idea how it works online!

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  Getty72
  
  I am sure it will never compete with a true gallery or a personalised website. But in my instance, it is kind of like a litmus test - if people like my images then I will set up my own gallery site. I won't be leaving my day job just yet though...lol!
3/08/08

begga212

I sold my work through the gallery that represents my work.
For online, it is the best to setup a simple personal portfolio, and market it to the target audience that you want to reach. Hope it helps. Tell me if you need further information.

[reply]
1. 3/08/08
  
  jafabrit
  
  hum! target audience! now that is a good question. I mean if you create niche type work that is easy as pie, but what if your work doesn't fit a niche!
2. 3/08/08
  
  begga212
  
  How about Location? Age group? Income range?
  You don't really have to do much research sometimes, if you like your own work, target to people who are similar to you. If you are targeting them to galleries, which is what I've done, you have to put different approach on how to "present" yourself.
  
  I did all my research from emarketer.com haha to market my ART work. I hate how commercial it gets now.
3/08/08

DeansDesignIdeas

Interesting answers . thanks!

[reply]
3/08/08

bsilvia

I'm selling my artworks and photographs, that's what I do for a living

[reply]
3/08/08

jembie

I have a store on Cafepress and on imagekind. It is only a hobby though, not for a living
jembie-creations.net
jembie.imagekind.com/

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Thanks for sharing. It's great to have such a wonderful hobby
3/08/08

BlogBadly

I have an account on redbubble for the sole purpose of entering one of their contests. I submitted a few works I had previously written that fit the theme.

I don't know how well artwork sells, but if you make a funny t-shirt design then it could do well on Cafepress or something.

[reply]
3/08/08

offendedblogger

I have nothing to sell, but my beautiful Photos from Northern Norway calender arrived today! I ordered it through cafe press and it was worth every penny.

In fact, it is so lovely that I won't be using it for archery target practice after all and I take back everything mean I said about jungl and the Vikings now.

[reply]
3/09/08

globalgirl

Never heard of redbubble.com until now. Great site. I used to make cards using my photography of Guatemala and sold them to card shops. It was labor intensive and, as a result, not really profitable. Do they send the product to the customer or do you?

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  Getty72
  
  The good news is that they do everything. All you have to do is upload your best photographs. If you do set up an account with them, please let me know. I would love to see some of your wonderful work!!!!
3/09/08

boss18

Once I sold a photo to a local newspaper.

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  Getty72
  
  That's great. I had a photograph appear on TV as a backdrop to the weather forecast. I nearly fell of my chair when I saw it....
2. 3/10/08
  
  Dukepro25
  
  LOL
  
  That's awesome!
3/09/08

wandadog13

My partner sells her own artworks (digital abstract art) via her own website (www.purple13.co.uk) but since she expanded her business interest into personalised photo gifts, its become very much a hobby, hence little promotion other than an odd guest spot on our blog etc.

She also sells her images (licenced sales) through a few national image libraries (Alamy / FotoLibra) and although the percentage earnings of a sale are quite low, you do gain by having your work showcased to the whole world.

Try entering a few competitions or even sending work to specific exhibitions (f.o.c) as its all exposure. The more exposure, the more chance of actually selling something.

You'll make more if you try to sell your work off your own back, rather than allowing an 'agency' to sell it all for you.

Good luck.

[reply]
1. 3/09/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Thanks wandadog. This is really valuable advice. As I mentioned, I am just venturing into the promotional element after being advised by a number of people to promote my photographs.
  
  I will definitely look into entering some competitions to get some exposure and if it works out well, I will set up my own website to sell my work personally.
  
  Thanks again, I truly appreciate your advice.
3/10/08

Dukepro25

I've sold prints on eBay and they sold ok.

But I'm done with eBay.

Their rates are too high.

They take a chunk of your earnings anywhere they could.

I'll have to check out RedBubble.

[reply]
1. 3/10/08
  
  Dukepro25
  
  They do all the printing for you?
  
  What are the rates? (How much a month?)
  
  Can you sell rights to your photos? (Royalty free?)
2. 3/10/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Hiya Dukepro25
  
  redbubble.com do the printing for you. They have a fixed price for their element of the service (materials, printing, delivery etc.). You then set your own desired mark-up price. There is no monthky charge, you just receive the mark-up that you set for each sale.
  
  With regards to seeling the rights to your photographs, I have no idea how this works. I am quite new to redbubble.com at the moment. As I learn more I will let you know. However, from what I have seen so far, it looks like a cool site.
  
