Our conversation with Jeff Carlson about his fine art print project, Autumn Collection, continues with a focus on the business side. From choosing the right platform to the importance of targeting a specific audience, Jeff shares his choices and rationale. He also talks about why he wanted to see his work extend beyond digital platforms, and how this project is making it happen. (Part 2) 

Today’s MacVoices is supported by Factor. Visit FactorMeals.com/macvoices50 and use the code macvoices50 to get 50% off!

Show Notes:

Chapters:

0:01:59 Self-publishing a book and setting up a Squarespace site 0:04:54 Choosing Shopify for its ease of use and cost-effectiveness 0:06:31 The Challenges of Building an E-commerce Website 0:08:13 Lessons from a Previous Experience with Print-on-Demand Services 0:09:03 The Challenge of Marketing on the Internet 0:10:34 The Difficulty of Navigating Etsy's Search Functionality 0:12:28 Limitations of Using Etsy for Business 0:14:18 The Importance of Printing Photos 0:15:33 Printing, Packaging, and Shipping Orders through Pirate Ship 0:16:29 The appeal of hands-on printing and packaging 0:18:01 The value of artist-created prints and the tactile experience 0:21:48 Plans for future collections and continuation of the project 0:23:21 Addressing concerns of contacting the artist and his credibility 0:24:57 Customization options and potential conversations for larger prints 0:26:11 Inspiring others to embark on their own creative projects

Links:

Jeff Carlson’s Autumn Collection 

Guests:

Jeff Carlson is an author, photographer, and freelance writer. Among many other projects, he publishes the Smarter Image newsletter, which explores how computational photography, AI, and machine learning are fundamentally changing the art and science of photography. He’s covered the personal technology field from Macs and PalmPilots to iPhones and mirrorless cameras, publishing in paper magazines, printed books, ebooks, and websites. He’s also the co-host of the podcasts PhotoActive and Photocombobulate, writes for Take Control, has spoken at several conferences and events.

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00:01:59 Self-publishing a book and setting up a Squarespace site 00:04:53 Choosing Shopify for its ease of use and cost-effectiveness 00:06:31 The Challenges of Building an E-commerce Website 00:08:12 Lessons from a Previous Experience with Print-on-Demand Services 00:09:03 The Challenge of Marketing on the Internet 00:10:34 The Difficulty of Navigating Etsy's Search Functionality 00:12:28 Limitations of Using Etsy for Business 00:14:17 The Importance of Printing Photos 00:15:32 Printing, Packaging, and Shipping Orders through Pirate Ship 00:16:29 The appeal of hands-on printing and packaging 00:18:01 The value of artist-created prints and the tactile experience 00:19:22 Introduction to Factor, a ready-to-eat meal kit sponsor 00:21:48 Plans for future collections and continuation of the project 00:23:21 Addressing concerns of contacting the artist and his credibility 00:24:56 Customization options and potential conversations for larger prints 00:26:10 Inspiring others to embark on their own creative projects