landscape photography, making it pay?

[Cathus]

the first hurdle with whatever you do, is to convince people that you are actually any good, and probably better than them.
Not an easy task.

[KeithT]

Teaching is a great idea. I used to teach MS Office and other IT courses before retiring, which was great, apart from the admin side of things, which I hated. But my real thrill came from staging private workshops that I wrote, delivered, and loved doing. I have two post graduate certificates in adult teaching which came in handy, but there are loads of books that will show you how to set up a workshop and run courses. I say give it a go. You have nothing to lose; and you might sell some of your work to your students and their families.

[AndyStevens]

Find places that want local views hanging on their walls - galleries, doctors, forestry commission venues etc. Offer a commission for any print sales - but the prints must be top quality in really nice frames at a 'sensible' price. Put up a variety of subject matter and see which sell best - I was amazed how many B&W prints I sold at my recent exhibition!

I've done a few exhibitions now and am starting to get a grasp of what people buy - it's not necessarily a fantastic shot that sells, it seems to be either pastel coloured views that look nice on anyone's wall, a good photo of somewhere the client has had a good time (Durdle Door always sells well) and high contrast B&W.

I do sell through my website but not that often - I use it as a shop window. I also got some cards printed at Moo.com and hand these out when out and about if anyone talks to me while shooting - they have 25 different images randomly on the back so people can take home a mini version (I often get asked who I shoot for when at NT properties etc) and hopefully, they then buy online.

My best advice though? Make sure everything looks professional and just get in people's faces - galleries etc I mean, talk to them, take some prints in, tell them how nice they would make their venue look etc. Basically, sell yourself but don't sell yourself short

Cheers
Andy

[AndyStevens]

And after today, contact local interest magazines and ask if you can submit images for their consideration - I now have one mag on my website looking at my images and another has requested a disc of images (on the agreement that they only use them with my permission/after agreeing a fee.

If you don't ask...

Cheers
Andy

[thefonz78]

It would be tough making a living on just landscapes. But a great way of giving your self a bit of pocket money to buy new gear. You would be taking the photos anyway so anything is a bonus.