Selling prints on e-bay and elsewhere

ngoclinh23 · Mar 25, 2018

Just out of curiosity, we put a print up for sale on e-bay a couple of years ago. It was an 8x10" black and white print I'd shot and printed. There was just a little interest and it did sell for a few £'s.

While my ego would love it if I sold some prints and even more if I made some real money out of it, it doesn't quite feel the right thing to do. In trying to work out my unease, it does seem to cheapen the image, or is it a case of vanity? I can't quite put my finger on it.

Is it the right thing to do?

jim10219 · Mar 25, 2018

Sure, why not? eBay probably isn’t the best place to sell prints, but if they sell, they sell. My fiancé sells digital prints over the internet all of the time. We even have a large format printer to do big ones. She usually sells them through her website or through social media. But so long as you own the rights, and someone is willing to pay the money and happy with the product, I don’t see anything wrong with it.

removed account4 · Mar 25, 2018

I think if you don’t feel right selling your personal photography you shouldn’t but leave the option open do it down the road if someone says “ can not buy a copy of xyz you can. I have personal photographs that won’t be sold
but others.. why not... if someone wants to transfer $$$ for something
I made, it encourages me to make more...
Good luck!

jtk · May 26, 2018

I refuse to sell to anybody I've not met in person.

My photos aren't easily appreciated online...more importantly, it's both instructive and a pleasure to get to know a little about people who do, somehow, want them.

faberryman · May 26, 2018

jtk said:
I refuse to sell to anybody I've not met in person. My photos aren't easily appreciated online and it's both instructive and a pleasure to meet people who do, somehow, want them.

I'd be happy to sell a print to someone I haven't met. It's usually the case when you have a gallery show. I also enjoy talking to people interested in my prints, whether they buy them or not.

jtk · Aug 4, 2018

faberryman said:
I'd be happy to sell a print to someone I haven't met. It's usually the case when you have a gallery show. I also enjoy talking to people interested in my prints, whether they buy them or not.

"horses for courses" as cousins in the old world say . I've never shown away from my community nor offered online so can only suggest that it's very helpful/useful/rewarding to obtain contact info from buyers (potential patrons) because that information can lead to further relationship and sales. That's common knowledge among craftspeople but may not be as common among photographers.

faberryman · Aug 4, 2018

jtk said:
"horses for courses" as cousins in the old world say . I've never shown away from my community nor offered online so can only suggest that it's very helpful/useful/rewarding to obtain contact info from buyers (potential patrons) because that information can lead to further relationship and sales. That's common knowledge among craftspeople but may not be as common among photographers.

Sounds like common sense to me.

jtk · Aug 4, 2018

I was too harsh when I said "I refuse to sell to anybody I've not met in person. "

Meant that I always arrange a personal meeting, don't need sale badly enough to forgo that personal contact...which does lead to further sales.

If I exhibited in galleries more than an hour from home I would undoubtedly rethink.

Bob Carnie · Aug 4, 2018

I have had moderate success in selling my images, I can say it really feels good when you do, I edition in 5 and as Frank knows I am in the long haul of printing out my work which is taking me years, I think one should price them well and exhibit a lot , over time the work will sell as more people see and appreciate ones dedication.
When I am completed I intend to exhibit at the Art Fairs that are in major cities , there is a category for single artist shows, they are expensive but these shows bring people from all over the world and open doors for opportunities to exhibit due to the fact the owners of the institutions have seen ones work in person.

Bob Carnie · Aug 4, 2018

I have no idea how someone from an EBay or internet site could purchase my work, its so simple in design but the beauty is in the physical print which is next to impossible to convey via internet.

chriscrawfordphoto · Aug 4, 2018

jtk said:
"horses for courses" as cousins in the old world say . I've never shown away from my community nor offered online so can only suggest that it's very helpful/useful/rewarding to obtain contact info from buyers (potential patrons) because that information can lead to further relationship and sales. That's common knowledge among craftspeople but may not be as common among photographers.

When I sell from my website, I get the contact info for the buyer. I have to have their address and name to ship the prints!

Refusing to sell to people you don't meet is dumb, unless you enjoy being a starving artist. I don't. I like making a good living from my work, so I don't have to have a bullshit job making someone else rich while i'm paid peanuts. I live in a place where art has less than no value; I never sell my work locally; no one here wants it (or anyone else's work, for that matter). I've sold work to people all over the world from my website.

removed account4 · Aug 4, 2018

Bob Carnie said:
I have no idea how someone from an EBay or internet site could purchase my work, its so simple in design but the beauty is in the physical print which is next to impossible to convey via internet.

its tricky tha is for sure.
i have a lot of trust in the outfit that prints frames and packages/ships them

jtk · Aug 4, 2018

chriscrawfordphoto said:
When I sell from my website, I get the contact info for the buyer. I have to have their address and name to ship the prints!

