Selling on Fine Art America

[Faustvasea]

very interesting discussion. I keep paying the 30 dollars but never upload. Must change that.

I will probably start an extra twitter and insta account for FAA promotion

I use Facebook to promote my own website for prints, never sold anything. I also have TikTok with shop and Instagram, I think it�s very hard nowadays to sell something, without a name out there.

[stoker2014]

With your permission, I could move this thread from the "Off-Topic" to the "Print on Demand" subforum, since it is obviously on-topic.

Zero Talent, are you also a moderator here on the forum? 

[stoker2014]

I understand this site is for selling art photography. This site is not for selling stock photography.

Mate, that�s why it�s opened on off topic subforum, what�s your problem here ? Just move on. *.

My question was not about the microstockgroup.com site, but about the Fine Art America site.
I do not have problems. I do not upload to the Fine Art America site. But looking at what is sold there, I see it is not a stock photograph.

[Faustvasea]

I understand this site is for selling art photography. This site is not for selling stock photography.

Mate, that�s why it�s opened on off topic subforum, what�s your problem here ? Just move on. *.

My question was not about the microstockgroup.com site, but about the Fine Art America site.
I do not have problems. I do not upload to the Fine Art America site. But looking at what is sold there, I see it is not a stock photograph.

It is not, but since there is off topic subforum, and I know how forums works, I can ask others about that too.

[Zero Talent]

I understand this site is for selling art photography. This site is not for selling stock photography.

Mate, that�s why it�s opened on off topic subforum, what�s your problem here ? Just move on. *.

My question was not about the microstockgroup.com site, but about the Fine Art America site.
I do not have problems. I do not upload to the Fine Art America site. But looking at what is sold there, I see it is not a stock photograph.

It is not, but since there is off topic subforum, and I know how forums works, I can ask others about that too.

All my FineArt America photos are also available on my microstock sites.

[stoker2014]

I provide links to stock photos. Will they be sold on the Fine Art America website?

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/top-view-delicious-roasted-cauliflower-mashed-2258701457
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/friends-sharing-food-dining-table-2348626851
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fast-food-unhealthy-eating-concept-close-288575585
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/succulent-thick-juicy-portions-grilled-fillet-138421859
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/portrait-young-latin-woman-pleasant-smile-2151833739
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/confident-rich-eastern-indian-business-man-2200214153
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/successful-business-people-giving-each-other-2237853093
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/team-diverse-partners-mature-latin-business-2346448085
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/happy-middle-aged-business-man-ceo-2306186897

[steheap]

I missed this discussion, but could add a bit now. I decided, about 3 or 4 years ago, to try to build a separate income stream besides stock photos and so built up my FAA portfolio and also joined Pictorem as well. I've written various articles on my blog about my experiences, but I have managed to build something of a new stream. This is the graph of fine art stuff compared to stock photo income:


But it does need effort. Stock is an upload and leave business model. Print on demand is an upload and promote/market model. More satisfying to think that people like your work enough to hang it on their wall!

I've also just created an Etsy store to sell physical prints and will use FAA and Pictorem to fulfil them. I wrote about that here: https://backyardsilver.com/selling-physical-prints-in-an-etsy-shop/

I've also written a book about how to get started with selling your fine art photos online if anyone is interested!

Steve

[Faustvasea]

I missed this discussion, but could add a bit now. I decided, about 3 or 4 years ago, to try to build a separate income stream besides stock photos and so built up my FAA portfolio and also joined Pictorem as well. I've written various articles on my blog about my experiences, but I have managed to build something of a new stream. This is the graph of fine art stuff compared to stock photo income:


But it does need effort. Stock is an upload and leave business model. Print on demand is an upload and promote/market model. More satisfying to think that people like your work enough to hang it on their wall!

I've also just created an Etsy store to sell physical prints and will use FAA and Pictorem to fulfil them. I wrote about that here: https://backyardsilver.com/selling-physical-prints-in-an-etsy-shop/

I've also written a book about how to get started with selling your fine art photos online if anyone is interested!

