How I Made $60k Selling My Photo Prints Online

Рет қаралды 15,125

Күн бұрын

I'll tell you how I made over $60,000 selling my astrophotography photos as prints. My hope is that it gives you inspiration to grow an audience, and pursue selling your photography or art and kickstart your ability to make money with your creativity.
The printing service I used (not sponsered, I just like em a lot):
www.theprintspace.co.uk/
Check out my clothing brand Stargazer:
www.wearstargazer.com/
Some stuff I use for astrophotography (affiliate links):
Lens I use: rb.gy/l6a5qs
Camera I use: rb.gy/ykvt7o
Bring the stars back into your life & join my newsletter, where I take astronomy content outside of the boring classroom and into awesome places:
shorturl.at/gTU58
✔ Subscribe & join my astronomy adventures so we can enjoy the stars together:
bit.ly/3tlQngY
Instagram: / ianlauerastro
Twitter: / ianlauerastro
00:00 Introduction
01:47 Value
04:56 How Did I Sell
10:14 My Selling Strategy
10:39 Email
13:31 Time
14:17 Building Hype
20:21 Digital Products

Пікірлер: 67

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

Been getting this question a lot, so I’ll pin my response! Currently I don’t offer prints on my website. Long story short, I put prints/photography on pause to help build a startup company. I’ve finished my time at the startup and I’m back to doing astro full time again and I’m rebuilding my website! I have some astro workshops I’m running for the next few weeks, which has received most of my attention, but once those are done I’ll be offering prints again 🎉

@levthelion 4 күн бұрын

My opinion... - Everybody hates time sensitive sales. They want to know that something will be there once they are ready for the purchase. Especially of things that have to reason to be time sensitive (like a photograph of something that wont change for billions of years) - Listing everything you have on your website give people the option of purchasing your whole collection. It might be rare but its happens. I dont see anything wrong with listing your whole collection.

@carlograzioli 2 ай бұрын

Hi Ian, thanks for sharing! There's tons of videos of professional photographers about how good they are and how much they make, but your story really stands out. I appreciate your genuine approach, the stress you punt on the sales side, and how you convey your excitement to the viewer! Last but not least, amazing photos! 👏

@ianlauerastro 2 ай бұрын

Really appreciate your comment! I really do think people have more potential than they think they have, they just need a push in the right direction. My hope is this helps more people build confidence in getting their work out there. There are so many incredible artists that deserve the attention

@simonestaffoli 6 ай бұрын

Great video man, that was a ton of useful information. I today setup my first product on my website and my next step would have been to start with prints. I'm now sure I'm gonna have a jump start thanks to this video.

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

So glad it was helpful 🙏

@sparkalightnow 18 күн бұрын

first of all, your photography is PHENOMENAL. Deeply touching. And thank you for this comprehensive overview!!!

@ianlauerastro 18 күн бұрын

Thank you, so glad it helped!

@stochasmvid 27 күн бұрын

Great info, thank you for sharing it!

@Luftbubblan 2 ай бұрын

Awesome. I have not manage to sell a single piece over the years but there's always ppl asking for it oddly enough. Maybe one day.

@nightscapejournals 6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing this, Ian - very candid, open and helpful. A print store is some way off for me, but super interesting to learn about the process and your experience. Legend. 🙌

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

Appreciate the kind words - hope to see you launch a print shop in the future!

@caleb.chadwick 22 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing! You are very sincere and your advice is spot on.

@phelix920 2 ай бұрын

👍🏾👏🏾🙌🏾📸💐Dude I’m just happy for you. It brings my heart joy to see someone else in Photography being rewarded for their hard work. Much respect ✊🏾 Phelix

@2009zachman Ай бұрын

So inspiring! Thank you for sharing. I have been wanting to sell my stuff but immediately get overwhelmed with the process of it all. This video helped me see the bigger picture and how the process may not be as overwhelming as I think it is.

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

So glad this was helpful and good luck!

