You may have a box of old photos in a chest that have become discolored from the effects of time. There are photograph collectors seeking vintage photos on eBay and other websites. If you have the right vintage photo, you could literally make hundreds of dollars from it. So how do you go about finding and marketing vintage photographs? The trick is to know what the collectors are looking for and then making them available to the collectors.
Things You'll Need:
- Scanner
- Access To The Internet
- Old Photos
What Collectors Want
Be aware of what collectors are looking for. There is a market for pre-1980 Hollywood stars and celebrities. Famous personalities, including politicians and athletes, are also collected, especially if their photo is autographed. Military photos, as well as older transportation photography, are also popular. Vintage photos of historical events or inventions and discoveries are often sought. Old post cards are also collected.
Look through the photos you already have and see if any of them fit the categories collectors are seeking. Sort them by category and make sure you scan them at a high resolution. You can either choose to manipulate them, correct imperfections in Adobe Photoshop or just use them the way they are. You can also go to garage or yard sales and look for vintage photographs. You can also look in antique stores for photos or old postcards.
You can make your own photographs look like vintage photos using computer software. With a few filters or adjustments, your new photo can look like an aged photo. By printing these manipulated photos on the right paper, they look like vintage postcards or vintage photography.
Once you have a big enough collection, sign up with eBay for a seller's account. There are also other sites where you can sell vintage photos, including http://www.photostockplus.com, http://www.dreamstime.com and http://www.fotolia.com. You can also put them on your own website or storefront. Make yourself known as a vintage photo seller by marketing your business.
Tip
If you are passionate about selling your photos, you are more likely to succeed.
Warnings:
- Selling your photos takes time and patience. Don't get discouraged. Be aware of copyright laws. Sell only what you own or have the license to.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
Ruth Kongaika began writing professionally in 2008. She has been working as a freelance writer for various websites, specializing in health, travel and technology. Kongaika works for the School of Education at Brigham Young University's Hawaii campus, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in art.
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