Experienced photogs - Print sales?

[bryanlindsey]

Quick question for those who have online gallery with the option to purchase prints:

Are you selling a lot of prints with this method? What would you say are your average "unsolicited" print sales per wedding?

Thanks!

Bryan

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Not much Bryan, You need to sell as much upfront as you can.

[S-Man]

I haven't seen hardly any. (But I don't have as many weddings under my belt as some here) Usually best print sales come from special events, like Anniversary Parties and such. So yeah, I agree with Ernst.

[XtremePhoto]

I will give you another perspective...that of a consumer that has two girls...I hate, HATE looking on websites finding photos of my girls from events and competitions. I am in front of a computer most of the day working. The last thing I want to do when I get home is sit in front of a computer and look at or for photos. And no, I cannot do it at work, even though I can bring up any website I want.

If they don't usually offer on site sales, I am not buying. My free time is far to valuable to me when I am at home. Most of the places we go, excluding a portrait session at a studio (which the wife handles) offer purchase on site.

-G-

[janetg]

i get lots of sales from bridals and engagements...so so on the weddings, depends on how many relatives are from out of town.

[kayumangi]

Yup very few orders via Online gallery for me as well, and if I get lucky to have a couple they opt to order my smallest which is 8x10.

I have better luck in-person proofing. I'm thinking of just scrapping online proofing altogether. Ms Hollys thread about projection proofing is really compelling.

[csa]

I have decided that all they really want from an online gallery is to look at the pictures not to buy. I have changed my options making an online gallery only part of the higher end package so that it seems like a perk.

[J Eddington]

If you put it online and don't have a watermark across the subject of the photo, the fact is that they don't need to purchase it, they just did a screen shoot and are happy with that! Online sales are usually very small many about 10% of the total sale.

[Tom]

If they don't usually offer on site sales, I am not buying.

Yeah, probably best not to have on-site picture sales at a wedding.

[Redneck]

Online sales are pretty good. I don't complain.
But I don't offer any other way to buy prints.

[MicWayWal]

Bryan,

I am not sure it has to do with online sales necessarily but being online does not help. After wedding candid sales have been dwindling for years. I have never put my images online for after wedding sales.

In the late 1980s Thur the 1990s candid sales were always at least $500 per wedding. About 10-12 times a year candid sales would be $1,500 - $2,000 almost half my total package at the time. I noticed a drop in my average starting in 2000. The last good year was 2002 in which my average was $285. Since that time I am lucky to get $100. Most weddings now I don't get any orders at all. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out the reason.

The only thing I can come up with is that digital cameras do such a good job for the amateur, they don't have to buy mine. When I go to weddings now, it seems I am hired to capture the PJ part of the wedding. I still do all the group shots I have always taken. All the parents and friends are putting groups together around me and shooting their own pictures. It seems those are good enough for them.

Since I was no longer getting these orders, I increased every package price by $750 a few years ago and now I don't care if they order or not. Problem solved.