9 Years Ago

Recently Sold

So I searched for recently sold train photographs just now and I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. I searched for two specific railroads, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway. On both, one of my photos came up second on the page. My CSX image sold three months ago, but my Norfolk Southern shot sold about 18 months ago. Does the search function put them chronologically? Meaning only one NS image has sold since mine did a year and a half ago? Part of me finds this pretty distressing while another part thinks I should be glad I made the sales at all. (Well, obviously I am glad I made the sales.) But it tells me that selling railroad images on FAA is going to be hard. I've tried to market my railroad shots to two different bases -- 1.) people who like trains (Duh!) and 2.) people who live in the area where the shot was taken. My NS shot was sold to a buyer about fifteen miles down the road from me. One other thing I have noticed about the railroad shots that I sell is that most of them are Train on a Bridge shot. (Note to self: Make a "Bridges" gallery.)

Reply Order

Post Reply

Cynthia Decker

9 Years Ago

I would assume the results are chronological. Keep in mind that most people who sell here don't do a very good job with keywords, so your specific search may weed out a lot of other sales. I bet if you broaden your search you'll see more images mixed in with yours.

This is yet another reason for folks to go check and fill in those keywords. :)

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

Good point about keywords, too. I saw one railroad shot that sold a few weeks ago that did not turn up in my search.

Bradford Martin

9 Years Ago

Exactly what Cynthia said. You not only have a market niche but a keyword niche.

Oon Ph

9 Years Ago

First off I love, love trains, but WOW are they hard to sell. Maybe it's the 1000000000000000000000000000 billion available online, or people who love trains take their own pics...D'oh!!!

Here are a couple of examples of mine that everyone thinks should sell, but no one has spent $$$ to make it a reality.

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

"First off I love, love trains, but WOW are they hard to sell. Maybe it's the 1000000000000000000000000000 billion available online, or people who love trains take their own pics...D'oh!!! "

I meant to mention that last part in my post... people who love trains do take their own train photos. I see them all the time on Facebook, Flickr and Railipctures. On Facebook, you realize just how many folks do and that not all of them are particularly good at it. I feel that if I could get some really good (read: expensive) night time lighting equipment -- think Gary Knapp-type work -- I might could sell more. Until then (never, really) I'll try to keep up with the bridge shots.

Your Rock Island shot should really sell though.

Oon Ph

9 Years Ago

However, people always think the images they take are the best. If you don't believe this theory, just ask me because my images are the unquestioned BEST...LOL! Not speaking to your images, but the ones people take themselves...

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

I have to disagree with that. My images are the best EVER! LOL You are right and I suspect this goes for other hobbies where photography is an integral part of it. I know my two butterfly on a flower shots I have taken are also the best!

Oon Ph

9 Years Ago

Nice we are both so humble, maybe we should write a book on "Hard To Be Humble, When You're the Best!"

This discussion is closed.