During the lull of the extra free-time phase of my pandemic experience, I decided to resurrect a passion of mine that had been dormant for several years: my love for photography.
Among my many creative endeavors, photography has been a periodic hobby that never reached the forefront of my life. I’d bring my camera out as a fun way to document my experiences and play around with colors and textures within my environment. I had a running tumblr account throughout the 2010s, but it never dawned on me to share my work by offering it for sale.
I initially approached this with a “just get it out there” attitude, but I soon realized that a lot more effort will be necessary to make consistent sales. Here are the things I did to generate more sales.
Understood e-commerce systems and trends
There is a systematic way to approach e-commerce and the key strategy is understanding data and what to do with it. While I felt confident in my photography, getting my client’s attention based on their needs is what will sell more successfully. I reviewed many other sellers who sold items similar to my work on Etsy, Ebay, Society6, and Redbubble to see what has been successful for them. I also reviewed resources like erank.com and marmalead.com to get an industry wide view.
Became a better storyteller
All of my work has a story behind it. It could be as simple as a photograph from a casual walk to the time I unexpectedly took a helicopter ride around the Grand Canyon and happened to have my camera with me. These stories come in hand when writing descriptions of your products for sale. Product descriptions need to include the details of what your customer should expect when they receive your item. Even if there is no elaborate tale behind your work, you should at minimum describe dimensions, ease of use, and materials used that make the product.
Leveraged Social Media
I created a new instagram account for my photography to focus on showcasing that work (find me @leylasnovini on instagram). Creating a new account is not required, but it is a great option if you’d like to separate it out from your personal posts. Social media is a great opportunity to showcase the above storytelling skills and also an opportunity to leverage video content to connect with your target audience.
Built Mastery in my craft
I’ve become a better photographer and entrepreneur since I’ve launched my business as I have been experimenting more as a creative person. I’ve had to learn about photo printing and aspect ratios to produce high quality work. I’ve leveraged the extra income earned to invest more into growth and learning. The most rewarding part of this experience has been inspiring other creative friends and encouraging them to promote their own work.
Want to launch your own e-commerce site to sell your photography? I’m launching my inaugural one on one coaching program, The Creative’s Path to Profit, designed specifically for creative hobby photographers like you! Whether you’ve been snapping photos for years or just picked up your first camera, this program is all about helping you take your passion to the next level and turn it into something more. Learn more about the program here
Leave a Reply