Limited Editions/ Numbered Prints

For those of you who sell a fair number of prints, how many of you offer your prints as limited editions or numbered? If you do do this, is it something you do with every image or almost every image or just a few of your best?

Thanks, Josh

My position is that some day I will die and therefore any signed image I produce is part of a limited edition. Seriously. I don't believe in arbitrarily limiting editions of photographs. It's not in the nature of the medium.

Guy

You do make an excellent point Guy. Thank you.

Note that many photographers who sell limited editions make them nearly unlimited. For each image, they will have a limited edition (1 to 200 or whatever) for each print size and calendar year. So, for example, there will be an 11 x 14 series for 2001, 2002, 2003, . . . , along with yearly editions in every other conceivable size.

There were photographers who would destroy a neg or transparency to ensure it really was limited. Now it is a case of simply hitting the delete button!

Some art shows require limited editions. Some even require the destroying of the original file, transparency or neg.

I've been thinking about this same thing and considering making my large prints, 20" x 48" limited editions, but leaving all of the smaller sizes open.

I've heard some states have laws regulating editioning, but i don't know what Ohio has, nor even what the others have in general.

Does anyone have a reference source with this info?

Hey Josh, I do a lot of art shows each year and most require you to sell limited editions. So I sell all my prints as limited editions of 150, and it doesn't matter what size it is, theres only 150 sold. I wouldn't destroy the image once it hits 150 because I may sell it to a magazine with an article, or whatever. I find that theres so much to shoot out in nature that I'll always have another images to replace one that sells out.

There were photographers who would destroy a neg or transparency to ensure it really was limited. Now it is a case of simply hitting the delete button!

I would suggest searching the NPN archives and investigating what has been previously discussed. There's likely loads of valuable information there as we've discussed this several times in the last few years.

I sell only LE prints, and I sell only a fixed amount of an image regardless of the size. Some limit XX per size, some limit the way I do, and some do 'tier' pricing as the image sells more. I see no reason why an artist shouldn't reap some of the future value that their photographs may ultimately command. Ansel sold his prints very inexpensively early on, and some of his prints are now selling for a cool quarter of a million. Unlike music lilcensing or image publishing, selling prints reaps no future reward; royalties are absent.

Everyone approaches LE's differently, and there are no real 'standards'. You must ultimately determine your motivations/reasons and define the way you intend to limit your edition(s). If you plan on getting your work in higher-end galleries, almost all will expect that you limit your work.

Here's a good article from Brooks Jensen: http://www.brooksjensenarts.com/What%20Size%20is%20the%20Edition.pdf

Thanks for all the replies.

Michael, you said, "and some do 'tier' pricing as the image sells more." I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this. Could you elaborate please.

Thanks!

I have one particular image that I have sold 7 times this week. Could I now start selling LE prints of that particular image?

Tier pricing is for example if a photographer offers a limited edition set of 100. The first 25 will be of $100, the next 25 will be $300, the next 25 will be $750, the next 10 will be $1500, and the final XX will be astronomical.

I see. Thanks Richard.

I have one particular image that I have sold 7 times this week. Could I now start selling LE prints of that particular image?

You could, but it might not be a sound idea. The people who would buy the future LE prints of the image will feel cheated. If you think you want to, I'd suggest you recall the seven you sold (if you can; shipping expense both ways should be yours), mark them as 1/xx, 2/xx and so on, and then make and mark the very next sale 8/xx.

My position is that some day I will die and therefore any signed image I produce is part of a limited edition.
>>>
That is so unlike Guy reply. But I love it.

I limit mine to 250 per size signed on a nice paper. I will produce cheap prints that I sell in various girft shops in Zion and what not, those are not limited and on cheap paper with cheap ink. My opinion is that of Prashan. My hope would be that having one of my images is somewhat rare and a nice feeling, now I recognize I am long from being a great photographer but one day I hope to be and those early images will hold a certain value for the owner.