How to sell photography

Best Ways To Make Money Selling Photography:

selling my own simple, amateur photography?

Being a broke college student, I want to see if I can earn just a little bit of extra money by selling my photographs. I'm nowhere near a professional photographer - it's not like a hobby; in fact, some of my photos were taken from my cellphone. I just like taking photos when I spot something beautiful, and I've gotten quite a few compliments on some of them... mostly nature, like flowers and insects and landscapes. So I was thinking I could print out my photos and design my own paper frame.. just get some paper and cut out a rectangular shape, and put some pretty designs so that the photo can have a unique border. My question is, what is a reasonable price to price each piece [photo + simple paper frame]? I realize my photography's probably not the super greatest since I'm not a professional or anything, but I was thinking maybe $5? Too much, too little? As a starting price for a person selling photos for the first time. Thanks for any help! :) I didn't give anybody a thumbs down, and I'm not being ignorant - I'm asking these questions so I can get some insight and see whether it's something smart to pursue or not. I'd appreciate it if your answers weren't so condescending. Also, you don't know how well they might sell - maybe my city would love to give a few bucks to its broke college students in exchange for pieces of art? It's not like I'm planning to start my own photography business or something, I'd just like to see if I can sell some of them either around town or through the internet - and yes, other people do that. My question hasn't been answered - I appreciate your opinions, but my question is asking if I were to do it, what a reasonable starting price would be. Also, I didn't say all of them were taken by my cellphone, only a few. And yes, I have printed the ones from my cellphone, and no, they don't look crappy.

Public Comments

1. question to ask yourself? Is there a market for pictures taken on cell phones with hand made frames? NO....Oh that's a surprise. Have you ever tried to PRINT a photo taken with a cell phone to see how crappy it looks???
2. reality check time: EDIT: my appoligies, i still vote for the 1st answer read what the first answerer answered then appoligize for thumbing them down - (or just thumb me down if you prefer to be ignorant)
3. OK, so you've asked a question and you want an honest answer? I'm not trying to be a jerk, just offering a few suggestions to help you out. So, let's have a reality check, but let's also possibly give you a better solution. Personally and professionally speaking, and let's be honest here, cell phone photos are "crap". It's just a fact. Now beyond that, your idea? I don't think it's worth the effort, and won't bother saying why. But since you're looking for extra money, let's give you some possible ideas. There are POD (print on demand sites) where you can possibly sell your photos. Of course they will have to be of a certain print quality. POD sites are where you could design products (mugs, greeting cards, prints and posters, blah, blah, blah). Other places are microsites, which I don't personally use because I think they are a total ripoff. A couple of POD sites are Redbubble, Zazzle, and Cafepress (but things aren't going good at Cafepress and a lot of the shops are moving to Zazzle). How do I know this? I'm on Zazzle myself. Do I make a living on it? Not even close. Do I pick up extra money? Yes, I do. But I use it more as a marketing tool and a lot of linkbacks to my website. But it's kinda fun. So that's something you might consider. I know professional photogs, artists, graphic designers, etc who use Zazzle. As a marketing tool it works pretty well for me but I do know a few people who actually make a living on there. So those might be ideas for you to consider just for some extra money.
4. I'm just dying to see these images.. Especially the 'non-crappy' ones from your phone. Could you please provide a link to them?. We will settle once and for all if this little business venture of yours is worth any more of your time. .
5. Sometimes it is surprising what will and will not sell. So just some of my thoughts on this. People tend to like things they can identify with. In other words, any nice little work of art of a local landmark or favorite hangout will usually far outsell a ho hum photo of a flower or insect or what ever. That kind of thing has been photographed a million times over, and then a million times over again. So you need to try to make your PHOTOS as unique as your art work piece, and something local people can recognize and like to be part of. Marketing your work is the hardest part. Obviously you don't have the money to spend for any marketing campaigns, but you might consider talking with merchants and seeing if they will let you set up a little display at the point of purchase. As an example, if there is a really cool bar / club / hangout that attracts lots of people, get the most stunning photo you can of the place, say at dusk when the outside lights are on but it is still light enough to see the building. Then make up a few "art pieces" or whatever you want to do. I have known people to get small magnets and paste a photo onto the magnet for refrigerator art. Show whatever you create to the club owner / personnel and see if they will let you have a small display at the bar. In anything of this nature, you have to convince the club, or where ever, that there is something in it for them too... namely good advertising. Still, they may want a "cut" of anything you sell. You could do the same for restaurants or clothing shops or coffee shops. It is always best to approach locally owned and run businesses, not the big chain outfits as they are too impersonal and there will be rules and guidelines in place preventing you from doing anything such as this. Stick with the people who have a real, vested interest in the local community. As for what to charge. That is tough to say. You have to take into consideration what your cost for materials are, and if you are having to spend time away from your studies doing this kind of thing, you really should consider what your time is worth also. Then on the flip side, you can't charge too high. The more unique and cute or cool an item you can create, the better your chances of selling. I would say, yeah, $5 is a good target to shoot for. People are a lot less willing to part with money in today's economy. An iffy quality cell phone photo of something that has no real interest in a paper frame.... well... I hate to tell you, I think you would not find it successful. Keep thinking it out. Remember... photos of local interest, as unique a presentation as you can do afford-ably, and some creative marketing will be your best bet for some success. Good luck to you. steve