http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk 31
Expert tips for
maximising
image sales
Philip Mowbray, content manager at
Picfair (www.picfair.com) is an
expert on all things stock
photography and shares his top ten
tips to help you to increase your
chances of selling more images
using online hosting services.1 Don’t over-edit your photos
Keep editing to a minimum because
buyers often apply their own
adjustments to images to fit
in-house styles. Any significant
adjustments to a photo, especially
those that render the image
unrealistic, will restrict its use. So,
when editing images for selling
online, less is much more.2 Leave space fortext
Editorial customers often overlay
text on images (eg. magazines and
book covers) in areas such as sky,
sea, grass or anywhere with a
solid block of colour that isn’t too
busy. Including space for text within
your images will give them added
value and ultimately much greater
sales potential.3 Self-promotion is essential
The landscape of image buying has
changed dramatically over the past
ten years and buyers often use
social media to discover images. We
find that photographers who are the
most active on social media, linking
and promoting their Picfair Stores,
have increased success with selling
their images.4 Network with potential
buyers
If a photographer’s work caters to a
specific niche or industry, they
should research and reach out to
any relevant companies or contacts
with a link to their images. This
could be as simple as sending a
quick email to an editor or manager
to introduce themselves and
their photography.