Ordering Prints from Me or from a Website?

[OhSnapPhotos]

I am trying to expand and give a more professional feel to my budding business. As part of that I'm hoping to upgrade/create my website.

I could easily create and maintain a site as long as it was hosted by someone else (Google, Yahoo, etc.), even including private galleries, but I'm wondering if I should do that or go with someone who hosts photography sites specifically.

In relation to this my question is, do most of your print sales come through you and you deliver to the customer or do they come through your website? I think if I allow web ordering I would rather have whoever is hosting the site handle all the printing, shipping, etc., but I'd like to hear what works for others.

Thanks!

[waffles]

I haven't sold much, but I do have things set up.

What I have sold has gone directly between myself and the customer. Well, customer's son's friend in one case, but to me that's the same thing. I take the money, I get the stuff shipped to me, and I deliver it. But that was all for people who could be found on campus, which made it really easy.

I have it set up basically the same way on my website. They email me what they want, I email them back a bill. When I get paid I order the stuff.

I do it this way so that I can take a final look at the shot before they get it, and so that I can do any final touches that they ask for.

[innershell]

I know someone who uses smugmug for their photography sales and lets the website handle most of the work. It is expensive though.

[imagesbyjk]

Its always preferable to do as much of your sales in person. Once they are available on line and some time has passed the emotional level of the client drops significantly. I only offer images online with my higher packages. For my online sales I use Eventpix.

[MatthewGx]

I'd host the website anywhere. You won't have any issues with that... and hosting with some special photography hosting website may charge more (when it's unneeded). I'd also sell your prints in person... it adds a personal touch. If anything, you can have a contact form on the website and someone could request a photo if they wanted and you could contact them back. I question how effective selling prints are online, and how many people actually purchase them online. You have more of an opportunity to be proactive in person.

Hope this helps!

[imagesbyjk]

Originally Posted by MatthewGx

I'd host the website anywhere. You won't have any issues with that... and hosting with some special photography hosting website may charge more (when it's unneeded). I'd also sell your prints in person... it adds a personal touch. If anything, you can have a contact form on the website and someone could request a photo if they wanted and you could contact them back. I question how effective selling prints are online, and how many people actually purchase them online. You have more of an opportunity to be proactive in person.

Hope this helps!

As I said, in person is the way to go. The advantage of online sales is for out of town clients. I have a lot of clients from out of town who come in to be shot and then are gone. The only way to make sales to them is online. And on the upper packages for my seniors I include online hosting AFTER the family places their order. The online hosting is for Grandma and Grandpa who live in Pismo Beach.

[krossk]

I'm in a similar situation as I take a lot of pictures of my daughter's dance company performances. Other parents want to see and purchase pictures of their kids and are happy with what I have available. The problem is that they want to take their time viewing and selecting. I started with in-person sales, but when a typical sale involves an hour to view and select, it becomes difficult to coordinate schedules. And it also severely limits my ability to present to everyone that wants to see what I have available.

I was always being asked if they could be viewed on line. My solution is to still offer in person sales, but to also establish an on line site. I can offer slightly cheaper prices in person, but if the convenience and ability to pay by credit card is a factor, then I can refer them to the web site.

Having said that, I'm just now getting the site established, so the long term effectiveness of this approach still remains to be seen.

[imagesbyjk]

Originally Posted by krossk

I was always being asked if they could be viewed on line. My solution is to still offer in person sales, but to also establish an on line site. I can offer slightly cheaper prices in person, but if the convenience and ability to pay by credit card is a factor, then I can refer them to the web site.

Having said that, I'm just now getting the site established, so the long term effectiveness of this approach still remains to be seen.

That's actually a very good idea. If you stress the fact that it will cost more to order them online you can encourage them to order in person.

[MatthewGx]

If the demand is there, I'd say look into more selling online. Not only is it more convenient for them, but it's also a lot more convenient for you. I'm not even sure I would increase the prices online. Partly because you may ultimately want to encourage online shopping... because it's saving you (what sounds like hours) of selling in person. One of my reasons about not selling online was because I wonder who really does purchase photos online (unless you already have some type of demand, which it sounds like you do). I think selling different types of photography in person is a good idea... your other alternative would be to print up a few books of photos and then people could browse through those while you're making a sale. Anywho, that's the way I see it. Time is valuable.

[imagesbyjk]

I think selling at recitals, sporting events, and the like is more effective if you have a way to quickly proof on site so that people can place their orders then and there.