Selling Photos

[stimpsonslostson]

hi guys,
I've just been approached by a couple of friends wanting prints of some of my nature photos.
Obviously I'm happy that other folk like my photos, but now I'm left wondering how much my "art" is worth...
Has anyone else sold photos? Whats the going rate?
Obviously I'm not giving ANY digital copies, its just a per print system.

If anyone is interested in my shots I've got some on facebook, and can post links to the galleries- obviously the resolution is rubbish on there. (But that should deter theiving!). I've got loads more at home, its all nature themed stuff with the odd "arty" effort thrown in.
p

[johnriley1uk]

The place I choose to show photos is http://www.ephotozine.com - you can post one a day and get feedback from other users.

It's free for posting small images or £29 per year if you want to post 1000 pixel wide ones. These look pretty good, being almost full screen.

In the meantime, why not post some links to your work.

As regards selling prints, always make the prints yourself (don't give people negatives or files as you have no control over the quality of the prints that way) and charge a reasonable amount. At least double what it costs you to make, plus a bit more! Less for close friends...

[stimpsonslostson]

http://homepage.mac.com/philandbeckywil ... lbum1.html

I just worked out how to use .mac
This is a fairly random sample of some of my photos, its what I put on my digital photo frame.
Hope you like them.
P

[johnriley1uk]

Thanks for the link. The images are varied, as you say, and the best are very good indeed. There are some brilliant landscape and nature images. The poorer ones don't help the whole and I'd be inclined to delete those that are unsharp or suffer from camera-shake so that only the really good stuff remains.

For the best, you could consider a library site like FotoLibra and you might well make some sales.

[Mike]

Charge as much as you want! It is the great thing about art people will pay for it if they like what they see. Obviously it is good to make money on the prints. I suppose it is all about the presentation - if the presentation is amazing people will feel they have got their money worth!

The photos are really good! It would be interesting to know what sort of camera you chose to take the photos, the exposure on some of them were just amazing. (hangs head in shame at thought of own web galleries! )

[stimpsonslostson]

Glad you like them- I'm aware that some of them are weaker than the others (and there are a few really nice shots missing which are still in iphoto). If I get chance I'll tweak the gallery to make it a bit better.

Mik you're not gonna like the kit I use- Its a Pentax K100D (isn't that what you have? ) I've got the standard 18-55 pentax lense and a tamron 70-300 (with macro function) I often use a gorilla pod to reduce shake if the light isnt good (dog by the fire being a prime example).
I try to play with the settings to get the effects I want. I've just aquired photoshop and am currently learning to edit shots. Any "effects" on these shots was either colour balance from iphoto and the occaisional blemish removal. (The stormy shot was actually a nice day- I turned it b/w then boosted contrast )
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[Mike]

Nicely done - iPhoto is quite good at doing the basic image manipulation (not ps standard to be sure) but can sharpen, adjust the contrast and colour balance!

Now you mention it I do remember you telling me about your camera! Faulty memory circuits here I am afraid! (now if I can only figure out why people keep asking me questions about budget, design and bleeding buildings I will be okay!) Nice equipment - I have the same but without the large 300mm lens. I am tempted to get a dot mac account but cant really justify at the moment.

[johnriley1uk]

For all things Pentax, why not pop on over to the forum at

http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk

It's a warm and friendly place to be, just like here!

[Mike]

And you just happen to be a moderator and contributing author I believe!

[johnriley1uk]

Well, yes, coincidentally, possibly....

[stimpsonslostson]

The latest is that I printed some photos with photobox and they turned out great. (Prices were ok too).
I sold 2 to a student for £20 each- unframed (and she was delighted ). another went as a mothers day present- the puppy on the beach and is now on the kitchen wall at my folks house- I framed it and it all looks good. I've got some more to sell or put on my own wall.
I'm thinkin about trying the fletcher moss cafe in didsbury- they sell local artists photos and have a "nature" crowd which suits my themes.
I may well show up on the pentax forum soon.

p

[stimpsonslostson]

I'm back from Scotland with a camera full of photos, here's the facebook gallery of some of them...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3 ... =670250964

hope you like them.
P

[Mike]

Loved the 'please do not feed the horses' picture, and those puffins were really cool to, especially the ones where the puffin was flapping wings enthusiastically!

[mr_e]

I'm really liking the very first picture, the fence post and the boat ones: really nice textures on those. Photo 23 is cool, but what exactly is it? I suck at identifying flora and fauna...

[stimpsonslostson]

Pic 23 is a wild carrot flower which had died and dried on Lunga (aka the land of the puffins).
The "...Horses" pic is probably the most popular photo from the trip!

There has been progress with selling more photos!- I dropped into Fletcher Moss on Sat, and asked who picks what can be sold on their walls... the long and short of it is that I've got permission to mount and sell a few photos there! I've picked a few decent local and botanical shots and am waiting for prints to arrive. Then its time to frame, price (£5 to print 14"x11", £15-£20 frame, £25 for profit= £50ish total? Slightly more for canvas printing costs if needed) and hang em.
Very exciting!
Any hints or tips to improve my chances? I'm gonna get some business cards done to mount near the shots... and will look at getting a web gallery if all goes well.
p