Steve

Thanks a lot for your reply. Well, FAA stated that they will do advertising for you as well, after I have watched their video. I am happy to pay $30 a year, if I can make extra income apart from stock photography.

I only started last year, so still learning about new streams of income.

I have own website where people can buy prints, and I would rather promote that , than someone's else website.

So you'd say FAA, is worth uploading ?

[cobalt]

Thank you for sharing Steve!

Will upload more to faa and we will see what happens.

[steheap]

Yes, FAA do advertising for you on Google, and if you search for a piece of wall art of a particular location, you will often see some FAA images that match that search. I occasionally have seen sales that way. I also have a website aimed at potential buyers but I do not use it as a place to host lots of images. I can't imagine anyone going to my website to browse through hundreds or thousands of potential images. So self-hosting a portfolio is a waste of time in my view. Instead, I have created one website for potential buyers, which is not linked in any way to my blog about stock photography and making money from photos.

I use this website to write articles about places I have photographed and I tell the story of the place and illustrate it with my best images. I add a link to the Print on Demand site under each of these photos so that if someone likes the photo and is interested in buying it, they can click through and see the options for framing and sizing etc. So all my social media efforts are often linked to promoting this website and articles and I have found that if you search for something like "Coopers Rock Snow" on Google, my article about a recent visit (last month) to a local beauty spot comes up in the top position and I hope someone will visit that and enjoy the photographs. It would be very hard to do that with a portfolio of photos I believe.

I've written articles about some cruises and I publicize them on Facebook groups about that cruise line and I get lots of views and great comments about the photographs that way. It seems a good way to build an audience and get visibility to my work.

Its at https://www.backyardimage.com/ if you are interested.

So, to answer the question - FAA is worth it if you are willing to put the effort into marketing.

Steve

[steheap]

I would also consider using Pictorem as well as (or instead of) FAA. They have free shipping to the USA and Canada, have a much easier and faster upload process and I have found them to be very helpful. I did a review of them back in 2022:

https://backyardsilver.com/pictorem-a-place-to-sell-your-art/

And I recently compared their underlying costs of various sizes of prints against FAA costs that showed that they were often cheaper for similar sized prints. Gives you a bit more opportunity to increase your margins perhaps!

https://backyardsilver.com/manufacturing-costs-between-pictorem-and-fine-art-america/

Steve

[Zero Talent]

Steve, I'm not sure if you're aware, but you're the Cord Cutters poster boy!
I often see your photo on my Facebook stream!
 

[Faustvasea]

I would also consider using Pictorem as well as (or instead of) FAA. They have free shipping to the USA and Canada, have a much easier and faster upload process and I have found them to be very helpful. I did a review of them back in 2022:

https://backyardsilver.com/pictorem-a-place-to-sell-your-art/

And I recently compared their underlying costs of various sizes of prints against FAA costs that showed that they were often cheaper for similar sized prints. Gives you a bit more opportunity to increase your margins perhaps!

https://backyardsilver.com/manufacturing-costs-between-pictorem-and-fine-art-america/

Steve

Thanks Steve. How about Etsy, I have a store , but is suspended as I have owe them �13 . How do you link product with Etsy ?

Regarding FAA, can I bulk upload as a premium membership ?

[steheap]

I'm not sure I know what you mean about linking product on Etsy. This is one of my products - https://www.etsy.com/listing/1686435258/alaska-sunset-metal-print-alaska - just a normal link? If you mean, how do you list a product, I have written an article about it: https://backyardsilver.com/selling-physical-prints-in-an-etsy-shop/

FAA uploads are the same regardless of whether you pay or not. Slow and time consuming!

Steve

[Faustvasea]

I'm not sure I know what you mean about linking product on Etsy. This is one of my products - https://www.etsy.com/listing/1686435258/alaska-sunset-metal-print-alaska - just a normal link? If you mean, how do you list a product, I have written an article about it: https://backyardsilver.com/selling-physical-prints-in-an-etsy-shop/

FAA uploads are the same regardless of whether you pay or not. Slow and time consuming!

Steve

Thanks, the question was, how do you get these product images on your Etsy store?

