Selling photography prints online is a great way to make money as a photographer. But what is the best way to sell photography print? How can photographers maximize sales and minimize costs when selling prints?

These are the questions we answer in this article. We look at all the best online platforms for selling photography prints online. We explore all the features these platforms have to offer, helping promote your work and make money. 

Let’s get started so you can find the best way to sell photography prints online.

© Adi Goldstein

How to Sell Photography Prints Online

Making money as a photographer is not easy. That’s why most photographers need to diversify their income streams, using any opportunity they have to increase revenue and get that money flowing. 

This strategy might include paid gigs, teaching classes, selling stock photos, and selling prints at art markets. But it should also include selling prints online. 

The best way to sell prints online is to find a platform that works for you. Online stores like Etsy are great for creatives looking to sell their work in physical form. You can also create your own website using a builder with integrated sales features.

But there are also specialist platforms to help photographers sell photography prints over the internet. These online platforms are the first focus of this article.

We look at all the best online selling platforms for photographers, examining all the important features. We’ll show you how you can integrate these platforms into your photography business strategy. 

After that we look at the best website builders for photographers selling prints. And we look at the best website for selling art online.

© Annie Spratt

Best Platforms for Selling Photography Prints

Now we’ll examine all the best sites and platforms to help you sell photography prints online. You can also see our full article on the best places to sell photos online by clicking this link.

SmugMug is the best online portfolio platform for photographers. There is stiff competition from the likes of ShootProof, but SmugMug takes the top spot in this list. The all-round platform is fantastic, but the integrated sales features really stand out. 

Selling prints with SmugMug could not be easier. The integrated tools make it a dream for photographers trying to make money. You need to do some work setting up the account. You have to upload images, create galleries, and set prices. But once it’s up and running, there’s a high degree of automation. 

You don’t need to print any photos yourself. People order their prints from your profile, then SmugMug takes care of the rest. Working with their trusted print labs, they ensure high-quality prints are sent to the correct location. 

For those working in the USA, you have a selection of print partners to choose from. International photographers have fewer options. 

Users set their own prices. Using the detailed information provided by the platform, it’s easy to calculate profit margins after costs. It’s worth noting SmugMug takes 15% of all sales, whether prints or downloads. Adjust your prices accordingly. 

You have fewer pricing options when on the most basic subscription plan. You can still set prices, but you have far less flexibility than the more expensive professional plans.

The platform also allows you to sell product pages rather than individual prints. This can help calculate markups and improve earnings. It means you can offer unique product packages that showcase your work. You can also add custom branding to deliverables. 

SmugMug also helps you sell digital downloads. These are more popular with commercial clients, but it’s another way to increase the income from your photography business. 

Read our full SmugMug review here.

Similar to SmugMug, ShootProof is an all-in-one platform for displaying and selling photos online. Getting subscribed and set up is the biggest hurdle. But once that’s done, selling prints through ShootProof is easy. 

Firstly, ShootProof offers a detailed guide on how to sell prints using the platform. It’s totally free, so it’s the perfect resource if you’re just getting started.

You can offer a variety of sizes and styles, giving your customers more variety. There are also different types of printed media. You have the option of printing photos on paper, canvas, gallery wraps, and metal. 

You can print your own photos and sell them through the ShootProof site. But the easier option is to partner with one of ShootProof’s lab printing services. You can select your own printing service, one that’s not a ShootProof partner. But most new users opt for the ShootProof partners. 

Don’t worry about logistics. ShootProof does all the hard work for you. They arrange the printing and shipping, leaving you to set prices, arrange galleries, and count the money.

Actually, you don’t even need to count the money yourself. ShootProof offers integrated invoicing, streamlining the financial side of the business. 

The pro printing lads also take care of shipping. They don’t do it for free, so you need to work it into your budget and pricing. But it’s a huge time and energy saver. 

Shootproof also allows you to sell photos digitally. Clients can download your images (for a fee, of course) directly from your profile. The eCommerce on ShootProof is truly top-notch. 

We have a full review of ShootProof if you want to learn more.

Zenfolio is a dedicated portfolio with integrated eCommerce tools for selling prints and digital images. The portfolios and galleries are classy, showcasing your work in its best light. But it’s also a hub for your photography business, helping you maximize sales. 

Built-in marketing tools help you reach new clients and drive sales. While other sites display your work and organize sales, Zenfolio gives you a helping hand on the marketing side of things. It teaches you knowledge and skills you can use beyond the platform. 

The platform offers prints in different sizes and finishes, giving buyers more options. You can also set prices for each individual type of print, no matter what size or finish. 

And it’s not just photo prints. You can turn your images into wall art, metal prints, canvas wraps, and greetings cards. Zenfolio’s specialist partners take car of printing and postage. 

