Small Prints Can Lead to Big Wall Art Sales
Small photo prints like 5x7s and 8x10s may seem like simple products, but when used strategically, they can open the door to larger, more profitable wall portrait sales. Can small prints lead to big sales? Of course they can! For clients who don’t print anything, small photo prints are an introduction to à la carte purchases, collections, and wall art. Additionally, small prints can work as marketing incentives, client gifts, and VIP rewards. Let’s look at the power of small prints!
What are Small Photo Prints?
When talking about small prints, we are referring to photographic prints that are 8×10 or smaller. Some photographers call them gift prints or desk prints, making their name a suggestion about what they are best suited for.
As simple as they sound, small photo prints have several options available. McKenna offers three types of photo paper and several different protective and tactile finishes. Here are the highlights.
Luster
Printed on Fujicolor Crystal Archive Digital Paper, Luster Prints are the most versatile. Lustre Prints can be finished with a protective spray that makes prints scratch and fingerprint-resistant. The coatings come in four finishes: Luster, Matte, Gloss, and Satin.
Texture Spray or machine-applied texture can also be added to Lustre Prints, making them resistant to scanning and giving them a fine art look. Texture is available in Canvas, Linen, and Pebble.
Metallic
Metallic Photo Paper gives images an impactful pop. These prints have the appearance of a super glossy photo print with a bold metallic quality. These high-contrast, high-saturation prints look extraordinary with images that have the same attributes.
Silk
Silk Paper has a fine texture to it, giving a luxurious silk-like look and feel. They are also fingerprint-resistant, so no need for any additional coating or spray. The paper’s unique surface also makes the printed images hard to scan or copy.
The Hidden Power of Small Prints
An 8×10 feels substantial when you hold it in your hands, but on a wall, it often looks small. This is why many photographers refer to small photo prints as gift prints or desk prints. With this language, clients see them as thoughtful extras, perfect for relatives or small spaces, while the real showcase belongs on the wall. Showing a desk-sized print next to a 16×20, or a 20×30, immediately helps clients visualize the impact of something larger.
So, can small prints lead to big sales? Absolutely, when you position the value of prints to your clients, the potential is there!
Pricing That Encourages Upgrades
Pricing sets the stage for how clients make decisions. If small photo prints are inexpensive, they become the default purchase. When they are priced to reflect their true value, larger wall art feels like the better deal. Please note that the following pricing examples are generalized to illustrate a sales concept. Always review your costs before assigning pricing to your products.
Here is an example: Let’s say you charge $150 for an 8×10 and the digital copy, while offering a mounted unframed 16×20 for $350, or a 20×30 for $450. This makes wall portraits feel like the smart investment, considering the impact that a larger portrait has. Once the wall portrait is part of the conversation, upgrades like choosing a Canvas or Metal Prints, and adding frames are possible.
Another approach is to include small prints as bonuses with wall portraits. A 16×20 might include one gift print, a 20×30 includes a set of 4. Small photo prints now feel like added value, which make the investment in the wall more appealing.
Collections can also work well. Selecting a size for wall art and an assortment of small prints for clients guides them into a purchase. Show them the value of the collection by listing the à la carte pricing.
Example:
À La Carte:
Mounted 16×20 & Digital File: $350
8×10 & Digital File: $150
5×7 & Digital File: $90
2 – 4×6 (Set of 2 Same Pose) & Digital File: $90
50 Photo Cards/Announcement: $150
A nice quantity of small photo prints can be added to a collection, creating an incentive to get prints of multiple poses for the home or for gifting. Having a great description for the collection with features, benefits, and uses can help with decision-making.
The Classic Collection $890
The Classic Collections is a family favorite. It includes a small wall portrait for the family gallery and an assortment of small prints. Get all your favorite images in print for home, the office, and for gifting to family!
1 – 16×20 Print Mounted on Art Board
2 – 8x10s, 4-5x7s, 2-4x6s
Digital Copies of All Printed Images Included
SAVE $200+ off the à la carte pricing.
As far as the cost of goods, small photo prints are a great product with the potential for nice profit margins, so don’t think they can’t stand alone. Here’s an example of a small print collection for a high school senior.
