Serious Question

[boneaddict]

I am about to start selling photos.   I never think much of it, but trying to compensate for all of my mileage and equipment.  I really do post most on here for the enjoyment of sharing.   My question is....do you think it would hurt or people would be less interested in buying pics because they can see them on here, or does it help that they can see them on here, then want to buy larger prints.

[vandeman17]

I voted for help because for me personally, I would be fine paying you for a picture if I wanted one because I know the dedication and work that it would take to get them!

[Caseyd]

I said help sell! However I can see it going both ways.

A "glimpse" of the animal will help sell pictures but post to many of the same animal and people might pass on buying it cause they can view it on here.

Your quality of photos is great but what I think makes some of your pictures standout is the quality of animal.

[CAMPMEAT]

Sell'em to city folk off of Ebay for thier apartments in Seattle. Your pictures are top notch. 

[boneaddict]

Ive started something similiar campmeat.   Its called Etsy.   Very similiar to ebay but smaller.   I think it attracts more of the artsy crowd.  WHat I like about it is they don't take as much to sell, and it can stay up longer.   I am developing a shop on there.   

[boneaddict]

Thats what I worry about Casey....for instance, my calender critters I try not to spoil the pics by posting anything like them on here.  I'll eventually post them on here but after all of the paying folks have enjoyed them.

[CAMPMEAT]

Ive started something similiar campmeat.   Its called Etsy.   Very similiar to ebay but smaller.   I think it attracts more of the artsy crowd.  WHat I like about it is they don't take as much to sell, and it can stay up longer.   I am developing a shop on there.

Is it www.etsy.com Bone ?

I found it. A gal I know here in town sells jewelry on that site too.. She seems to be very busy selling.

[Bean Counter]

I would post thumbnails, or a link to one of those websites that keeps miscreants from stealing your intellectual property.   

[jrebel]

I think it would help, People could shop online (so to speak).  You should place an add in the classifieds with price.  My only concern would be peole stealing the photo on the web and printing it themselves.   I would tend to think most will not go through the trouble to do that.  Also, I would love to buy a calender with your pics, but seems a little pricey.  I can buy other hunting calendars for 15$ or less sometimes.  Serious question (not trying to be rude)  What makes your calendar a 40 dollar calendar?  I was ready to pull the trigger till I saw the price and just couldn't justify it.  Help me justify it...tell me you donate 5 dollars to a worthy charity or something.   

Thanks

Johnny

[runamuk]

Ive started something similiar campmeat.   Its called Etsy.   Very similiar to ebay but smaller.   I think it attracts more of the artsy crowd.  WHat I like about it is they don't take as much to sell, and it can stay up longer.   I am developing a shop on there.

Is it www.etsy.com Bone ?

I found it. A gal I know here in town sells jewelry on that site too.. She seems to be very busy selling.

lots of my artist and crafty friends sell on etsy I had an account with them at one time long ago not as busy as ebay for some things and better than ebay for others.  Photography is a tough one its so available online and so often pirated it can go either way I think with the previewing on here. 

[lokidog]

If worried about people just printing off here, you could reduce the quality so that in our little 2"X3" pixelated world they look good but would  not be as nice enlarged.

[timberghost72]

I would say it helps to post up your work (maybe not all of it) as it gives people an idea of what your portfolio consists of. Then they can decide on purchasing photographs from you. There are multiple ways to protect your photos which I am sure that you are aware of so they cannot be used elsewhere. Watermarks, signatures and low resolution on the web are some. For example if someone downloads a 800x600 or smaller image off of here there is not much they can do with it in regards to printing a large format due to poor quality at the larger size. Also photos are considered intellectual property so unless you have sold or given rights to use them it is illegal for someone else to use them for any purpose.

[hrd2fnd]

as much as it would pain me not to enjoy your skills for free, i feel you should be compensated for your time and skill.

I would be hurt if i had to pay, but through the years of seeing your craft i would pay in fact i put the calendar on my wish list this year.

Between you and a few other members photo taking on this site it inspired me to purchase my 1st dsl camera 2 years ago.  even have tried to work out scheduling with Dick (grandparich) to better myself hoping next year will work better for scheduling.

please continue to post, as i'll continue to be inspired by you and others like you.

Hrd

[Huntbear]

Bone..

been doing some research myself on photo selling...  What I share online is now reduced down to 72 pixels... it degrades the quality enough that if someone printed an 8x10 it would look like total crap.

The other thing is to place your watermark in a place it can not be cropped out.  It may be annoying to some but, it is a great way to stop people from ripping off your pics.  So instead of placing the watermark on the bottom center of your photos, like you normally do.. place it right over the center of your pic, you can always make it less intrusive by making it lighter...

Once someone buys a print, they get the copy without the watermark.

Just some thoughts and ideas for you to consider, if you have not already.

[runamuk]

While it is illegal it does not stop people from stealing photos.  I am always very annoyed by this when I see it done and I see it all the time and have had physical photos of mine stolen. 

Bone I think another way to approach this is to maybe show your lesser images here in a lower quality format, so we can continue to enjoy your images.  Then on your etsy sell them, you might also do limited production, for a person like myself (artsy) I prefer low run editions and originals or one off's.  The home decor market likes series of images like say a series of 4 or 5 large prints framed with a continuous theme or something unifying.  If you want to reach the broadest audience you will want to cater to each of their needs, home decor/interior design has different needs than say a hunting enthusiast, a gun club, and then the fine arts has different demands.   

if you want more insight into the supposedly stuffy world of art holler