  Let me know if you set up an account with them. I'd really like to see some of your work.
  
  Thanks for commenting!
3. 3/10/08
  
  Dukepro25
  
  I set up an account, but I won't be able to put stuff up till tomorrow.
  
  This is an excellent concept!
  
  I love it!
  
  I was selling prints on eBay, but then there was the hastle of printing them myself.
  
  Not to mention having to pay for a storefront, auctions, and them taking a heavy percentage of my sales. (them and paypal that is)
  
  I'm seriously interested for a friend that I was marketing for.
  
  He's a photographer/graphic artist.
  
  He does fantasy photography.
  
  He's amazing!
  
  I'll let you know as soon as I get stuff up!
4. 3/10/08
  
  Dukepro25
  
  I'm a photographer and graphic artist as well.
  
  I'm just not as good as my friend.
3/10/08

Kiwipulse

great! I got a new camera, I will try to take some interesting pictures around my city

[reply]
1. 3/11/08
  
  Getty72
  
  That's fantastic. Please be sure to post them and let me know. I would love to see them.
3/11/08

Greekgeek

Only on CafePress, selling photos of ancient Greek art ('cause it's out of copyright):
www.cafepress.com/greek2me

So far I've made a few hundred dollars, not bad considering one only gets $2-3 commission for each item unless you apply a big markup.

Come to think of it, I really ought to make a design with the photo I use as my avatar. It wasn't a famous or dramatic piece, but I like the face.

Next time I go to Greece, I'm bringing a better #%@$@% camera, though. I had very few that were high enough detail to work for printed designs.

[reply]
1. 3/13/08
  
  Getty72
  
  I'll have to take a look at cafepress, a few people have mentioned that site to me. Thanx
3/13/08

Sewmarm

I've sold some photos as stock photography, and I have a premium cafepress store that I promote with my own website. I use a purchased script, cpshop from marty.net to pull my products (or anyone's products for affiliate commissions) onto my site.

You don't have to go premium on Cafepress. I have one premium shop, and then some free shops that have very non-related themes. You can always import your free shop items into your premium shop later.

One advantage of going premium is that your products show up in the Commission Junction affiliate program datafeed. That means you've got another way to promote your products: get related blogs, sites, etc.. to market your products and they can earn an affiliate commission.

What I've found is that since Cafepress is a POD (print on demand) service, offline businesses can also be approached with samples, and you don't have to keep a stock.

I like the lighting and perspective on Clink Street.

[reply]
1. 3/13/08
  
  Getty72
  
  This is great information. I have just signed up with Cafepress and will have a try with it. Thanks!!!
3/14/08

Dukepro25

I was on Cafepress for awhile, but they only did shirts and things like that. I think the only prints they did where greeting cards. The rest of the stuff was like shirts, hats, cups, magnets and that kind of thing. You get a free store, but you’re only allowed to put one design on all of the available products. You could have 12 different designs, but you’d have to put them on 12 different items. I think the upgrade is like $10 I think.

I like RedBubble because it deals mostly with art prints. I use to sell stuff on eBay, but I had to worry about printing the prints and having them in stock. I love RebBubble, because it is print to order. You don't have to worry about getting your prints from the printer on time and shipping and all that. Plus it’s free. What an awesome deal!

Thanks Getty! Much appreciated!

www.redbubble.com/people/dukepro25

[reply]
1. 3/14/08
  
  Getty72
  
  I have just had a look at the work on your RedBubble page. Fantastic work. Your friend is truly talented!!!!
  
  I agree, the hastle is completely removed in RedBubble. Everything is done for you, all you need to do is upload the art and set the price. I have found that attaching the art to various groups increases it's exposure.
  
  Good luck!!!
3/14/08

riverstyxxx

Use Deviantart if you want to sell your digital stuff, it won't even cost you a dime and lots of people will see it.

[reply]
1. 3/14/08
  
  Getty72
  
  That's really useful to know. I will take a look at Deviantart. Thanks
2. 3/14/08
  
  riverstyxxx
  
  It's great, the only problem is it's completely flooded out with useless anime. However, the good stuff usually doesn't have a problem getting noticed.
  Selling prints is a free service too, from what I gather anyway.
3. 3/15/08
  
  Getty72
  
  Thanks for your advice. It looks like a cool site (I see what you mean about the anime...lol!). I have signed up and will let you know how it goes. Thanks again!!!