Why does a picture sells?

[Skoropada]

After seeing the pictures that appear in several magazines, books and web publications I started to wonder what is it that makes a picture sell.

It's true that many of the published pictures are of outstanding quality, and that alone can account for their marketeability, but some other don't look like professional quality at all.

In my actual field of expertise (engineering) I after more than a decade of work I have come to understand that what gets most contracts is a good relationship with the buyer, not always supported by a good enough product.

I now believe that what makes the sale are the people, and not what's being sold, and also believe that this concept applies to all the commerce where there is human interaction.

Do you think that this applies also to photography?
Does a photographer need to always provide an outstanding work or does he/she need only to appeal to the good relationship with the customer?
Can a mediocre photographer with good selling skills succeed in the photographic industry?

Please, tell me what you think.

[CheaperKings]

Well, I would think that both of your answers are correct. If you have a good relationship then, you're more likely to sell to the buyer. Even if you're an outstanding photographer, you won't sell anything if you're a moron about it. Just my opinion...

[RichardTaylor]

As a hobbyst who has sold just a few photographs I think initially it is mainly the photograph meets a person or organisations needs or wants. After that you can build a relationship to keep supplying those needs.

[Raoul Isidro]

Want to sell pictures?
Watch J Jonah Jameson and how he pays Peter Parker for those pictures.
Multiply that thousands of times all over the planet.
Strewth!