Should You Offer Print or Digital Products as a Photographer

Many professionals like me face the dilemma of whether they need to offer print or digital products as a photographer for their clients. Or maybe a combination of both works better? Your business model, client satisfaction, and even profit depend on this decision.

Working as a retoucher at the FixThePhoto team, I know well that the quality of images whether printed or digital is of paramount importance. All the photographers always worry about the quality of the printed pics, especially, when it comes to wedding photography.

If by 2020 there was a trend towards digitization, including photos, then already in 2022, the photography segment connected with the printing services industry was claimed to have a profit of 6.2 billion by Acumen Research and Consulting.

According to various research, photographers print photos on expensive materials, namely several grades of archival paper, as well as canvas, wood, acrylic, and aluminum. Therefore, shooters always want to make sure that all the pics look professional on both computer screens and when printed on different materials.

Nowadays, people prefer taking pics with their phone camera to post them on social media platforms in an instant. However, not everyone can detect the difference in quality between professionally taken pics and an amateur's snapshots.

Serious photographers should stand out among casual shooters, and one of the ways to do this is through high-quality professional photo printing lab nPhoto.

The advantage of print products like photo albums, canvases, and framed prints is that they can be displayed in your home to celebrate and share your best moments with loved ones on a daily basis. The ability to touch and contemplate prints carries more sentimental value, making physical prints valuable items to keep their best memories forever.

The value of prints is usually higher than that of pro digital photos. Clients are ready to splurge on beautifully crafted photo albums or large photo wall ideas, as such products are considered premium. The photographers providing printing services usually charge more for sessions.

A wedding shooter, for example, should be ready to create photo albums for their clients. When it comes to emotionally significant occasions, people are prone to purchase more products to cherish every moment of the memorable event.

If you want to stand out among the photographers, one of the most effective ways is to offer high-quality print products, which are more appealing than digital files. Moreover, printing your pics on luxury material is another effective way to set your brand apart and attract clients who are looking for something special.

Decorate your photo studio with albums to create an immersive aesthetic experience for customers. Showcasing your portfolio through print images is also a more effective way to demonstrate your talent. As statistics show, the same image looks more aye-grabbing on Triplex or on Stacked Acrylic Print than as a digital pic or a standard print.

Photographers who offer print services can make sure that the final product has the right color balance, sharpness, and quality. Customers often remain dissatisfied by addressing this type of job to random photo printing service. Consistency in the final product is a sure way to stand out among representatives of other digital photography professions.

The main advantage of digital photos is ease of distribution, as you can set hundreds of pics with just a single click of the mouse. Besides, their cost is relatively low.

But pay attention to the fact that colors can look different on various screens, as it depends on the monitor settings. Furthermore, offering digital products will allow aspiring shooters to start a photography business on Shopify and other platforms without breaking the bank.

By getting the result of a photo session as digital files, clients can enjoy more flexibility and convenience. They can easily post such pics on social media networks, share them with friends and relatives, etc. For many people, the instant access to photos and the ability to create their own prints are highly appealing.

By offering digital products for their clients, photographers can eliminate the need to spend extra money for printing, and shipping and decrease the production time. Besides, this format is not only cost-effective but also speeds up the workflow.

Trouble-free distribution of the materials to clients in virtually any spot in the world, which cannot be said about physical delivery, is another advantage of digital photos. This is particularly beneficial for destination photographers or those who have clients in different countries.

Additional sales opportunities are another reason for photographers to offer their clients digital pics instead of physical prints. For example, the cost of a photo bundle can vary depending on the different levels of digital rights, like as web-sized images for sharing on the web versus high-resolution files for printing. This enables clients to decide on the option that can satisfy their needs and budget.

As a rule, if a photographer offers both image formats, they are in a more advantageous position. Such a combined approach allows catering to different client wishes getting an opportunity to increase the income. Here’s the algorithm for implementing this strategy.

Create packages offering both prints and digital pics. For instance, one of such bundles can include a specific number of pro digital photos and a printed album. This induces clients to spend money on more comprehensive packages that have lasting value.

Digital files can serve as an entry point for printed products. Once a client gets digital pics and evaluates the result, you may ask them whether they have a wish to get additional prints, albums, or wall art. Such a strategy allows you to cooperate with a client who initially wanted digital photos but then decided that it was time to print some of the most memorable pics.

Distributing digital files with specific print rights is another smart decision. By doing so, you provide clients with the opportunity to print photography while ensuring that your efforts are properly credited. Another piece of advice is to recommend a client a reliable printing service to make certain that the result will meet your standards.

To decide whether you should offer print or digital products, pay attention to these aspects:

Client demographics: The youth prefer digital photos as they tend to post them on social media, while older clients appreciate having physical prints. Analyze your target audience and their preferences. If you are building a brand on social media with photography, there is no point in offering printed services.

Your brand identity: If you position your brand as a premium one, then high-quality printed products can better demonstrate your brand’s identity.

Your workflow: Define the amount of time you are ready to devote to the production stage. To print pics, you’ll have to do more manual work, while digital images are extremely quick and convenient to deliver.

Profit margins: Evaluate the potential income you can get from both options. While digital files do not require any investments, print products are often more expensive so your income can increase considerably. The decision to deliver physical prints may significantly increase the price list for photographer, which is great for each professional.