How much art should you show on your website? Should you protect some of it online, or email images upon request? These are questions that are swirling around the minds of many artists in or considering art licensing… (Yes @cindyannganaden and @sparkyfirepants – I’m finally doing the blog post you’ve been waiting for! Sorry for the delay.)
Let me begin by saying that having a Password Protected Portfolio isn’t a requirement when you are starting out.
Personally, I don’t think I had one until I’d been licensing my art for 3-4 years. However, I believe there is great value in having it now – so once you are committed to licensing, I would put it on your definite to-do list.
Artists who sell their work online, need to show everything they have to offer. It will be hard for someone to buy your amazing, original oil painting if they have no idea it exists. Art licensing is a little different. Manufacturers don’t expect unlimited access to every santa, candle or scarecrow you’ve ever painted… and there is a risk in putting huge volumes of available art online for all the world to see. Here are four reasons to consider a password protected portfolio on your art licensing website.
- Safety. While an artist who sells originals can put art online then take it down when it sells, artists who license their work can license it to multiple manufacturers. So instead of art that rotates in and out based on availability, our portfolios grow and grow. There is a risk of being copied – either by manufacturers who blatantly use your work without compensating you or other artists who might be a little too inspired by your work. It is safer to show enough of your art on the open pages of your website to give manufacturers an idea of what you have, and then password protect the vast majority of work so only those who need to see it, do.
- Speed. There are times when a manufacturer needs art in a hurry. They may call and tell you what they are looking for. When that happens, I always send them things I think might work, but also invite them to log-on and look through my online portfolio as well. Very often they stumble across something they are interested in, that doesn’t fit what they requested. Without the work being online, they wouldn’t have known it was available.
- Expectation. Art licensing is a fast-paced business and more and more manufacturers expect to be able to go online and see what art is available. When I asked some manufacturers if they saw an up or downside to working with agents, (for the eBook, How to Find an Art Licensing Agent ) one responded by saying: For us, some agencies are more likely to have easily accessible portfolios – either online or printed, that allows us to see what art is available quickly. So if they are expecting easily accessible portfolios from agents, why not be the artist who delivers as well and exceeds expectations?
- Ease. The easier you are to work with, the more likely you are to get licensing deals. There is a lot of great art out there. Competition is tough. So what makes you quick and easy to work with? Maybe it’s the way your clients can keep up with what you have any time, day or night. That can be done with an online portfolio.
Here’s to your creative – and secure – success!
– Tara Reed
P.S. If you use WordPress for your website, the WishList Membership Plugin* is a great way to create a password protected area. You can learn more about it if you get the free audio with Kim Beasley from the “Ask About WordPress for Artists” call in June 2010. Go to www.AskAboutWordPressForArtists.com to get your copy today.
* FTC disclosure: The WishList Membership Plugin links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you make a purchase. This helps me keep blogging and sharing and paying my bi
Tara, thank you! This is exactly what I’ve been searching for.
One of my concerns was that I would be making it a hassle just to see my art. I want it to be as quick and easy as possible, but protected. It sounds like manufacturers are used to password-protected portfolios. So as long as I give them a taste right up front, I can keep the bulk of my portfolio accessible only to those who are in a position to buy. Does that sound right?
It is a valid concern – especially if they forget their password. However, yes, they are used to such things and if they like your work, they will email you. I often remind manufacturers of the option as well – when they request anything, in email signature lines, etc.
Awesome article.. it’s always nice to hear the pros of trying something new.. especially when it comes from someone that knows what works. Thanks bunches
Good post Tara…That’s next on my “TO DO” list!
Great information! We haven’t done this – it’s on the looonnng list of things to do on our “board”! But this is a good reminder. Thank you Tara!
thanks for posting this. i am posting this in search of some help with this topic — i am losing my mind trying to come up with a solution ;-P.
i have about 1000 plus images organized into various categories that i need to make avail for client view. i want something that is dynamic so i dont have to keep rebuilding webpages & uploading everytime i have a new image. i have looked at several options for password protected photo sites (mobileme, etc), but all only password protect each indiv album, and basically i just want to password protect a collection of albums with the same password so the client doesnt have to keep logging in again and again to see all my collections. and i would like them to be able to see the thumbnails on the password protected albums even if they havent logged in. (many sites dont do this).
i am not on wordpress yet, and am unsure of how much time it is going to take me to make the transition.
i also need something that shows the file names of all of the images, so clients can select & paste into an email, etc. and something that is easily updatable.
is ther any other option besides this wordpress thing? although i am getting to the point where i may migrate my site to wordpress, but i hadnt planned on doing that for another year or 2. any advice is appreciated.
Great info, I just finished my WordPress website and I do have it password protected.
Is the password protected part of your site different in anyway from the main part of your site. What do manufacturers expect to find in the password protected section?
thanks
The password protected area has almost all of my portfolio, that manufacturers can look through to see if it meets their needs. It is much more than I’d want to have openly online for anyone to see – I want to make it accessible to clients but also protect my work from knock-offs or blatant theft as much as possible. Sadly, it happens!