This is a compilation:
Mr. Beckerman,
I would like to be a professional photographer. I have my own website - but I haven’t been able to sell anything. I read your article on selling photos on the web- and it was very informative - but I still haven’t had any success. Most of the people that I’ve shown my photographs to say they are very good. I’ve been taking pictures for [1 - 30 years]. I would appreciate any advice you have.
Sincerely,
[Aspiring Photographer]
This sort of email arrives like clockwork twice a week. If the person has a website, I will click on it. Mostly what I see are color photographs of sunsets, pets, family, and vacation pictures. Once in a while I’ll see something that is great in it’s own unique way.
Here are some of my own replies:
“I wouldn’t start to do it as a business until you have 25 great shots.” (Frankly I don’t know if I’ve hit that mark yet).
“Do you know who exactly is your niche audience? Can you put yourself in their shoes? Do you care about who they are one way or the other?”
“I sold one print during my first year on the web, and that was by check, and that check bounced.” (True story).
“Don’t quit your day job. There’s no reason to. Give yourself a few years to establish your web presence. You can work on your website while still getting an income - unless you don’t need the income. Then that’s another story. Even if you have great images, and do everything right - there’s just no saying that you’ll be able to make a living at it.” (I built up my web presence for about three years while I was working full time).
“Please - you have to edit your images. Don’t show slight variations of the same shot. Pick the one that’s best and offer that.”
“Don’t expect overnight results. Decide that you’re going to give it six years - yes six years to get to a point of scratching out a living.”
“Don’t let anything that I say - or anyone says - discourage you. ”
“Keep taking pictures for yourself - but sell what you believe they want. Figure out who they are by constant testing.”
Things along that line. The most amazing thing - and what gives me a clue as to what to expect - is that it is rare for me to get a thank you e-mail.
Now that could be because I’m being too harsh. Or it could be because the recipient expects some sort of magic formula (which there isn’t - at least I haven’t discovered it). But I think in the new digital world - instant business results are also expected.
I have seen so many photo websites launched with great expectations - only to see them fold up shop after a year or so. I chalk that up to the idea that somehow or other you just need to post your great photos and you’ll find an audience. It could happen, I suppose - but it’s a one in a million shot.
Six years? You’ve got to be kidding. In six years you could have gotten yourself a college degree and an MFA. Six years just to have a shot at scratching out a living? Of course that sounds sort of nuts - but I’d expect you’d find it takes at least that long or longer in any of the arts. I worked at perfecting - at least technically - my shots for about 15 years before I even had any idea of presenting them to the public. And even there I had to be convinced by a friend who wanted me to enter a local art fair. And even after that - with a fair amount of oohing and ahing - I was afraid to move into the business side of it because that had always led to taking the joy out of it all. (My experience with filmmaking…)
How many actors are on unemployment insurance? Probably around 90%. How long does it take the average actor to “make it.” You don’t want to know. Most never do.
The artist, in any field, goes on because they have to. They just don’t have much of a choice. Believe me - I tried to give it up - but couldn’t.
Sometimes this leads to ultimate destruction; and sometimes to great glory. You may pay your dues for decades and still not be admitted to the “making a living at it club.” You may check out without ever having sold a print - and still feel it was a life worth living.
The internet path, just like all marketing paths, is different for everyone. I try to give glimpses into my own path - but that’s all I can do. I’ve tried my best to describe my own path - but keep in mind that I’m an ancient guy (in your eyes anyway) - and that I failed at so many artistic endeavors you’d have to be half-crazy to go on with it, ‘half’ being the operative word. Some part of you has to remain sane, and pragmatic to make it work. And by sane, I mean - letting go of your ego and being able to stand back from it all. What I am confident about - is that no artist will stop doing what they’re doing because some so-called authority figure puts them down. If that were true - there’d be no actors in the world. Can you imagine being rejected for 90% of the auditions you go for. And right then and there - face to face.
I go back to actors - because having worked with them for 10 years when I did filmmaking - I see them as the bravest of the brave. Imagine this: Van Gogh has been painting and living in poverty (supported by his brother Theo) for years and years and finally, one day, towards the end of his life - someone wants to buy one of his paintings. He’s so overcome with happiness - that he refuses to sell the picture - but instead gives it to the collector for free.
A salon finally agrees to show a collection of his pictures - but he refuses to let them have any because they rejected him so often in the past. Van Gogh is another hero - though I don’t think he was able to stay sane or pragmatic as recommended in this post.