Refusing to sell to people you don't meet is dumb, unless you enjoy being a starving artist. I don't. I like making a good living from my work, so I don't have to have a bullshit job making someone else rich while i'm paid peanuts. I live in a place where art has less than no value; I never sell my work locally; no one here wants it (or anyone else's work, for that matter). I've sold work to people all over the world from my website.

Chris...what's your website? Cat pix biz? Different strokes. People around here buy all sorts of art, including photos. Sympathy for your situation.

Sirius Glass · Aug 4, 2018

The first time I went to the Lilac Festival in Rochester New York, I saw that many of the stalls had color prints of fall colors and waterfalls. I decided rather than buy some that I could do better. I teamed up with someone who went to RIT and had lived in Rochester for over 25 years. He knew when to be and when to better for the best sunlight. Many of the waterfalls in New York face north and do not the the direct sunlight. We spent the fall weekends going to the best locations that he knew about. I not only got stunning photographs of fall colors and waterfalls, but also frozen waterfalls. To my surprise many of the ice covered waterfalls were covered with snow which was not what we were looking for.

jtk · Aug 4, 2018

Should add that I made good $$ as commercial photog on assignments, don't need to make $$ selling prints so prioritize direct personal relationship when somebody wants to buy. Half the time I give for free and nobody would pay what I feel my prints are worth anyway.

My time is too valuable for retail. That doesn't work for everybody. Many professionals do pro bono and nobody says that's "dumb".

One theory is that art is generosity because artists give their time for free, only occasionally to be paid later.

Note that this thread appears to distinguish photos from art. Makes sense sometimes.

jtk · Aug 4, 2018

Anne Arden McDonald seems to be using multiple different venues/media, especially gallery egroup xhibits that might stimulate later online purchases. For example https://www.artsy.net/artwork/anne-arden-mcdonald-solar-flare#!

https://www.facebook.com/116579048353973/photos/rpp.116579048353973/1026458327366036/?type=3&theater

She's part of an upcoming group exhibit in Santa Fe...classy company to keep. https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/AJm5bMQ1NaX_W2S1sg11UA8yMAA

Compare to Ebay.

Ariston · Sep 2, 2019

I have to say that I much prefer the work of NB23, who frequents the forums here, to what I've seen for sale and what I've see in many museums.

Pieter12 · Sep 2, 2019

I really don't know how to judge the value of a print seen on the internet, unless I know the photographer's work in person or in publication. I am more willing to buy a book than a print online. Especially on eBay, home of dubious values.

Larryc001 · Jul 16, 2022

For myself, I would much rather spend my time taking pictures and creating images than printing and trying to sell prints. Sites such fineartamerica.com and pixels.com provide an easy-to-use platform to market and sell prints. They offer a large variety of products with your image on them, from phone cases to shower curtains, etc. in addition to prints. All you have to do is upload your image and they do the rest. It is quite possible to make $2000-$3000 per month in sales on these sites. They also have many activities for photographers including contests, groups etc. Have a look, let me know what you think.

jtk · Jul 22, 2022

I love printing...different strokes. Of course, I have printed inkjet for a decade or more.

Pieter12 · Jul 22, 2022

I have sold online, but through a curated gallery service that offered a refund to the buyer if they were not satisfied with the print. It was only one print, and it wasn't returned...

Obviously, I would prefer to sell to someone I may be able to meet in person. There can be the potential of that individual wanting to see and possibly purchase more work. Also, it is nice to know who likes your work enough to buy it. But I wouldn't turn down a proper gallery.

Pieter12 · Jul 22, 2022

Larryc001 said:
For myself, I would much rather spend my time taking pictures and creating images than printing and trying to sell prints.

I can't imagine selling a print without first seeing it. Plus the great majority of my work is on film and printed by me in the darkroom--something those services couldn't offer. Jus the thought of my photos on a mug, t-shirt or anything like that makes me nauseous.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 22, 2022

Bob Carnie said:
I have no idea how someone from an EBay or internet site could purchase my work, its so simple in design but the beauty is in the physical print which is next to impossible to convey via internet.

Absolutely!

Brendan Quirk · Jul 22, 2022

jtk said:
I love printing...different strokes. Of course, I have printed inkjet for a decade or more.

Yes - I love printing also. The fact that we print in differnt techniques doesn't matter; we both like to make tangible objects. Not everyone does, of course, but this does describe some of us.

Brendan Quirk · Jul 22, 2022

Bob Carnie said:
the beauty is in the physical print which is next to impossible to convey via internet.

This I also agree with, and struggle with trying to convey the print on the computer.

I know this is an old thread, but I recognize most of the posters, so felt OK to jump in...

Selling prints on e-bay and elsewhere

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