@thabomakhoesa6705 5 күн бұрын

I'm grateful to the universe for sending you my way ❤️🤝🏽

@siaulk Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Appreciate that.

@WhatIveSeenThere 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience, it’s so inspiring. Keep up the great work! 🔥

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

Thank you! Will do!

@hamdyabdelgayed6912 27 күн бұрын

First of all thank you Ian for all the info shared, i would really appreciate and am sure everybody would like a video about how you get your photos ready to print and how does it actually work with the print on demand service you use so basically the dynamics of the whole process thank you again for amazing video

@ButterflyVybzzz 5 ай бұрын

Sooo beautiful. Im definitely going to check u out!

@viewintospace 6 ай бұрын

Really cool video - love it!!!! And yes, I might follow your guidance and try it out! Thanks a lot for sharing!!!!! 🙏🏻

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

It definitely works - you've got this! 💪

@avriljones8853 Ай бұрын

Superb video, Ian. I’m already a The Print Space user (that’s how I heard about your video). Thank you for sharing your process.

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! The folks at the print space are fantastic.

@jasebronson4658 6 ай бұрын

Amazing video.. the quality and the information is great. Going to come back to this video in a few months and hope to start the same journey!

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

So glad it was helpful. I love helping and seeing other people succeed in their endeavours!

@tombock336 6 ай бұрын

Great great info, Ian!!

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Tom!

@loryangnancyvangalways4904 Ай бұрын

I love this means so much. Thank you Ian.

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

So glad it helped, thanks for watching!

@infinitebeing211 Ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

@neilarmitage6632 Ай бұрын

Valuable information. Thanks

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@isurus2478 Ай бұрын

hey Ian, this video is very helpful. I'm going into the font and art/design space, and I think your strategies for outreach and getting a following are going to help a ton. I also see you have a clothing brand, something I'll try as well. Do you have a video where you share how much you make annually off your businesses?

@lonewolf8275 21 күн бұрын

This is a very genuine question. Can somebody please explain why is email marketing so important? I’ve heard so many photographers or influencers talk about how important email marketing is. But like, why? How? I personally have NEVER ever even bothered to open any advertisement type of emails. I check my email, like, never 🫣 only when I need to check verification codes do I open my email . And this is not an exaggeration, but every single person I know in my life also doesn’t even bother checking their emails as well. Maybe this is an Asian thing? Like emails are just not a thing in Asia, so maybe that is why I never understood email marketing. Do people actually use their emails in the western world? Like people would be interested in seeing advertisements in their emails? I’m really curious and confused.

@mike_abramyan 6 ай бұрын

Amazing video!

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

Glad you think so! Cheers dude!

@abheymehta 12 күн бұрын

Awesome work … I have website with square space but not sure if it will work as well as shopify , did you happen to try square space by any chance . Does your printer you used ship worldwide or it’s just UK .

@notallaboutmeministry3285 14 күн бұрын

This is actually helpful

@ianlauerastro 14 күн бұрын

Glad to hear it!

@lisatutinas7585 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for creating this video - this was really helpful to me, as I am thinking about offering prints in the near future. Which webhosting service do you use? Any challenges that you experienced (and overcame) with your print on demand service? Cheers, Lisa

@ianlauerastro 2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! I use Shopfiy. Most issues came up with shipping (lost/damaged packages) but the Print on Demand service I used (The Print Space) was very professional, they would send replacements out quickly, and they package things well enough so even if the packaging was damaged, the print was still in tact. The best advice I can give (outside of the things I talked about in the video) is to give exceptional customer service to those people buying from you - keep them informed about when prints will arrive, and follow-up with them. You can automate a lot of these things with an email service provider.

@soarpurpose 3 ай бұрын

Lines up with the research I have been doing about offering my art as fine art prints. First test prints are in their way & I have been doing my sums. Looking at staying in my country as shipping overseas is horrendous and also looks like a tax nightmare overseas. I saw some use overseas printers who drop ship but I wasn't sure if there was much protection if there were issues.

