At the last London Photo Show on the Southbank we were chatting to some photographers who’d been successful in selling prints at the exhibition.
We took that research a bit further and surveyed other photographers who have sold prints at the exhibition, and thought it would be useful to summarise them here as practical points to help you sell more prints when you are exhibiting.
Here they are, 7 things you can do to sell more prints:
Be present and approachable
The simplest sales tool is you. Visitors enjoy meeting the photographer, hearing a bit about the work, and understanding the story behind the images.
Offer tiered pricing
Give people options: smaller unframed prints at an accessible price, and larger framed pieces for those who want something statement-worthy. Clear pricing removes hesitation. You can have a print rack at the London Photo Show.
Show images people want on their walls
Choose work with strong visual appeal and think about how it will fit into someone’s home or office. Exhibitions are part gallery, part shop – curate with that in mind. People who love cats buy pictures of cats. People with a blue lounge buy a complementary coloured print. People who love London buy London prints. That sort of thing.
Present your work well
High-quality printing, clean framing. Good presentation builds confidence in the value. State the paper and archival properties of the print.
Make buying easy
Offer card payments, have info cards visitors can take home, and consider delivery for framed prints. A smooth process means more sales. You can take card payments on your phone with an app. Let me know if you want details.
Add short captions
A location, a brief note, or a line of context helps people connect emotionally with the image.
Collect email sign-ups
A simple sign-up sheet lets you stay in touch and promote future exhibitions or print releases.
Thanks for reading, and good luck with your next show.
