Before the last couple months I hadn't sold any type of image to anyone, I had always hoped to someday make it a lucrative hobby, but nothing seemed to be heading in that direction. But lately things have begun to turn in a unexpected way.
The town I live in Madison, is on the Historic Register as a Historic Landmark, it has some pretty interesting architecture with the old fountains and buildings. My wife works in the local hospital and has some of my images of the town in her office, needless to say someone came into her office liked what was hanging and came to me to decorate a new restaurant they were opening.
They purchased 12 13x19 images to begin with all b&w and are looking to purchase more if the business does well. Now because of the first job I just now finished an order for 7 16x24 prints for a doctors office, who happened to see the images at the first business. I have also sold 10 more large prints to people thru word of mouth, and if things go well I have a shot at a bid for a new wing on the hospital my wife works at.
My question is, is this the way this usually works, does it begin with luck and then do you have to go after it hard when the going is good? Do you usually try to work the stuff you really like in with the stuff people are after, before now I thought making any money at all with this hobby was a pipe dream but now I am not so sure. I am not stupid and I know a career in this is about impossible but I have gone to part time in my job, my wife does have a very good job though so that helps, so I have the time to pursue it.
I guess to make a long story short, is there anybody here that has ventured into this field could give me any advice on getting started or any other info would be very helpful. I am also posting one of the images that I have sold, this is one of many that for some reason people in this area are really attracted to. Thanks for any comments.
Congratulations on your big sale, Bernie. The image you posted is beautiful. Really like the detail and DOF.
I haven't had your experience (yet) so I'm not a good resource. I know that it only takes one right person at the right time to make things happen. My limited experience has taught me that I can't predict what individuals will buy. When I figure that one out, I'll let you know.
Bernie, I think this would be a worthy topic for the "photo marketing" forum. I'm sure there's a wide variety of people on NPN that could offer worthy thoughts on the issue.
I don't personally sell at the moment, and I don't plan to for a number of years as the development of my portfolio is what's important to me for the time being. That said, it's pretty rare that I read of "luck" as being the primary force behind a financially successful photographer. While there are many approaches and targeted audiences to market towards, the one thing they all seem to have in common is that a great deal of effort is required from the photographer who wants to sell their images or services. Hard work seems to be required in all instances. Personally, I would identify what audience(s) I wanted to market my work towards. What you need to do in order to succeed seems to depend on who and what your doing business with. Others will certainly have ideas regarding those specifics.
Luck seems to play a large part of getting your work in front of the right person at the right time, skill makes sure the image captures their attention. That builds a reputation and gets you invited to better shows and better opportunities. Hard work is there all along the way, making sure once the opportunity shows up, you can make the most of it and making sure your images and presentation is best it can be at that moment.
I've been selling my work for a couple of years now, and I can see where my work is becoming known. I'm now getting invites to show at art events and functions. I'm networking with other artists and learning a lot. Once the ball starts rolling, you can't stop pushing though. It's not a full time job for me, and probably never will be, but the amount I'm making has grown steadily. I may even make money this year after I cover all of my equipment costs.
I've gone both the art show and gallery routes. I'm doing the art shows to get my work and name seen, and hopefully paying off by better sales in the galleries, and as my reputation grows, get invites to larger markets / galleries.
One big thing you have to think about in the beginning, and I know a lot of photographers wrestling with this, is to make sure you are charging enough for your prints to cover the cost, commissions, time, efforts, rent, equipment, advertising, booth fees, gas, and anything else it takes to make the sales, and to finance your next photo.
Over time you learn what sells, and tend to focus your efforts in that direction, and also working to develop markets for your other work.
I still consider myself pretty new at this game, but I view it as a challenge, and I'm enjoying the journey.
Most sales I have gotten outside of shows has been solely based on word of mouth. That is actually how I started selling prints in the first place, and started to get enough consistant inquries to start serious pursuing the formal sales route.
Anyway, the point is that you have become good enough that people are willing to take you and your work seriously enough to part with their cash. That says a lot about the quality of your images. Now the question becomes how seriously to you want to go this route. There is nothing wrong with deciding not to, or to continue like you are doing, but the wonderful thing here is that you have that as an option to think about.
Bernie, first off congratulations on the sells. That's really good news. I believe it all tends to favor a little luck; however luck isn't a replacement for hard work. From the sounds of it you are off to a really good start at actually turning a profit in this never ending money taking hobby.