The Senior Highlight Collection $990
The Highlight Collection has a little of everything: large and small gift prints, digital copies, and announcements. You’ll be sure to get all the favorite poses in print for display and gifting.
4 – 8x10s, 6 – 5x7s, 2 Sets of 2 – 4x6s
Digital Copies of all Printed Images
BONUS – 50 Graduation Announcements
SAVE 40%+ off the à la carte pricing.
The Entry Offer Strategy
Pricing is only one part of the equation. How you bring clients into the sales process matters just as much. This is where the entry offer strategy shines.
Imagine promoting a “Session plus one 8×10 gift print for $295.” It feels approachable, and clients know they will receive something tangible no matter what. The real opportunity comes during the image or gallery reveal.
If you do in-person sales, start by showing the included 8×10, then present the same image as a 16×20 or 20×30 on a wall. The difference is striking, and most clients immediately see the value in upgrading. If you don’t meet clients in person, you can make a mock-up example of some favorite images on their walls by asking for cell phone pictures of their living space or use stock images of rooms to create interest in something for the walls.
The key is to let the 8×10 act as a credit. If the 8×10 is valued at $150 and they choose a 20×30 priced at $450, that $150 applies directly. Instead of feeling like an extra expense, the upgrade feels like a natural progression. When customers are interested in trading up, mention the price with the credit applied. The 20×30 is only $300!
Once the wall portrait is chosen, you can return to the small prints by suggesting they make wonderful holiday gifts or keepsakes for family. By this point, clients are already invested and are often more than happy to add extras.
So, can small prints lead to big sales? The entry offer strategy shows us that they certainly can.
VIP Event Campaign Example
Here is an example of a marketing campaign using small prints as an incentive, framed as an exclusive VIP event.
Objective: Get clients in for a special, limited (possibly holiday or seasonal) experience while encouraging upsells to larger wall art or print packages.
Campaign Details:
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Offer:
- Exclusive Limited Sessions Available for VIP Event for $295
- Includes one 8×10 gift print of their favorite image
- Additional prints and wall portraits are available for upgrade
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Marketing Messaging:
- “Join our exclusive VIP Event and capture memories that will last a lifetime. Your session includes one 8×10 gift print — perfect for family gifts, office desks, or holiday cards.”
- “Start with a gift print and upgrade to wall portraits that will be cherished for years to come.”
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Email/Social Media Funnel:
- Email 1: Announce the VIP event with limited spots. Emphasize the included 8×10 as a ready-to-gift print.
- Email 2: Share sample wall mockups showing how the same image can be enlarged to 16×20 or 20×30 for living room displays. Highlight that the 8×10 counts as credit toward larger prints.
- Social Post: Carousel showing 8×10 on a desk vs. the same image as wall art, captioned: “Your memories can be small gifts or statement pieces.”
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Sales Strategy:
- At the VIP event reveal, present the 8×10 first, then show mockups of larger prints and wall portraits. Use the 8×10 as a credit toward upgrades.
- Offer a small gift-print bundle for grandparents and family to complement any larger wall portrait purchase.
- If you don’t do in-person sales, have samples of different sizes at the session. Require clients to send one image of where they might like to display a larger print. Create a VIP mock-up for their gallery.
The included small print removes purchase hesitation and feels like an immediate reward. Once clients see the image in larger formats, they are more likely to invest in wall portraits because they already have a tangible starting point.
Creating a Positive Client Experience
Small prints can work as the perfect surprise gift, creating client delight! As mentioned, the cost of goods for small prints is quite reasonable and worth your investment to show gratitude to your customers. Surprise clients with a complimentary 8×10 of their wall print or throw in a few 5x7s of the kids as a special thank you. A small gesture goes a long way. And for less than a cup of coffee.
Can Small Prints Lead to Big Sales?
Yes, they can, and in fact, they might be one of the strongest tools in your sales process. By reframing small prints as extras, pricing them strategically, and using them as credits in an entry offer, you can transform a simple 8×10 into a stepping stone for larger, more profitable orders. The key is guiding clients to see small prints as extras while showcasing big wall art as the true way to enjoy their portraits.
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!”
Images by Maureen T Miller Photography and Denise Watrous Photography.