Hello, I hope all are well. I am continuing to learn about the selling process. I got a great response from Jadendreamer13 about what to begin inquiring about. The question is, how do photographers sell their products on Zazzle? Photographers, do you get good customer feedback, and how popular are your photography theme stores? What should I be focusing on?
Thank you for your time.
Blessings. 
Straight up photography does not sell particularly well here. Z hold a niche much more directed at DIYers and customized items. The wall art products tend to be pricey and just don’t compete well with sites that are geared to sell artwork. To sell photography here you need to get creative- put things together in ways that allows people to make custom items. Create souvenir type items and postcards. And still don’t expect them to fly off the shelves.
As PenguinPower says, photography is not Zazzle’s big seller.
However, do not despair. PenguinPower also says “_Create souvenir type items and postcards.” _That is what I did with my photos and they sold as postcards and Christmas tree ornaments. To be specific, the only photos I have been able to sell are photos I took while on vacation of identifiable locations. For example, I took photos of beach roses in Ogunquit, Maine and those did not sell. But I also pulled back and took a more distance photo of Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine and that did sell (as postcard and Christmas ornament). Same with photos from San Francisco, New York City, Istanbul and London. The key being that I put location titles on them and made sure there was geographically identifiable stuff in them. They sold on Christmas ornaments and postcards as souvenirs.
I also sold customizable retirement stuff (guest book, cards) with pictures of fishing boats in Ogunquit, Maine with the idea they would be for a retirement party for somebody who planned to go on fishing trips in retirement. That’s an example of what PenguinPower is also alluding to with the suggestion that you get creative with ways to use your photos and make them customizable.
As others have said, in today’s market, photography is tough. Well over a decade ago, for me it was quite profitable. Then the large photo agencies moved in, not to mention the improvement in digital phone cameras which made everyone a photographer, and huge competition pretty much crushed that business. Unless you have very unique photos and / or a built in audience, I suspect it will be tough to consistently make money just doing photos.
I have a photography store of solely my own works. I’ve closed it twice now and it remains closed due to lack of sales. Seems its not as popular as weird graphics
Now that I’m not on my phone I can give some examples… Here’s a few of the photo based items that I have sold. Post cards and souvenir type items - magnets, mugs, puzzles have all sold. My birds have sold some, as not everyone can get good bird photos and bird watching is a huge hobby. I also have some kind of unique large format images and textures, patterns that I have used sold on things like shower curtains, phone cases, lighters. I’ve sold a couple of regular paper posters, but as far as expensive wall art - the only orders I’ve ever had for canvases etc. have all been placed by me… and even I did it when they were drastically on sale, because they are $$$… By far post cards have sold the most often - I have many more than I posted below.
Off topic but I noticed your two backpacks have a side view as the default view which is what will show as the default thumbnail in the MP same as it is in your store thumbs. Check your Merchandising Options under Edit Product Details and you can select the front view instead so your design actually shows to people browsing around 
Oh… and I might mention that it doesn’t hurt that I’ve travelled to some lesser known places, so I have postcards that don’t have 100 competitors… Like
Maryhill Washington Stonehenge War Memorial
by Works_For_Peanuts
Wild Horse wind farm
by Works_For_Peanuts
That NW Bus Washtucna Washington
by Works_For_Peanuts
Matera Basilicata Italy
by Works_For_Peanuts
I take lots of photos on my travels, and also here at home on the island where I live, just using my iPhone, which I feel are good enough to go on Zazzle goods. The ones that do sell, have often sold many times over, on items such as jigsaws and cards.
Popular subjects for me are old transport vehicles like a bus in Scotland or a locomotive in Romania, various views of a historic paddle-steamer, seaside views, and a colosseum in France, for example.
This is my best-selling photograph…
These are beautiful works. Thank you for your input. Blessings.
Thank you so much. I have been trying to change to the front image. I am still learning the software. Blessings.
That is beautiful, I love the puzzle idea. Thank you so much for your information. Blessings.
I also draw and paint. I will place them on products also. I bet you have wonderful photographs. Hugs. Thank you for your input. Blessings.
Thank you so very much for your feedback. This is very good to know and expand from. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and placing my work on Zazzle’s products. I so want to share the joy I feel with art and nature. Thank you again. Blessings.
Really good to know. Thank you so much for the additional details. Istanbul must be amazing. I do like the postcard idea. Thank you again, and Blessings.
That bus is the bomb! I love it.
I took photography back in college- I did not favor the chemicals in producing them, but I still love that the original method gives a different perspective than software and pixels. I think both methods are interesting, especially when the camera software on cameras or iPhones gives the photographer instant options to create the desired image. I do draw and paint also. I sewn my own Halloween costumes back in the day :). Thank you for your input. Blessings.
Of my top 10 sellers, three are from my photography. These are straight photos, many of my things are manipulated (isolate something from one photo to add to another, etc.) The hot air balloon niche seems to be doing well for me.
| Keychain | Postcard | Postcard |
Washtucna welcomes the attention 😉. It’s a tiny, tiny place in the middle of a bunch of wheat fields.. 200 people and the bus is its little claim to fame. The town historical museum and the farmer who donated the patch of land the bus sits on now would like to see it developed into something more - an art park and geology learning trail, but enough money is unfortunately hard to come by in a place so small. I think I couldn’t have been there at a more perfect time - there was green, green grass because it was spring, an awesome set of clouds and the bus (which is constantly changing) had a nice coat of colors.
Wow. Those are so lovely. Great ideas. I have been doing layers of different images also. Thank you so much for your input. Blessings.