Personally, I'm still working on my website, but every sell I have made has been by word of mouth, or where to customers at the local lab who just happened to see my images while being framed. I'm currently printing and framing a dozen or so images to be displayed at a local business for a couple of months. I don't really persue selling my images in a way that I maybe should, but then again my only goal is to have someone appreciate them enough to want them in their home. The monetary gain would most likely never be significant enough to quit my day job so I just enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with selling them.
You should maybe consider putting together a website with all the attention that your images are receiving. It really can't hurt, and is the best way to get your photos out to the most people.
All I can add is to:
1) know your potential customers
2) Understand the PROBABLY an image of Slot Canyons isn't going to be awful popular at a local venue in Indiana.
3) Build up some stock and look for a time where you can have a showing ( maybe at a local art league or even in a local frame shop etc). You might be surprised on what you come away with
4) Look in to the corporate market. This has been very lucrutive for me the past year ( Hospitals, law offices, Dr offices etc) In an area like yours ( not too different from where I currently am) the word gets out.
5) Maybe do a brochure to hand out.
6) Don't over price your work. ---I sell a 16 X 20 matted image ( usually with about an 11 X 14 print) for under 100.00. John Shaw can command more.. not Jack Graham
Thanks for the info and comments guys, I agree on the price issue Jack, on one of the other forums a while back some of the other photographers were getting real upset with another for dropping the price of his prints, they thought it would hurt everyone by doing this. I was left a little dumbfounded by this considering the price he was already asking was not getting any sales and he felt a need to move things along. Oh well what do I know
One thing with prices is that if you drop them too low, people won't take it very seriously. I don't completely understand this myself, but I found when raised my prices about 50-60% for art festivals, I did better. My current prices are probably at the midlevel. I can't charge John Shaw prices either, but they seem to be a fair balance between the customer and me.
Don't sell yourself short - look at other photographer's websites to see what their work goes for, and use some judgement. Also, don't be afraid to offer a reasonable quantity discount. For me, it is almost as much work to prepare 2 prints as it is 12.
One thing I have seen at craft fairs I have done (no, I don't recommend that route for a whole host of reasons), is that the prices are so low that there simply isn't any profit there. By the time you pay for materials and more importantly, your time, you are essentially giving your work away. You can only go so low on prices, even staying above material costs, and then you are better off working at Walmart.
The other thing to keep in mind is that as long as your prices are not stratospheric, especially on large prints, people will buy them. My matted and framed 16x20's, which become 24x28 once framed, sell for multiple hundreds of dollars. It is a different market than those who buy the 8x10's, but it is there.
One thing with prices is that if you drop them too low, people won't take it very seriously. I don't completely understand this myself, but I found when raised my prices about 50-60% for art festivals, I did better. My current prices are probably at the midlevel. I can't charge John Shaw prices either, but they seem to be a fair balance between the customer and me.
Don't sell yourself short - look at other photographer's websites to see what their work goes for, and use some judgement. Also, don't be afraid to offer a reasonable quantity discount. For me, it is almost as much work to prepare 2 prints as it is 12.
One thing I have seen at craft fairs I have done (no, I don't recommend that route for a whole host of reasons), is that the prices are so low that there simply isn't any profit there. By the time you pay for materials and more importantly, your time, you are essentially giving your work away. You can only go so low on prices, even staying above material costs, and then you are better off working at Walmart.
The other thing to keep in mind is that as long as your prices are not stratospheric, especially on large prints, people will buy them. My matted and framed 16x20's, which become 24x28 once framed, sell for multiple hundreds of dollars. It is a different market than those who buy the 8x10's, but it is there.
Discussion
10 repliesThe town I live in Madison, is on the Historic Register as a Historic Landmark, it has some pretty interesting architecture with the old fountains and buildings. My wife works in the local hospital and has some of my images of the town in her office, needless to say someone came into her office liked what was hanging and came to me to decorate a new restaurant they were opening.
They purchased 12 13x19 images to begin with all b&w and are looking to purchase more if the business does well. Now because of the first job I just now finished an order for 7 16x24 prints for a doctors office, who happened to see the images at the first business. I have also sold 10 more large prints to people thru word of mouth, and if things go well I have a shot at a bid for a new wing on the hospital my wife works at.
