Should I offer commissions even if I'm not interested in doing custom work?

Absolutely put a commissions button on your website, even if you think you’re not interested. A commissions request is someone saying ‘I love what you’re doing, I just don’t want exactly that—I’ll pay for this instead.’ Sometimes constraints and commissions completely change your creative direction in ways you’d never have discovered otherwise. They give insight into markets you didn’t know existed. Many famous artists had their careers transformed by being open to commissions and market feedback. Don’t wait to share your work—get feedback immediately.

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Asked by a photographer planning to create new work · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-06-26