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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Greeting's or Postcards?
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 03/12/2005 12:00:17 PM · #1
Has anyone here ever sold a photo as a greetings or postcard?

What's the best way to get this done and what can you charge or expect to make if it sells well(ballpark number$$$).
 03/12/2005 12:16:02 PM · #2
I have sold over 400,000 post cards. I am not sure exactly what you want to do. There are many many ways to accoplish this. If you would be more specific, I will gladly share with you.
 03/12/2005 12:31:31 PM · #3
Well, I have a few shots that I've sent to friends that they printed and then, they gave to other friends. With one shot in particular, two unrelated people used the photo to make birthday cards. So starting, a logical progression...

I have a cool catshot (not perfect but A- to B+ material) handheld, where he's looking sideways, dead in to the camera, tongue out, standing in front of an American Flag guitar. People have a very strong and warm reaction to the photo and that's good enough for me.

I was thinking of printing it up myself and going around to boutique cardshops to sell straigth-up or on consignment. I live in NYC btw, and the shops are all over the place. I have no issue hitting the pavement.

OR should I try to pedal the photo(s) to card manufacturers?

What do they buy cards for? Will they even look at a one-shot deal? Royalities? Is it better to do it on your own...to start and build up a portfolio that you can later sell on a more mass scale?

Message edited by author 2005-03-12 13:17:09.
 03/12/2005 12:35:31 PM · #4
Originally posted by gwphoto:
I have sold over 400,000 post cards. I am not sure exactly what you want to do. There are many many ways to accoplish this. If you would be more specific, I will gladly share with you.

I have images. I work for a commercial print shop and know the production end-to-end. I am no good at marketing, so I guess I need an agent/representative or something.

I actually have some product along the greeting card and small gift card line ...
 03/12/2005 01:50:44 PM · #5
OK, If you are trying to sell what I call pretty photos, that is photos that you have taken and you and firends like them, then you have several options. The card and boutique way can work but you will be selling one at a time and usually on consignment. For me there was way to much work for the amount of profit. You can sell to the card manuf's but you are competting against thousands of photographers. you need to be really good and have several special images.

Now if you are serious about trying to make money you ned to understand something about marketing. For postcards, I would go to places where there are sold. Get the name of the distributor from the back of the card and contact them and see if they buy photos. Most do, and they pay from $20 to several hundred depending on the photo. I have been hired to do aerial photos for a few of them and one paid me over $3000 to go to Radid City SD for a weeks shoot. Unless your age a George Lepp or someone like that,it will be a hard road to sell many images.

You have to start somewhere, so I would go out and find who is producing the post cards in your area.

Myself, I got into full production, where I find the coustomer, take the photos for them have the cards printed for them (and I get a Comission for the printing). That way I sell them by the 10,000's and I make money on the photography and the printing. I will admit that they aren't the type of photos that I would go out and shoot on a saturday for pleasure, but it does get me into many fun shoots. Like being in the cages at some zoos, up close and personal.

I'll keep checking back or you can email me.
 03/12/2005 02:53:37 PM · #6
I just went out to 4 shops and they all liked the photo's but are a bit set as to how they do business. It seems a little closed off to a small producer and I'd need to befriend the buyers, though not completely out of the question.

If I produced a series two shops might want to play ball. It sounded like they would only start with eight cards or nothing and they would buy things straight away. Consignments seem like a pain in the butt to the few I'd mentioned it to.

I suppose I'd prefer not to sell something at all than to give it away for $20 unless the commision made up for things.

I'm curious about commisions???
 03/12/2005 03:18:05 PM · #7
I've sold a few cards ($3.00 or 6 for $15) and postcards ($2.00) but only with supplies from Photographer's Edge. I haven't done anything in mass.
 03/12/2005 09:33:27 PM · #8
A bit off topic....but for those that like to "send" postcards using your own photos, check out www.amazingmail.com , It works out to about a buck per card and that includes postage! Not bad. Things I like about this;

- You can pick your own photos
- You can set a date in advance for cards to go out (great for anniversaries, birthdays, etc.)
- You can do this in place of traditional Christmas cards
- You can keep an address list on Amazingmail for easy selection
- You can create specialized lists for Christmas cards, etc
- You can use for personal use or for business use. Great for a small business to target customers with products/services.

That's just some of the things I like about it. I just think it's a great value....maybe there are other services that do this, but I've had a lot of success with these. It's really a lot of fun to send cards with your pics to friends and relatives.

Mark
(sorry to derail your intent here with this thread but the topic reminded me of this)
 03/12/2005 11:57:55 PM · #9
Originally posted by ButterflySis:
I've sold a few cards ($3.00 or 6 for $15) and postcards ($2.00) but only with supplies from Photographer's Edge. I haven't done anything in mass.


I got a catalog today from Photographer's Edge, adn was going to mention them. Have you been pleased with their quality/service, etc?
 03/13/2005 01:48:24 AM · #10
I've used Photographers Edge, their service has always been efficient. There's only one problem, there are too many to choose from, and before you know it, you can overspend. :-)
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