Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Decide which types of photos to use to create your photo gifts. Photos of your friends and family make great photo gifts for them, but if you are selling to the public, you have to appeal to a wider audience. Research photo gifts in your local stores as well as on the Web to see what is popular. Create similar photo gifts, but work to originate your own specialty look in the photo gift marketplace (for example, just photo gifts with images of pink parakeets).
Shoot the photos for your photo gift line with your digital camera, and import them into your computer. Always shoot your source photos at the highest megapixel setting on your camera.
Use your photo editing software to create the photo compositions or designs that you think will be the most appealing. Photo editing software allows you to trim and combine images, add colored borders, and create special effects such as "sepia tone" for creating brown-toned antique-looking photos. When finished designing them, save all your photos to a file in "My Pictures." Review your photos and choose what type of photo gift you want each photo to be.
Go to one of the online "print-on-demand" companies such as Zazzle.com or Shutterfly.com and place your order. When you receive your items, stock them in a safe location in your home until the photo gifts are ready to be shipped.
Set up accounts on eBay.com and Etsy.com. Write a bio that fits your photo gift business, and include photos of yourself and your products. Ship items promptly as orders come in. Maintain a mailing list so that you can contact customers with new photo gift products.
Set up a website specifically to sell your photo gifts, and link all of your advertising to it. Build up this site to be your primary source for selling photo gifts. This website will yield greater profits because you will not have to pay usage fees.