I've just been given the green light to be the sole photographer to display and sell essentially as many framed, matted and signed nature prints as I can afford to produce at a noted and high-end resort/lodge in northeastern Minnesota. At the low end, this will be 20 prints, framed in various sizes as large as 20x30 — eventually perhaps as many as 100 images — with me getting 90 percent of the sale price.
When a print sells, I replace it. And people who frequent this resort don't worry much about where the next $100 bill goes, and come to the region for love of nature and the outdoors. The first to see my work there, for example, will be a group of 200 physicians who have booked the resort for a conference.
This also will include prints in clear bags for sale in the resort's gift store, as well as my promotional material for wedding shooting included in the packets the resort sends to 500 prospective bride/groom couples each year.
I have gained some excellent perspectives from you all here, and some of those perspectives will be incorporated into my print selection and framing and matting styles for this project.
It potentially will mean a huge boost in my revenue, and could be the gig that allows me to turn the corner and leave newspapers to pursue photography full time.
Thanks again, everybody.
And if anyone knows a way I can buy Larson-Juhl maple frames at wholesale prices without being a custom-framing retail outlet myself, shoot me an e-mail at stevefossimages@yahoo.com, will you?
I have gained some excellent perspectives from you all here, and some of those perspectives will be incorporated into my print selection and framing and matting styles for this project.
Well, that would include me. I am glad my non-existent skills and worthless advice and useless tips have gotten you to where you are right now! Now imagine what would have happened if I was just a bit smarter!
Steve, congratulations on a great opportunity. NPN is a great resource and has helped us all grow and improve. The quality of your work is outstanding as well and the opportunity is well deserved.
Fantastic news Steve, and no doubt well deserved. Would you mind sharing specifically where the images will be hung? I don't know if it's a totally private location (as in can't look at them without booking for a stay at the resort) or not, but I'd be interested in checking them out if I was up shooting in the area.
Best of luck and congrats!
Posted by Steve Foss on April 11, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Thanks for your support, everyone.
Joel, I'm just keeping the specific location quiet for the next month or so. I'm pretty sure you've driven by it a number of times.
But it's a new relationship and I want to make sure it's solid and well-rooted before I publicize the location. I don't worry about you, but there certainly are shooters out there who, if they learned which resort it was, would be tempted to phone that resort and see if they could get their work hung, too. That could complicate matters. Honestly, I'm a little greedy about this, my first large and permanent venue, as well as a little uneasy until the art is hung and the deal is consummated. It will be, however, shown in locations easy for the public to see.
Posted by beth summer on April 11, 2007 at 3:27 PM
Awesome and congrats Definitely...keep it all "under wraps" until a done deal!!!
That's totally understandable Steve, no worries. I didn't even think of it like that, and you're smart in your thinking. After you pointed out those issues, that totally makes sense and I would most likely do the same. No sense shooting yourself in the foot! I often will keep quiet regarding special locations that are off the beaten path - some of the same concerns I imagine.
I'm assuming you're getting a contract set up with them and such. If you are eventually feeling good about your security in the venue, shoot me an email. My only interest is to see some nice prints from somebody local.
Keep up the good work sir.
Posted by Leann Greene on April 11, 2007 at 6:00 PM
Good for you. I'll be in Minnesota in July, but at family property on The Lake not at a high-end resort. Like Joel, I'm thinking it might be fun to stop in. I'll ask you later...
Hang 'em high, the tourist season is getting ready to start. Good luck. Give us an update when the dust settles next winter.
Thanks. This is the kind of support it's really nice to get.
Like I said, Joel, I have no worries about you, and I'll be sure to let you know where it is when the time's right. In fact, as a newspaper journalist in my "other" life, I'm pretty good at knowing what makes an effective press release, and I reckon a bunch of those will be going out this summer.
Posted by Robert Helms on April 11, 2007 at 8:00 PM
Wow! That is so cool! Way to go Steve. And a permenant venue, too? Gees! Lots of opportunity for you there, what with the wedding stuff along with. Very happy and excited for you.
Discussion
21 repliesWhen a print sells, I replace it. And people who frequent this resort don't worry much about where the next $100 bill goes, and come to the region for love of nature and the outdoors. The first to see my work there, for example, will be a group of 200 physicians who have booked the resort for a conference.
This also will include prints in clear bags for sale in the resort's gift store, as well as my promotional material for wedding shooting included in the packets the resort sends to 500 prospective bride/groom couples each year.
I have gained some excellent perspectives from you all here, and some of those perspectives will be incorporated into my print selection and framing and matting styles for this project.
It potentially will mean a huge boost in my revenue, and could be the gig that allows me to turn the corner and leave newspapers to pursue photography full time.
Thanks again, everybody.
And if anyone knows a way I can buy Larson-Juhl maple frames at wholesale prices without being a custom-framing retail outlet myself, shoot me an e-mail at stevefossimages@yahoo.com, will you?
Just kidding ...
Best of luck and congrats!
Joel, I'm just keeping the specific location quiet for the next month or so. I'm pretty sure you've driven by it a number of times.
But it's a new relationship and I want to make sure it's solid and well-rooted before I publicize the location. I don't worry about you, but there certainly are shooters out there who, if they learned which resort it was, would be tempted to phone that resort and see if they could get their work hung, too. That could complicate matters. Honestly, I'm a little greedy about this, my first large and permanent venue, as well as a little uneasy until the art is hung and the deal is consummated. It will be, however, shown in locations easy for the public to see.
I'm assuming you're getting a contract set up with them and such. If you are eventually feeling good about your security in the venue, shoot me an email. My only interest is to see some nice prints from somebody local.
Keep up the good work sir.
Hang 'em high, the tourist season is getting ready to start. Good luck. Give us an update when the dust settles next winter.
Pete D.
Like I said, Joel, I have no worries about you, and I'll be sure to let you know where it is when the time's right. In fact, as a newspaper journalist in my "other" life, I'm pretty good at knowing what makes an effective press release, and I reckon a bunch of those will be going out this summer.