In a digital world, we often bury photography in phone galleries or forget it in cloud storage. Professionally printed products give your work a life beyond the screen. They add value, elevate your brand, and provide clients with something real and lasting. But are traditional photographic prints not exciting enough for some? Metal photo prints are becoming a go-to for photographers who want prints that stand out and make their images look amazing. Looking to add custom metal photos to your catalog? Here are 5 hot tips for selling Metal Prints.
Selling printed artwork helps your clients turn fleeting moments into heirloom-quality décor they will see every day, not just when they are scrolling. There are many types of printed products to help your clients display their favorite images, and creating that heirloom doesn’t mean having to offer something super traditional, like mounted photos or canvases. When it comes to one-of-a-kind wall art, metal photos are a great product to offer because of their modern aesthetic and visual impact. Which is why these 5 hot tips for selling Metal Prints will come in handy!
McKenna’s Metal Prints for Professional Photographers
When you offer Metal Prints, you curate products that set the bar for quality, and only a professional printing lab can achieve that standard. Consumer products and discounted big-box printing options don’t cut it. When partnering with McKenna, you know that the quality of the elements that go into printing, along with the expertise of an experienced production team, will deliver your images in their best form.
For years, McKenna had been known for and perfecting all the ways that they deliver pictures on metal. To create stunning metal photos, McKenna uses a high-heat dye sublimation process. Images are infused into premium ChromaLuxe™ aluminum for stunning depth, vibrant color, and lasting durability. This process creates rich colors and incredible clarity with a depth that feels almost three-dimensional.
With surface options including glossy, semi-gloss, matte, or metallic, photographers customize each print to the mood and style of the image. Using our 5 hot tips for selling Metal Prints means matching the image with the customization. For instance, a romantic wedding image would look great with a metallic finish, allowing some of the metal sheen to come through. This style creates a soft, ethereal look. On the other hand, a high school senior in bold images at a skate park deserved the vivid impact of a glossy finish. Add a Metal Flush Frame or a Float Frame to these prints, and they are ready for the family gallery.
Displaying Custom Metal Prints
Speaking of ready-to-hang Metal Prints, McKenna offers multiple display options for metal photos.
Metal Hanger
This is the standard option that comes with every Metal Print, featuring a metal sawtooth hanger and clear wall bumpers for easy hanging. This is great for a collage of several prints. The bumpers help keep things in place.
Stand Out Mount
This mount allows the print to hover off the wall by either ½” or 1”, and the size varies based on the print. The three-dimensional look of the standout mount makes an impact.
Float Frames
A more premium option, a Float Frame wraps around the metal housing the print in a finished edge that looks more sophisticated.
Metal Flush Frames
When a traditional wood frame does fit the décor, but you want a finished edge, a Flush Frame is the answer. The Metal Print sits flush atop a one-inch black or silver frame.
Easel Back
This option allows the Metal Print to be displayed on a tabletop or shelf, providing a free-standing display for smaller print sizes. They make great gifts.
Post Stand Out Mount
This mount utilizes stainless steel posts to create a floating effect, giving the print an industrial feel. With an industrial look, this edgy style is perfect for commercial spaces.
Rod and Rings
This option has a causal bo-ho feel. Think string lights and wall tapestries. Rings connect the metal photo to a rod attached to the wall. Great for a lifestyle family portrait.
5 Hot Tips for Selling Metal Prints
Photographs printed on metal are not your average wall art. They offer bold color, sharp detail, and a sleek, contemporary finish that elevates any image. The characteristics of Metal Prints are great for photographers and their clients. Whether it is a high-energy action shot, a romantic portrait, or a serene landscape, custom metal prints let your images shine with impact. Now that we’ve covered the process, finishes, and options for metal photo prints, let’s look at some great ways to get clients interested in investing in these stunning works of art!
1. Talk the Talk!
Custom Metal Prints are simply stunning. However, no one is going to know about these fabulous characteristics unless you talk about them. So be sure that you are sharing all the descriptive words you have for them on brochures, on your website, and on social media. Don’t use the clinical industry speak about dye-sub printing. Use exciting, expressive, and emotional words to amplify just how special these prints are.
