The SimplePhoto Story
It seems like last century…
In the late 1990's the photo industry began to adopt digital technology. Labs and film companies were ill prepared for what was about to happen to the industry with the advance of digitization. Online photo sales, or photo e-commerce, represented a perceived threat to the paper photo-proofing process. Understandably, labs, film companies, and paper manufacturers were not taking the lead on building sensible online storefronts for photographers. Most had an interest in not promoting the Internet as a primary sales medium to photographers.
It took a photographer to get it right…
In addition to the "big-boy" industry insiders not taking the lead with photo e-commerce, total outsiders struggled with it as well. They couldn't quickly grasp the pro- photographer's complexity, so most "dot.com gold-miners" chased other avenues for quicker returns.
Eric J. Ellis, a professional photographer with busy Atlanta photography studio, began to design SimplePhoto.com around what he had learned from personal experience would be the photographer's needs,. "At the time," Ellis recalls, "The early e-commerce systems were extremely confusing both for photographers and their customers. SimplePhoto's philosophy is based around simplicity. Our goal is to be the leading online photography application while making photo e-commerce simple and more sensible for everyone."
They don't teach this in art school…
As a student of photography since his childhood days, Eric lamented the lack of advice he could get from professors about making money as a photographer. "Most of my art or photography teachers considered discussing the business of selling photos a waste of time or trite endeavor. Yet, let's face it, who wants to be a starving artist?"
Ellis continues, "I don't believe a photographer's art ends at the edge of the print. If executed properly, the sales process can also be artful."
Mr. Ellis explains that the training, support, and consultations SimplePhoto offers its members is the "secret ingredient" that sets SimplePhoto apart from other systems. "Most of our new members are shocked by the level of e-commerce knowledge we bring to the table. Most are skeptical at first, but soon they start to think of us as trusted advisers and consultants."
Simplicity is our philosophy, it's not just our name…
SimplePhoto's mission is to streamline the photo purchasing process, allowing a better experience for both photographer and customer. Everyone benefits when the power of Internet commerce is combined with a simple, secure and elegant purchasing process.
"It's ironic," Ellis concludes, "that today, keeping things simple for the photographer has become harder than ever. As the industry evolves in complexity, we pledge to do all we can to advocate for, and design for, simplicity."