@JasmineApple 9 күн бұрын

Hey, Ian, that was great! But I was curious about closing your store? You don't keep things up for sale all the time? For subsequent print drops, do you have all new photos? I get the strategy of limited editions, or get in now before it goes back into the vault, but you don't keep anything in your store at all after a couple of weeks?

@ianlauerastro 9 күн бұрын

I don’t keep anything up after I close the store. The scarcity helps sell the idea that once the store is closed, the print won’t be available for a long time - it’s a good technique to get those on the fence about purchasing to buy. Each print drop I make only new prints available. Old ones don’t become available for a long time. That’s just my strategy though, you can certainly make some prints available after a store, it’s all up to you. You know your audience best :)

@staceydenise5538 16 күн бұрын

Ian, I am curious how do you handle the limited amount of time? Do you turn off the add to cart, remove the photos? I have outlined this type of strategy, but have not found a way to implement it.

@ianlauerastro 14 күн бұрын

If you mean on Shopify, you can remove the photos by setting them to Draft, so they are no longer available to purchase. Or you can set your store to password protected if your shop is only there to sell prints.

@Mintzee-mi8rc 2 ай бұрын

Hey there! Do you think gelato POD is a great option? Just ordered a sample and the quality was sooo high! And fast shipping. The prices are really cheap compared to the prints space. I think it is a great option for people thats wanna start and offer cheaper wall art. Like 200 dollars for just the production cost! Isnt that a lot?

@Mintzee-mi8rc 2 ай бұрын

BTW, nice video, and i am happy that you show the reality about starting a new business. A lot of people makes it sound so easy to make a ton of money in just some days, while you are showing the reality

@ianlauerastro 2 ай бұрын

I’m not familiar with them, but the thing that matters is if the quality is to your liking, and it works for your needs. If it is, go for it! The supplier only needs to satisfy your needs to help you achieve your end result - happy clients.

@ianlauerastro 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated! It’s definitely a lot of work and takes a high amount of executive function to get the ball rolling - but being able to build an engaged audience is such a powerful skill. Theres people with 5000 followers on IG who make more money from their audience than a person with 100k - it all comes down to how you utilize the followers you have

@user-kp1jk5fe4v Ай бұрын

Great video. Very strange though, no matter how many of your links I follow, I can't find your print store anywhere. Sigh. Maybe via Google ...

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

Working on rebuilding my website at the moment :)

@harrisonlauer6346 6 ай бұрын

Hey! I know this guy!!!

@ianlauerastro 6 ай бұрын

Thank you my brotha!

@Arcteek 3 ай бұрын

I think I have good pictures and was able to sell a few of them but I think my 0 followers on social media wouldn't care about an online marketplace 😂

@AnnkurKumar Ай бұрын

0:30, congrats on earning 11,471.25 use on the first attempt with your first print store!! My query and request make a detailed video step by step on how & where to make print store and what kind of images were your best sellers.?

@RonK 3 ай бұрын

how comes there's no way to find any of your prints on your website, no link to a web- or print shop, no mention, nothing?

@ianlauerastro 3 ай бұрын

I only do print drops once a year now for a limited time, and promote it through my email list/social media. This lets me focus on what I enjoy doing most - astrophotography and getting people out under the stars through workshops and tours. I recently updated my website to reflect that, but looks like I missing putting my print section live - Gotta fix that thanks for pointing that out 🤙

@casafilms Ай бұрын

I just went to your website and you no longer seem to be selling prints, just a digital bundle. Are prints no longer selling?

@ianlauerastro Ай бұрын

Long story short, shipping costs went way up, at the same time I put prints/photography on pause to help build a startup company. I’ve finished my time at the startup and I’m back to doing astro full time again. Also my printer, the Print Space, just opened a New York location which drastically reduced shipping prices, so I’m rebuilding my website! I have some workshops I’m running for the next few weeks but once those are done I’ll be offering prints again

@casafilms Ай бұрын

@@ianlauerastro great to hear. I'll keep checking your site. Thanks for replying.