How to add hand-painted custom portraits to your online store
Hand-painted custom portraits sell well online when the listing sets clear expectations and the order flow is simple for both the customer and the studio.
1 min read
What a strong listing includes
- Example paintings, ideally shown next to the photos they were painted from
- Size options with a simple guide to what each size suits
- Honest timing: painting time plus shipping
- Photo guidelines: what makes a good reference photo, in a few lines
- How approval works: a proof before painting and a photo before shipping
- A note on hand-painted variation, so customers expect a painting, not a print
The questions your customers will ask
How long will it take? Will it look like my pet? Can I ask for changes? How is it shipped? What if it arrives damaged? Answer these on the listing and you'll answer fewer emails.
How an order flows
- Your customer orders and uploads a photo on your store.
- You send us the photo, size, format and delivery address.
- We check the photo and send a proof for approval.
- We paint it and send a photo of the finished piece, which you can forward to your customer.
- We ship it, blind if you like, straight to your customer.
What the best stores do
They give customers clear photo guidance before checkout, suggest sizes rather than leaving it open, and set delivery expectations that include painting time. The result is fewer revisions and happier customers.
Mistakes new sellers make
- Unclear photo requirements, so poor photos arrive
- Promising delivery times that leave no room for painting and approval
- Not explaining that a hand-painted portrait is an interpretation, not a copy
Related guides
Dropshipping hand-painted art: blind shipping and approval photos
How blind shipping works for hand-painted art, how single pieces are packed and sent, and how to handle an unhappy customer.
What drives the cost of a custom painting
Size, subject, detail, texture and timing: the factors that decide what a hand-painted commission costs, and what else to count when you price it in your store.
Managing customer expectations for custom portraits
Why custom portrait customers are sometimes disappointed, and what to tell them before they order.