You can integrate Zenfolio’s eCommerce features into your website, allowing clients to buy images from any web page or gallery on the site.

Payment is easy from the client’s side of things. They can pay using credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, or PayPal. The options make it easier for people, but the brand recognition of Apple Pay and PayPal inspire confidence in your website. They trust you and feel more comfortable parting with their hard-earned cash. 

Instaproofs is another fantastic all-in-one portal for your photography business. Allowing you to display your work with gorgeous galleries, Instaproofs works as an attractive storefront. The eCommerce tools and financial assistance increases efficiency when running your photography business. 

Instaproofs is connected to some of the most reliable print labs in the US. This business-to-business integration streamlines print sales, with the labs doing all the hard graft. 

You can adjust prices on the site to make sure you’re making money. The platform also provides business reports and sales info to help keep track, monitor sales, and nurture clients. 

The portal can be used for photographer-client communications. It even has drafts and templates for contracts and other legal documentation relating to your business. 

You need to pay for one of Instaproofs’ subscription plans. There is a free option, but you will be charged a 12% commission on every sale on this plan. Sign up to a paid plan, however, and there are no commission charges at all. The money goes straight into your pocket. 

The setup process for Artfinder is slightly different. You can’t just sign up as with the previous platforms. You need to submit an application, and then the Artfinder authorities say yes or no. Don’t worry. They are only making sure your work is genuine and inoffensive. 

Artfinder is a sales platform for visual artists of all kinds, not just photographers. That has an impact on the type of buyers on the site. They are art lovers, not people looking for stock images. This has both positive and negative effects. 

The negative is that it’s harder to get photographs noticed by casual art lovers. On the bright side, art lovers are more likely to buy photos with more obscure subjects and themes. You’re not restricted to landscapes and generic stock photography themes. 

The trouble with Artfinder is that there are no integrated printing services. You have to do all the printing and shipping yourself. 

However, the platform gives you control over pricing and listings. It also gives you performance stats and other sales insights, allowing you to better understand your photography business. 

Artfinder has 450,000 active users. And due to the nature of the site, these users actually want to find art they love. They also appreciate the artistry and are willing to pay for works they love. 

Best Website Builders for Selling Prints

Building your own website is another great way to sell photography prints online. Website builders tend to be more expensive than hosting platforms, but you have more creative freedom with the site. This can help you boost your personal brand and make more sales. 

Wix is the best website builder for photography. It gives you the best opportunity to create your own online space that also works as a hub for your business. It also has eCommerce features that allow you to sell photo prints online. 

When setting up your Wix website, you have the option to create a store. Remember to select the correct store type, which is “digital and print.” Then, it’s a case of adding all the personal and professional information. 

The best thing about Wix is the fantastic website designs. There’s an incredible range of templates to choose from. But you can also customize all the pages on your site. You don’t need any coding experience, as the drag-and-drop tools make editing super easy. 

As well as integrated eCommerce, Wix offers a wide range of business solutions. It helps with invoices and tracks sales information to help you hone your strategy. 

Wix offers four different payment plans, each with a monthly subscription. There’s no free plan, but it does offer a 14-day free trial. Individual photographers can opt for the cheapest plan. It also offers 2 GB of online storage. 

Squarespace is perhaps the most well-known website builder. While they cater to all types of website users, not just creatives, a Squarespace website is still a fantastic option for an online photography business. 

There’s a wide range of website templates to choose from, with excellent customization features. Some templates are specifically tailored for photography portfolios. It’s easy to find a way to display your work in a flattering and professional way. 

A Squarespace website can also work as a storefront and sales hub. However, you do need to set up a partnership with a printing service separately. But once you have an account with one of the trusted print labs, you can integrate that into your website. 

Alternatively, you can print and ship photos yourself. This might be more cost-effective for some photographers. But opting for the integrated options certainly makes your life easier. 

You can make a dedicated shop, or “print palace,” on your website. This is where potential buyers can see exactly what images you offer as printed photos. 

Squarespace is another subscription-based service, with monthly or yearly payment plans. The Personal Plan should be enough for most photographers. But there is a 14-day free trial on all plans if you want to try before you buy. 

Best Websites for Selling Prints Online

When it comes to using a sales website to sell photo prints, there’s only one game in town. That’s Etsy. It’s similar to a site like eBay, only Etsy is a sales site for original arts and crafts. Artists and craftspeople of all kinds can sell their wares on this platform. 

It’s a great place for photographers to sell photography prints. You can offer standard prints, wall art, framed pictures, and canvases.

There’s no integrated printing and shipping service, so many photographers complete these tasks themselves. However, you can link your Etsy profile to a Print on Demand service to make things easier for yourself. But make sure it’s a reliable one. A few bad reviews can leave your profile in the dust. 

