New To Faa

Hi Henry - welcome aboard. Look above the forums - & find the " Help " tab.
Spend some time checking out the functions in " Behinds the Scenes ".

Here's Lady Abbie's Frequently asked questions http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=98980

Best wishes.

Janine, thank you so much. I will take a look. I truly appreciate your time.

Best,
Henry

Set up all your default base pricing behind the scenes. Load as large an image as you have so you can offer more sizes. Don't upsize your images though. You can use the search bar here in the forums to find any topics have been discussed...frequently! Try 'marketing' for one example.

Melissa, Thank you. Truly. I appreciate that information.

Henry.

Without individuality,your marketing efforts will be in vain.

Welcome a board and good luck.
I don't know that I have any advise, but it makes since to make your self known, such as entering a couple of contests and pick out a few groups to join, visit a few of the other members and leave comments for them maybe even follow a few and come to the discussion page a lot, just to look around or to join in some of the little games also to get advise and to share your adventures. well that's my 2 cents. again, welcome and good luck

Marketing 101 by Mike Savad
Why Your Work May Not Be Selling - By Mike Savad
Evaluating Your Own Work To Sell – By Mike Savad
How To Critique And Edit Your Own Work For Better Sales

besides that

upload more work. create folders that are in words and not dates. because that's confusing. turn the close up box on, because people like to see what they are buying. add descriptions, even if you think it's obvious. it helps the buyers and google. add keywords, you have none.


this image is rather fuzzy looking (it seems some of the close up boxes are on) - this may not print because its fuzzy up close.

be sure to add a bio and you'll want more work than that.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Valenteana, thank you. Good advice. I do appreciate and will take.

Henry

Mike,
Very much appreciated. I'm taking all of your advice to heart. I didn't even realize that there was the close up feature. I'm full intending in adding more work, bio, etc. and agree, some of my work has a desired grainy quality to it, but this may not be desired by the market and the close up box would allow the viewer to see this.

Thanks again, for your very thoughtful and thought through input.

Best,
Henry

the thing is - this site has a quality standard, and even if the viewer can't see the detail, the printing dept can. and if the image is fuzzy, grainy, etc - they won't print it. this will depend on size. however people will be spending a lot of money for these things and if they are used to seeing things up close, they may pass over yours because it seems like your trying to hide things.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Mike,
I can completely see what you're saying. I'll use this information evaluating the few images I've posted and moving forward. Thank you, again.

Henry

Welcome Henry. You're a nearby neighbor. I'm about 3 hours south of you and visit St. Louis Occasionally. I noticed that it looks like you've already had a sale based on the comments of this nice photo.


Upload more work, and some of your photos need a description and more tags. Keep in mind that tags is how people find you. Include location, an occupation that goes along with the photo, etc. Market, market, market. It's a lot of hard work. You need to promote your work on social media sites and bring people to your FAA site. It also helps to participate in groups and contests on FAA. Most contests are just for fun, but anything that gives your exposure is good. Welcome again and good luck. I look forward to seeing more of your or work.

Jennifer,
Hi neighbor! All good suggestions and in the process of doing that now. I'm on IG and have promoted it through there—reasons for the few sales I've had.

I truly hear you on the promoting issue, it's where I've faltered a bit, but am trying to change my ways.

Again, thank you so very much.

Henry

Henry,

Welcome! Nice images, ok keywords! There are plenty of "keyword" finders here on the Internet and find one that works for you. I can supply a link to one if you like. I assume you're coming form a photo-journalistic background,looking at you images and they might sell, but you need quantity. Make sure, as you upload, "like" your images and ask family and friends to like them too. In the search results, I think that images that have more likes come up in the front of the search,than those without any likes.

With the bug shot, try and find out what year/model that is. Subway shots, where is this subway, what line is it,etc. That will help narrow done the search results.

Volkswagen, search results, filtered by just photos have 1974 results and yours will be at the very end. Now do a search for 1974 volkswagen and see what and who comes up!!! Which would you prefer to be on?

Keep asking questions and we'll try to help. There are NO guarantees that anybody will sell anything, but some folks do, ALL the time,visit the "recently sold" page and do some research of what sells,

Good Luck,

Rich

Rich,
Thank you! More great advice that I will take to heart. I'm in the process of uploading more now and will certainly use your advice.

I appreciate your thoughtful response.

Henry

Henry - This may sound like a dumb question but what is IG? I haven't seen that one yet.

Rich - What is keyword Finders? Is it something that suggest keywords for an image?

Jennifer,

Here's the one that I use,probably better ones...........

http://www.mykeyworder.com/

I remember somebody using like Getty or some other big stock house for keywords...........

Rich

p.s. If anybody uses mine, make sure you capture your keywords,"export" and then you can then remove the spaces too, which helps keeping under the 500 limit.........

Thanks, Rich!

Jennifer, not a dumb question. I'm referring to my Instagram account.

Ok, everybody back to work!!!

Rich

. . hej Henry . . remember to explore and network if you wish . . I've been on FAA many years so if you have any specific questions you are welcome to send me a message . . and also you realise I am sure that those who are here on this forum are simply offering advice and expressing opinions . . there are no experts here . . . we all have our own creative style . . and critique is inappropriate when it is not specifically requested especially on a public forum . so when someone does that don't take it personally . it isn't about you .


So with only a few moments before I step off the grid I briefly touched your page and had a look at your work and I for one enjoy your candid photography . . we cannot do much of that on Maui . . this is such a small island and everyone knows everyone . . also my husband is Hawaiian and so many are related to us as well one way or another . . so although I really love candid photography for similar reasons which you have stated . (my collection includes some of my best work and almost none of it is online ) . . even so . . I focus on other interests such as macro photography . . I do love fine art photography . . .

. . . you may create your own discount codes and campaign your sales on social sites . . you know all this I am sure . . with that having been said . . welcome to FAA . . if you want more visibility perhaps you may wish to join a few more groups . . I host many and you'll find the links on my bio if you would like to have a look and wander about . . . . visit the featured works to meet more members who share your creative interests . . . . nice processing . . love the tones in your images . . enjoyed your bio very much as well . . wishing you a peaceful day . . Aloha . .

If you are not an an experienced marketing pro, then I would suggest hiring one. Otherwise, you will just be a photographer.

Out all the valuable things that have been said on this thread, that I appreciate so very much, that's was the one I feel I needed to hear the most. My education and "professional" career is exactly that, design, branding and marketing. "Just being a photographer" sounds pretty damn good to me. :))

Have a great weekend!

Henry

Welcome, Henry. And welcome too to the world of M.Danl... :-/

- Richard Reeve
ReevePhotos.com

I have looked at all the comments and all are good advice. Wish you all success here, there are so many talented artists and good people who support each other.

Richard,Thank you! ;)

Linda, Thanks! I appreciate that.

h.

Welcome Henry, I came on about 2011 was on for a long time with no sales, got off and now trying again with more photos more ideas of what sells and what don't. No I have not sold any thing yet again but I just know that I must be patient and wait. Take all the advice you can and try and try. Wishing you the best!!