How to Start a Photo Gift Business

Turn your photographs into a revenue stream with a photo gift business.

A photo gift business is a creative way to take your images and create a stream of revenue. Using a print-on-demand service, you can set up your store with relative ease and test various product lines without investing in costly photo product inventories. Turn your images into cash and share your artwork with the world using your photo gift business.

Things You'll Need

• Digital photo archive
• Print-on-demand service account

Instructions

1. Prepare your images. Use digital image files taken from your camera. If your images are in print form, use a flatbed scanner to convert the images to a digital form. If your photo archive is mainly comprised of photo negatives, it is best to use a professional scanning service to provide the highest quality scan for reproduction on your photo gifts.

2. Choose a photo product that is targeted toward a specific customer group. This is the best approach to make it more likely that people will purchase your gifts. For example, if you are targeting young college students, choose products such as women's t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and drink holders. If you have a collection of flower images, you might offer canvas bags that can be imprinted with your images and targeted to gardeners.

3. Choose the method you will use to sell the photo gifts. A print-on-demand store, such as Zazzle or CafePress, will allow you to create a line of products from your photographs and will only print the actual product once your customer has placed the order. This online establishment will allow you to determine which products sell without investing in large inventories.

4. Create a logo, based on your business name or type of photography you shoot. Use a desktop publishing program to create your logo or work with a graphic designer to ensure that the artwork matches your business tastes.

5. Create a web site for your store. The site should be connected with your print-on-demand service to achieve additional exposure on the internet. Add your logo to your site and create a blog using a similar format as the web site. The logo and store links should be prominently displayed on the page. Utilize social media marketing sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to gain exposure to new customers for your store.

6. Create your product line using the digital images you created. Upload the images to your print-on-demand service according to the instructions on the site. The instructions will vary depending on the site you use.

7. Design a business card, postcards, and brochures based on your business logo and product line. Include your website and email address to drive customers to your site. Distribute your marketing materials to potential customers in person and through mailing lists to your target market. Contact local store owners and establish a wholesale account for your line of photo gifts.

8. Obtain the proper sales tax forms and business licenses for your state and county and register your business. Hire an accountant to help maintain the bookkeeping aspects of the business once revenue begins to arrive from your sales.

References

• Mashable Social Media Guide

Resources

• CafePress
• Zazzle