Take a cue from ordering at a restaurant. Don’t just ask, “Would you like fries with that?” Tell clients, “Nothing is more classic than a burger with fries, and our special seasoning and the fact that we fry the potatoes twice in duck fat to make our signature side dish, Luxe Fries, a must-have with your wagyu burger.”
So rather than, “Would you like the 16×20 on canvas, or on metal?” Try, “Our stunning designer series metal wall prints, with bold colors and a semi-gloss finish, truly elevate your family portrait to a modern work of art.”
2. Show Them Off
All the words in the world can’t top seeing a Metal Print in person. Having a sample to show is a must. Since many people don’t regularly make photographic prints of their images, chances are, they may have never seen a photo printed on metal. When clients see vivid colors with deep contrast and sharp details, they’ll understand the uniqueness of having a Metal Print. Experiencing the lightweight durability, display options, and different finishes in person gives them the opportunity to consider how they would like their metal wall art to look.
If you don’t meet with customers in person, you can have a collection of detailed images on your website and social media. Create videos to tell the story of why metal prints look so impactful when displayed. Capturing customer reaction when unboxing or hanging their metal images, along with client testimonials, goes a long way in setting the stage for purchasing.
3. Campaign with Metal Prints
Marketing with printed products guarantees a print sale, and it opens up the opportunity for add-ons and upgrades. Metal Prints pair well with a variety of session types and events. When offering an image on metal with a special session, make the offer simple and create a sense of urgency. Here are a few ideas.
- Santa Sessions: Offer a complimentary 8×10 Metal Post Easel Print for the first 5 bookings. These prints can be used with holiday décor year after year.
- Pet Sessions: May is National Pet Month! Book your pet’s session during our Special Pet Event on May 23 and get a 12×18 stunning Metal Print of your beloved fur baby!
- Sportraits! Celebrate your athlete on the field with an outdoor action session or a stylized portrait session. Each session includes a vivid Metal Curve print that showcases the impact of each player’s talent!
- Wedding Wall Art: The Contemporary Collection includes a 3-piece Metal Print Cluster featuring a 20×20 and 2-12×12’s or a 4-piece 12×16 cluster.
4. Exhibit!
Need to show people your images printed on metal? Bring your work to the masses. For example, connect with local galleries, cafés, pubs, salons, public buildings, community colleges, or co-working spaces to see if displaying your work might be a fit.
If your collection of Metal Prints has a theme, like high school seniors, bar or bat mitzvahs, action shots, or landscapes, you can send a visual message about your specialty expertise and who you deliver your professional images to. Imagine being sought after for your talent and your metal wall art.
5. Business to Business
Similarly, if your photography focuses on the commercial or corporate side, Metal Prints can help define your niche. Photography that fills corporate spaces has to be expertly crafted and skillfully displayed. Think, manufacturing, real estate, or medical offices. Metal Prints of the business hanging in the business are branding gems. Here are some ways to incorporate Metal Prints into commercial jobs.
- Include a Float Frame Metal Print for the office of the CEO or a short list of executives.
- When storyboarding the photo shoot, plan a few hero shots that you would prefer displayed in the lobby.
- When executives update their professional images, include a set of Metal Business Cards as a client gift.
Stand Out!
Today, images are everywhere. How do you make the most memorable and impactful ones stand out for your client? Metal photo prints turn great images into experiences! With their sleek finishes and modern style, they transform images into gallery-worthy pieces. Implement our 5 hot tips for selling metal prints, and you’ll ensure the memories you capture and the art you create make a statement people will truly appreciate. Metal Prints from McKenna are a premium product with high emotional and visual impact. Having samples, using expressive language, and creative marketing can get Metal Print noticed. Additionally, special promotions and partnerships can turn Metal Prints into both a profitable product and an unforgettable client keepsake.
This blog was written by Maureen Miller, CPP, contributor for McKenna and contributor to marketing and client experience at Zookbinders. With 25+ years as a professional photographer, Maureen owns and operates her successful studio, Maureen T Miller Photography. She is an advocate for making money and doing what you love. Her motto is, “Photography is a BIG DEAL!”
Senior Image by Joshua Hanna Photography.