What do you think of the photos on this site?

Question

I would like some feedback on: www.thomaszavros.co.uk
The hosting site and printers charge a lot so my prices are determined by them. Is that the reason they are not selling or do people simply not like the photos? Please let me know, honestly.

Answer 1

You're photos aren't bad, there are a few images that could be sellable. However there are simply too many, you've fallen into the trap that a lot of businesspeople end up going into, which is you've forgotten the customer. It's all well and good to put up a website and start trading. You'll get some sales just from people bumping into the website by chance, however you'll never reach large numbers like that. You need to draw people in and encourage them into making a purchase.



Firstly, work out what a good photograph is. By that I mean you need to look at good composition, use of light, points of view, ensuring that exposure is spot on, and capturing the right moment. Indeed some of your images are rather snapshotty and touristy, some though have potential. Cut the pseudoartistic crap and work on bread and butter shots first. You can discover your creativity later on.



Images like http://www.thomaszavros.co.uk/p770870201/h2dca28a1#h2dca28a1 and http://www.thomaszavros.co.uk/p146834430/h3f1ff35f#h3f1ff35f and http://www.thomaszavros.co.uk/p1060565789/hff89f5e#hff89f5e could be potential sales. They're relatively interesting and unobtrusive, photos that can go on someones wall.



People like choice, but right now you're giving them far too much of it. You need to make it easy for customers to make a decision, help them by directing them to a good choice. Cut down on the content, right now you have hundreds of mediocre images that nobody cares to look at, you should try to target a specific audience, so you'll need between 15 and 30 top quality images, which perhaps fall into 2-3 different themes.



Only offer them a top draw service for that, make prints at 8x10 or larger and limit the customers options to just a few key sizes (e.g. 8x10/12, 12x15/18, 16x20/24), this allows you to print a number of each photo and keep them as stock, which allows you to negotiate a better price for the printing services. I personally think you're selling at too low a price, you can sell unframed 8x10's at around £10, if you can produce top quality imagery. Additionally it's worth adding a framing service, again at extra cost, and likewise make sure it's gold standard, whether you choose to keep frames in stock or order them as and when you need is a decision to be made on assessment of trading.



Furthermore, by reducing your content in your website it will reduce your overheads for the site considerably, as well as that it may increase the speed at which it runs. I think right now partly due to the vast amount of content, and also due to the interface, I feel the website is messy and that further will drive potential customers away.



Bottom line is that selling prints is an high end retail industry. You cannot use the wal-mart model for this, you must identify and connect with your client and produce products that not only do your customers want, but products that make them feel special. I also think you are slightly too naive about running a business, you need to remember taking the photos is just the first part, getting the business right is how you pay the bills! Now I've already said far too much and should really be charging for business advice, though much of this really is just common sense.

Answer 2

They're nice shots with some interesting subjects but I'm afraid they aren't technically brilliant. For example, on a quick look I noticed that a couple of them weren't straight. Even being a bit off jumps out at you and yet is easy to correct in Photoshop. The other thing is that there isn't anything particularly different, unusual or spectacular about them. There's no hidden messages in them, they don't tell a story. Though the other poster was a bit brutal he has a point - that even though they are nice shots, they are just snapshots which anyone could take, so why pay for them?



There are SO many wonderful photographers out there, even among the amateur photographers who can make amazing images, technically perfect and with that something special about them that is hard to describe but when you see it you know. It might be a shot from an unusual angle, might contain something which looks like it was just there when the photograph was taken but actually has been very carefully thought out and positioned. It might have incredible lighting which was a technical feat to accomplish ... I could go on and on.



I would suggest your next step is to do some research into what makes a good photograph. Read books by famous photographers, they often tell you how they managed to produce their best images, you would be amazed by how much trouble they go to and how long it takes just to get that one perfect shot. Learn from the best and aspire to being even a little like that because sadly most of us will never reach that height but we can try and if we work hard enough and learn, learn, learn we will certainly improve immeasurably. You could join a local photographic club, go to college to brush up on your skills and learn even more, join an online photographic site like amateur photographer. If you are around other photographers you can learn so much. You can search for images similar to yours online, do Google images and see how other photographers have tackled the same subjects as you. When you really love a shot think about what it is that's so good and try it yourself. Go on stock photography sites and look at the best selling images. Often they are heavily Photoshopped because they will be bought by advertisers but you can still get lots of inspiration and information from studying them. Have a look at National Geographic magazine or online site, for the cream of photography. See what's special about those images, practise how you can do that yourself. You may need to buy a different or better camera, but equipment isn't everything, its mostly the person behind the camera which matters.

Answer 3

They're not selling because they're not interesting enough. As the others have said your images need to wow people otherwise you've no chance of selling them. People don't pay hard earned money for prints of the subject you've taken when they can take something similar themselves.



Another point you have to take into account is that you offer so many selling options on your images and one thing that tempts people more in the photography print market is knowing they're getting a limited edition. Many photographers do this and it works.

Answer 4

To me, they all just blend in and don't 'pop' like a good picture should. Each picture should be different in their own way and be individual.

From looking at them, I'd presume you're an armature? The portraits really need work

because it looks like a 12 year old taking a pic of their best friend but the landscapes are better, but if you have photoshop, you should tweak the contrast and brightness to make the picture have the highlights and shadows it needs

Answer 5

Forlan, come on there beyond snap shot level. But they aren't exceptional enough to sell as a picture to hang on the wall, to sell it like that photos have to be something out of the ordinary, becasue there are soooo many great picturise photos that yours just has to be different to catch people attention. Your photos would suit more stock photography, i could see those photos in a book or something.

Answer 6

you really expect people to buy snapshots???



sorry, but there is nothing on the site that jumps out at the viewer as being exceptional...



and so any price is OVER-priced...



seems to me, you need to learn more about the basics of photography...