How To Sell Your Photography & Art Online

Carla Coulson in Venice creating photography to sell online

Photo by Loc Boyle

Have you ever wondered “How to Sell Your Photography or Art Online?” Six years ago I decided to create the work I love and it led me to opening an online shop and it was the words of  Mary Oliver that encouraged me  top do it,“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with this one wild and precious life? 

The naysayers said, ‘You can’t make money selling photography or art online!!’ They actually annoyed me so much I decided to prove them wrong.

The first time my shop made the cash register sound of ‘cha-ching’, I jumped up and down and screamed around the house like a mad woman. I literally was the most excited girl on the planet.

Why, you ask?

  • Because somebody just paid me to do the very thing I became a photographer for
  • To travel to a place I love and take photos
  • When I wrapped up that first print and sent it off, I hugged it to my heart, I thanked the kind soul who bought it for allowing me to turn my dream into a reality.

Since that first print, I have had sold out editions of my Young Girl in Bloom and my Italian Vacation series, my images have been sent to the four corners of our beautiful planet and I get beautiful photos and notes from people who hang my work in their home, their joy is my joy.

My third year in business I could have lived off my shop exclusively!!

Carla Coulson on a beach in lesvos greece talking to a rescue dog

Photo by Claire Lloyd

 

MY PHOTOGRAPHY CAREER

It’s an old story that creatives can’t do the work they love and be financially reward. When I became a photographer twenty years ago, I didn’t care; I was so in love with taking photos, the joy it brought that I just kept doing what I loved and what brought me joy. I have held onto this philosophy throughout my career when I have slipped off-course and started doing things that where uncreative and exhausting, I would ask myself, ‘Where’s the joy?’

As a photographer there have been millions upon millions of microseconds of joy:

  • standing on a beach at dawn and seeing the sky change colours
  • walking into a barber’s shop in Naples and ending up at the wedding of the guy in the chair
  • travelling to India on my own in search of images, people, and experiences.
  • taking a water taxi in Venice and almost forgetting to take a photo the beauty was so overwhelming,
  • laughing with the cooks in the kitchen of the Ritz Hotel in Paris and
  • treading water on the Amalfi Coast as kids jump off rocks and I try and capture it.

This led me to publishing 8 beautiful books with Penguin, 12 years of travel photography with some of the best magazines on the planet, and creating my own portrait business.

Carla Coulson with a Greek fisherman tending his nets on Lesvos

Photo by Claire Lloyd

MY ONLINE SHOP SELLING PHOTOGRAPHY

One day when I started looking for my inner joy again, I asked myself the question I do on a regular basis, ‘What would I love to do or photograph?’

The answer was simple, I wanted to go to the beach and shoot for the pure pleasure and joy of photography and being in a place I loved.

I have those ‘naysayers’ to thank for getting me annoyed!

  • They motivated me to leave no stone when it came to working out how to sell my photography online
  • I tried numerous platforms, business systems and ideas to I struck on a formula that would work for anyone
  • I was liberated and almost any creative who decides they want to sell their work online to live the life they want.
  • It is so possible!!!!

 

TIRED OF THE OLD STORY THAT PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARTISTS CAN’T MAKE MONEY

So, my lovelies, if you are tired of that old story that you can’t do what you love and make money. You’ve tried and can’t figure it out or don’t want to waste time, money, and energy, check out my FREE VIP TRAINING VIDEO on how to sell your photography and art online.

I will leave you with this beautiful quote by Mary Oliver:

 

“Tell me, what is your plan to do with this one wild and precious life?”

Wishing you a beautiful day.

Carla x

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Corrina Tough
3 years ago

So beautiful your story Carla! I never get sick of hearing it its always so encouraging to me. Anyone who takes this course will be well rewarded with all your knowledge and generous heart!

Amelia
Amelia
3 years ago

Your life is but a dream come true. I’m under no illusion that it has been easy, but wow, what a wonderful life you’ve created for yourself Carla!! Thank you for sharing it with us. xx

Ally
Ally
3 years ago

Love it 😍 well done your prints are beautiful x

Heidi Fischer
Heidi Fischer
3 years ago

❤️