I’ve written extensively about the process of selling art – everything from building relationships to following up and closing the sale. Today, I’m going to share a simple tip that will help you turn your sales into marketing tools for future sales.
In past posts, I’ve encouraged you to follow every sale with a handwritten thank-you note. This thank-you note adds a warm, personal touch that will let your clients know you truly appreciate their business. By adding one simple line to your thank-you note, you can encourage feedback from your clients and get a picture of the artwork you sold them that will be of incredible value to you in your future marketing efforts.
The line to add to your thank-you note is this:
If you have a moment and would be willing to snap a photograph of the piece, I would love to see it in its new home, and I’d love to share the photo with clients who are considering my work. You can email the photo to me at me@theworldsgreatestartist.com.
This simple request almost always results in a photo, and often several photos, of the piece. I have found that my customers are not only happy to take the photo, they enjoy showing the piece off and love the thought of helping the artist’s career along. Often, the client will also write a little note to accompany the photo, sharing their feelings about the piece.
You may adapt the photo request to suit each individual situation, based on the relationship you built with the customer.
Now you have photo of the piece in a beautiful setting that you can post to your website, your blog, and your newsletter and place in your portfolio. Future potential buyers will be influenced and encouraged when they see your work in other collectors’ homes. When they buy, you’ll ask them for photos, and the cycle continues.
Don’t be shy about asking – the worst that can happen is the client will ignore the request, but no one is going to be offended that you asked.
By the way, it’s never too late to ask for this photo. Getting in touch with past clients to ask for a photo of artwork is not only a great way to get the image, it’s a great excuse to get back in touch with a past buyer and remind them of your work.
Have you requested photos from clients in the past? Have those photos helped you make sales? Post your experiences, opinions, and thoughts in the comments below.
Sample Photos Our Clients Have Sent Us
Yes, I have benefitted from asking for this. In fact, a client took a video of his wife as she discovered the painting he had purchased from me for her birthday. Her reaction was priceless and has resulted in two commissioned pieces thus far. Here’s the newsletter post if you’d like to see. https://www.dalehousemurals.net/nl/?nid=203390&type=html
Regarding asking clients for a photograph of a paintings new home. If you sell through a gallery, it is unlikely that you know who the client is. How do galleries respond to the request to pass on an address to the artist?
Hi Lorraine, I just saw your post on RedDotBlog. I am in California and a curator friend of mine said that there is a law that requires the gallery owner to pass on the client information if you ask for it.
As an artist it’s really important to know who owns your work. I just went through this myself. I write an introduction letter and a thank you for their interest in my work then ask them if they wouldn’t mind sharing shot of where the piece’s new home is. I also direct them a bit as to how to shoot the work straight on from across the room. Keep it light and friendly. 🙂 You can also ask them if they received a Certificate of Authenticity and offer to provide it if the gallery did not.
Roberta
On 2 out of 2 occasions when i asked for a photo of my sculpture in its new home, i received really terrible photos.
I have mostly received terrible photos, too – unusable.
For the most part, I’ve received unusable photos, but for the handful that are good & the testimonials that often go with, it’s worth the ask!
I created a “Reviews” section on my website: http://www.fromscottsperspective.com. I ask my customers to send me a short review along with pictures showing my paintings on their wall. Many of them come through on my request. Others might require a gentle reminder.
If the photo they send me is of really poor quality, I just include the picture of the painting that I used on my website. I put quotation marks around their words. I also include their first name and last initial.
Yea indeed. I ask my buyers for a photo, easy with cell phones & email. I don’t always get a response.
I snap my own when I personally make the delivery and or installation.
It makes for a very useful album.👍🏼
I love seeing my artwork hanging in someone’s home! It gives me such a warm feeling to know that someone loves something I put so much of my heart and soul into! I am anxious to learn how to get my art into more people’s homes and out into the world!
@artbyrobinwilliams
I did this today when I delivered a large piece of art to a client’s home. Hung the painting took the picture myself, then I post them on social media. I also have customers who buy my art at festival shows, which I do a lot of, take a picture with the painting they purchase. It is funny how buying art makes people smile. I haven’t seen one picture yet where they don’t have a big smile on their face while pointing to or holding the piece they just purchased.
Good question.
Really like this idea and am going to put it to use – thanks
I haven’t done that but what a wonderful way to be able to share when you have sold a painting, and to encourage others who may be sitting on the fence in making a decision about one of your paintings. I do like the suggested note that could be written and appreciate that. I have just had a painting delivered to a home in the US, like literally just a couple of hours ago. I am in New Zealand and met these folk over a year ago when they were visiting here and came to a gallery where another artist and I were doing a shared “Featured Artist of the Week”. It was incredibly busy at the time due to two cruise ships in and I had little chance to really connect with her, though it seems we did. We only managed to talk for a few minutes and then I was ‘cornered’ by someone else, and I tried to stay with her, but she said it’s okay. . A few minutes later she politely tapped me on the shoulder and said, “we have to go but I have your card and will be in touch, we really want a piece of your work”. Over that time, she emailed now and then, and we built that important relationship so I do feel that I could now ask for that image as you suggested. Sorry this story is long, but I wanted to also mention the importance of that building of relationships and nurturing them. Thank you for all you do to help us Jason , Lorna from NZ
I always send a thank you note when I know who bought my painting. Most galleries however don’t share that information. This is a great idea to ask for the photo and I will incorporate it in my next note. In fact I thing I will send a note to all that I know bought my paintings and ask for the photo. Thanks for a good idea.
I have always done this. But I ask at the time of sale, telling my clients that I keep a “baby book” of the paintings in their new homes. I tell them I have plenty of photos of the painting, and what I’m looking for is the larger setting – the context that the painting is living in. I’ve never had a client who failed to send me a photo. And then I write to them again, telling them how wonderful the work looks and often commenting on something else in their home.
And I have the artists I represent in my gallery do this also. I always share the clients’ name and contact info with my artists. That is their information as rightfully as it is mine. Over the years I have multiple “baby books” and they form a journey for the artists and for my gallery. It’s very cool.