Sign up to a print-on-demand service before you create your Etsy account. This way, you can sync the printing service to your Etsy store during the signup process. 

With 30 million uses, there are plenty of people looking to buy good-quality art on Etsy. However, it is a competitive marketplace, with thousands of creators trying to grab the attention of potential buyers. Do your research to see what sells and offer high-quality photo prints in a variety of styles.

Etsy also has integrated eCommerce features for selling digital images. You can offer digital downloads as well as prints in your store, which can help increase revenue and promote your work. 

Tips on How to Sell Photo Prints Online

Selling photo prints can be a great income source for photography. But making money selling prints isn’t easy. Using the platforms and websites in this article will certainly make your life easier, but it still takes time and effort to make a success of it. 

These tips will help you make money selling photo prints.

Do Market Research

Find out what types of images sell before setting up an online sales platform. Look at the profiles of other photographers to see the types of images they have for sale. 

Use any connections you have in the photography industry to see what’s selling and where. Photography forums and Facebook groups are great places to get insider info from fellow photographers. 

Find out which platforms work best for different types of photographers. Look at photographer’s profiles on different selling platforms. 

Keep your ear to the ground for new trends. It would be futile to follow them all, but you don’t want to miss one that fits your genre and style.

Build a Unique Personal Brand

Don’t feel pressured into changing your photography style to meet the needs of one particular corner of the market. If you have a strong style, lean into it. Built around it to make your brand unique. 

You might work in an obscure niche, but there could be plenty of people ready to buy your prints. It’s about finding a way to tap into that area of the market.

Generic genres like landscape have the broadest appeal, but there’s far more competition. Buyers won’t be able to find you, so they’re less likely to buy from you.

General browsers also have less buying intent, whereas those shopping in a smaller niche are more inclined to buy work. 

Stick to your style and be true to your creativity. You need to be known for doing something special, something that sets you apart.

Select Your Best Photos

Only offer your very best work to sell as prints. You might think offering a wider range will attract your buyers, but that’s often not the case.

A broad selection with a wide range of styles and genres will turn people away. They won’t build an emotional connection to your work and leave your store with no sense of your individual style. 

Select your favorite photos from your collection; photos that clearly demonstrate who you are and what you do. 

© Annie Spratt

Find a Reliable Print Service

Printing and shipping prints yourself does give you more control over quality and handling. But this route often proves less efficient in terms of cost, time, and effort. 

A print-on-demand service is the best solution. And thankfully, many of the platforms mentioned here have integrated printing services to incorporate into your site. If a site like SmugMug or ShootProof recommends them, you can trust them.

But not all sales platforms have integrated print-and-send services. In this case, you have to find a service yourself. 

Quality is key with a service like this. If they send a defective product to a buyer, that buyer won’t purchase anything from you again. 

The quality of the printed photos is paramount. But you also need to consider the quality of packaging and service. Are the packages reaching their destination on time and in good order?

Order some products for yourself or for a friend to see the results. Online reviews are useful, but they can only tell you so much. It’s best to find out for yourself.

Review Sales Data

Once sales start coming through, examining the data can help you hone your sales skills and improve revenue. You can see what sells and what doesn’t. And you might be able to see who is buying your work. That’s all valuable information for a salesman. 

Many of the portfolio and sales platforms listed here provide detailed information relating to sales and revenue. Always make the most of it to ensure you’re business is going in the right direction. 

If your chosen platform doesn’t provide this info, collect and collate it yourself. This can be a faff, especially if you’re not a wizz with Excel. But any information you can gather will be useful.

Have a Wider Strategy

It is possible to make money selling prints as a photographer. But it’s important to keep your expectations in check. Selling prints is definitely not a get-rich-quick scheme. Generating sales takes time and effort, and you probably won’t make enough to live on from print sales alone. 

Selling prints should be part of a wider business strategy. It’s one piece of a larger puzzle. It might be an important piece, but it’s still only one piece. 

Selling digital images goes hand-in-hand with selling prints, so you need to make the most of that. Even Etsy helps you sell prints and digital images.

Paid gigs will always be vital to a photography career. And you have other opportunities to make money, like teaching, selling products, and affiliate relationships. 

Conclusion

It has never been easier to sell photography prints online. Thanks to portfolio platforms like SmugMug and Zenfolio, you can generate sales directly through your photo galleries. 

You can also create a website with integrated eCommerce features. Both Wix and Squarespace offer features that make it easy for photographers to sell prints of their best work. You can also sell photo prints through Etsy. 

Making money selling photography prints isn’t easy. The processes have never been easier, but you still need to put your back into it. Effort is required if it’s going to work financially.