[PigsInSpace]

I provide links to stock photos. Will they be sold on the Fine Art America website?

These are more stock images. Find Art America is looking more for things that someone might get printed on a T-shirt, or framed and put on a wall, or put on a coffee mug.

[Zero Talent]

I provide links to stock photos. Will they be sold on the Fine Art America website?

These are more stock images. Find Art America is looking more for things that someone might get printed on a T-shirt, or framed and put on a wall, or put on a coffee mug.

What's wrong with hanging a random middle-aged guy with a fake smile and a tablet in his hand on your living room wall?

[stoker2014]

I provide links to stock photos. Will they be sold on the Fine Art America website?

These are more stock images. Find Art America is looking more for things that someone might get printed on a T-shirt, or framed and put on a wall, or put on a coffee mug.

That's what I'm talking about. The Art America website is not intended for the sale of stock images.

[cobalt]

There is a loz of content that works for both. Beautiful landscapes, holiday and tracel destinations and probably pretty people with a sense of fashion and style.

Flowers, food for the kitchen, sensual images for the bedroom.

The main challenge will be to get followers.

So a website and blog, insta for promotion will be usefu�.

[stoker2014]

There is a loz of content that works for both. Beautiful landscapes, holiday and tracel destinations and probably pretty people with a sense of fashion and style.

Flowers, food for the kitchen, sensual images for the bedroom.

The main challenge will be to get followers.

So a website and blog, insta for promotion will be usefu�.

On the shutterstock website, photos are sorted by their popularity. Can you choose from popular stock photos to sell on Art America? 

[cobalt]

maybe you can use it as inspiration, i don�t know.

just ask yourself - would it look good on my wall?

but faa takes a lot of fan art , marylin monroe, elvis, superhero characters. have a look around, there is a lot you cab do that is not possible for agencies.

so far I have not been able to find my files in a search

[steheap]

Steve, I'm not sure if you're aware, but you're the Cord Cutters poster boy!
I often see your photo on my Facebook stream!
 

Yes, that one does seem to be popular. Only earned about $300 though so not a great best seller!

[Uncle Pete]

I would also consider using Pictorem as well as (or instead of) FAA. They have free shipping to the USA and Canada, have a much easier and faster upload process and I have found them to be very helpful. I did a review of them back in 2022:

https://backyardsilver.com/pictorem-a-place-to-sell-your-art/

And I recently compared their underlying costs of various sizes of prints against FAA costs that showed that they were often cheaper for similar sized prints. Gives you a bit more opportunity to increase your margins perhaps!

https://backyardsilver.com/manufacturing-costs-between-pictorem-and-fine-art-america/

Steve

Thanks for the lead on Pictorem Steve.

I don't see anyone mentioning the pay package at FAA also includes Pixels, which includes a website link, and there are shopping cart widgets.  Some items that are POD on Pixels are not available on FAA. Maybe that's not important, but that's added products.

And the free website link is nice:  http://peteklinger.com/faacart.html

[Zero Talent]

There is a loz of content that works for both. Beautiful landscapes, holiday and tracel destinations and probably pretty people with a sense of fashion and style.

Flowers, food for the kitchen, sensual images for the bedroom.

The main challenge will be to get followers.

So a website and blog, insta for promotion will be usefu�.

On the shutterstock website, photos are sorted by their popularity. Can you choose from popular stock photos to sell on Art America? 

I'm not sure what your problem is.
It's not only FAA succesfully selling stock photos as prints, Art.com even has a Shutterstock collection:

https://www.art.com/gallery/id--b855849/shutterstock-collection-posters.htm

You may even find your own stock photos there, if your work is good enough to be curated by Art.com.

[stockart]

As of today, I have almost 550 photos on FAA, and I have made over $12k there since I started in ~2014.
I do not advertise, promote or cross-promote anything, I don't interact with comments and likes.
My last FAA sale was two days ago (see below). The advertisement mentioned is not mine (this is what the FAA does, hence the deep discount).

Is that $12k profit or sales? As I know FAA will take a lot of commissions.

you don't know - FAA takes no commission - they set a basic price for a product and you add the amount you want to get when it sells

True