Our Commitment to Helping You Sell More
At McKenna, we believe our role goes beyond printing your work. We’re here to help navigate what you offer. Studio samples are tools that can transform your business, elevate your brand, and significantly increase your sales. Whether you’re building out a full studio display or creating a portable studio sample box, we’re here to help you choose the right products, sizes, and finishes for your goals.
If you’re not sure where to start—or want to be more strategic with what you’re showing—reach out.
Paul Kestel, our Director of Sales and Customer Service, and Melissa Genson, our Photographer Experience Specialist, are great resources for walking through product options. Both have strong backgrounds in photography and experience in running their own studios. They can recommend sample strategies and help you understand how the right samples can lead to bigger, more consistent sales.
So what are photographers currently asking us when it comes to studio samples? Let’s break it down with some of the most common questions we receive.
What Photographers Are Asking About Studio Samples
In today’s market, professional photographers are becoming more intentional than ever about the products they show and how they show them to set them apart from the competition. If your clients aren’t buying your prints, your samples might be the problem. Studio samples are one of the most powerful sales tools you have. From wall art to albums, the right samples don’t just showcase your work—they guide your clients to envision it in their own space and towards investing in it. Here are the top 5 questions that photographers are asking us about studio samples.
1. What studio samples should I actually display?
Photographers are moving away from trying to show everything. Instead, they’re curating with purpose. Choose products that match your brand and style. For example, if you photograph in a light and airy style, darker, moodier, heavier products might not best tell your story or represent your brand. Keep your product offering simple; too many choices for your customer can kill a sale. You don’t want to overwhelm your customers with products.
The most effective sample lineup typically includes:
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- A statement wall piece (Metal, Canvas, Pivot Print, or Framed Print)
- A storytelling product (Integrity Albums and Zookbinders Albums)
- A few smaller, giftable items (Metal Curves, Image Boxes)
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It’s about showing clients what’s possible without overwhelming them with choices.
2. How big is big enough?
This question comes up constantly and for good reason. Smaller prints don’t sell large wall art. Larger samples create emotional impact and help clients visualize artwork in their own homes. When clients see scale, they understand value.
3. How do I design samples that actually sell?
It’s not just about showing beautiful images, it’s about showing relevant ones. Many photographers are refining their displays to match their ideal client. A senior photographer’s samples may look very different from a newborn or wedding photographer’s—and that’s a good thing. Photographers are focusing on:
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- Emotion-driven imagery over technical perfection
- Real-life scenarios (families, seniors, weddings)
- Products that are designed the way clients would actually use them
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When clients can see themselves in the product, they’re far more likely to buy.
4. How often should I refresh my studio samples?
With evolving trends, photographers want to stay current without over-investing. The goal isn’t constant replacement. It’s strategic updates to add in products you want to sell more of. Think about:
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- Will this product increase my average order?
- Does it represent my brand?
- Will clients choose this if they see it?
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If the answer is yes, it’s worth showing.
5. How do I actually use samples during a sales session?
Having samples is one thing, and using them effectively is another. Photographers are building guided experiences where clients can:
This interaction builds confidence in your expertise and leads to higher sales.
Why Studio Samples Matter More Than Ever
If you don’t show it, you don’t sell it. Studio samples bridge the gap between digital images and finished artwork. That gap is where sales are often lost. Here’s what samples do:
They Make It Tangible
Some clients can’t visualize an image on certain print products—especially premium options like Metal, Canvas, or albums with upgrades like Acrylic Covers, Imprinting and Gilding, or the various premium Leathers and Materials they can choose from. Seeing and touching removes uncertainty instantly.
They Justify Pricing
A large, beautifully displayed wall piece helps clients understand the value of what they’re investing in. Without it, pricing can feel abstract. With it, pricing feels aligned with quality.
They Shift the Conversation From Digital to Print and Increase the Average Order Value
If clients only see images on a screen, they think in terms of files. When they see finished products, they start thinking about their home, their walls, and how they want to preserve their images. Albums sell albums. Wall art sells wall art. When clients experience products in person, they’re far more likely to invest in them.
No Studio? No Problem: The Power of Portable Samples
Not every photographer has a dedicated studio space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create an impactful sales experience. Many on-location photographers are successfully selling printed products by bringing samples directly to their clients.
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- A curated sample box with albums
- Image boxes with mounted prints
- Small canvases and metal prints to show the quality
- Framed corner samples or tabletop pieces
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These portable studio sample sales tools can be used:
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- In clients’ homes during ordering appointments
- On location immediately after a session
- Even on virtual consultations
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Show More. Sell More.
When your clients can see it, feel it, and picture it in their lives, you’re no longer just selling images. You’re selling something lasting. You’re preserving the memories.
Want help building your studio sample lineup? Explore McKenna’s print products and talk with our team to create a strategy that increases your average order. Contact Paul Kestel, our Director of Sales and Customer Service, and Melissa Genson, our Photographer Experience Specialist, today!
Images by Denise Watrous Photography, Loker Photography, MCC Photos, David Beckham Photography, Any Angle Photography, Eleanor Kathryn Photography, Barbara Neely Designs, and Sweet Little You Photography.
McKenna’s sales consultations are intended for educational purposes only. By using these services, you acknowledge that any knowledge gained and applied from these conversations to the images or products you purchase is your personal responsibility. You agree to use your own judgment and conduct due diligence before implementing any suggestions about color and/or techniques that you learn in these courses. If you have legal and/or financial questions, you should consult a lawyer or CPA and/or CFP respectively.
You recognize that your success or failure is the result of your own efforts and circumstances beyond McKenna’s control. We are not responsible for your future success, decisions, or income level.