My question is, is this the way this usually works, does it begin with luck and then do you have to go after it hard when the going is good? Do you usually try to work the stuff you really like in with the stuff people are after, before now I thought making any money at all with this hobby was a pipe dream but now I am not so sure. I am not stupid and I know a career in this is about impossible but I have gone to part time in my job, my wife does have a very good job though so that helps, so I have the time to pursue it.
I guess to make a long story short, is there anybody here that has ventured into this field could give me any advice on getting started or any other info would be very helpful. I am also posting one of the images that I have sold, this is one of many that for some reason people in this area are really attracted to. Thanks for any comments.
I haven't had your experience (yet) so I'm not a good resource. I know that it only takes one right person at the right time to make things happen. My limited experience has taught me that I can't predict what individuals will buy. When I figure that one out, I'll let you know.
I don't personally sell at the moment, and I don't plan to for a number of years as the development of my portfolio is what's important to me for the time being. That said, it's pretty rare that I read of "luck" as being the primary force behind a financially successful photographer. While there are many approaches and targeted audiences to market towards, the one thing they all seem to have in common is that a great deal of effort is required from the photographer who wants to sell their images or services. Hard work seems to be required in all instances. Personally, I would identify what audience(s) I wanted to market my work towards. What you need to do in order to succeed seems to depend on who and what your doing business with. Others will certainly have ideas regarding those specifics.
Congrats on your sales and best of luck!
Luck seems to play a large part of getting your work in front of the right person at the right time, skill makes sure the image captures their attention. That builds a reputation and gets you invited to better shows and better opportunities. Hard work is there all along the way, making sure once the opportunity shows up, you can make the most of it and making sure your images and presentation is best it can be at that moment.
I've been selling my work for a couple of years now, and I can see where my work is becoming known. I'm now getting invites to show at art events and functions. I'm networking with other artists and learning a lot. Once the ball starts rolling, you can't stop pushing though. It's not a full time job for me, and probably never will be, but the amount I'm making has grown steadily. I may even make money this year after I cover all of my equipment costs.
I've gone both the art show and gallery routes. I'm doing the art shows to get my work and name seen, and hopefully paying off by better sales in the galleries, and as my reputation grows, get invites to larger markets / galleries.
One big thing you have to think about in the beginning, and I know a lot of photographers wrestling with this, is to make sure you are charging enough for your prints to cover the cost, commissions, time, efforts, rent, equipment, advertising, booth fees, gas, and anything else it takes to make the sales, and to finance your next photo.
Over time you learn what sells, and tend to focus your efforts in that direction, and also working to develop markets for your other work.
I still consider myself pretty new at this game, but I view it as a challenge, and I'm enjoying the journey.
Anyway, the point is that you have become good enough that people are willing to take you and your work seriously enough to part with their cash. That says a lot about the quality of your images. Now the question becomes how seriously to you want to go this route. There is nothing wrong with deciding not to, or to continue like you are doing, but the wonderful thing here is that you have that as an option to think about.
Personally, I'm still working on my website, but every sell I have made has been by word of mouth, or where to customers at the local lab who just happened to see my images while being framed. I'm currently printing and framing a dozen or so images to be displayed at a local business for a couple of months. I don't really persue selling my images in a way that I maybe should, but then again my only goal is to have someone appreciate them enough to want them in their home. The monetary gain would most likely never be significant enough to quit my day job so I just enjoy the satisfaction that comes along with selling them.
You should maybe consider putting together a website with all the attention that your images are receiving. It really can't hurt, and is the best way to get your photos out to the most people.
Congrats again
All of the above is correct.
All I can add is to:
1) know your potential customers
2) Understand the PROBABLY an image of Slot Canyons isn't going to be awful popular at a local venue in Indiana.
3) Build up some stock and look for a time where you can have a showing ( maybe at a local art league or even in a local frame shop etc). You might be surprised on what you come away with
4) Look in to the corporate market. This has been very lucrutive for me the past year ( Hospitals, law offices, Dr offices etc) In an area like yours ( not too different from where I currently am) the word gets out.
5) Maybe do a brochure to hand out.
6) Don't over price your work. ---I sell a 16 X 20 matted image ( usually with about an 11 X 14 print) for under 100.00. John Shaw can command more.. not Jack Graham
Go get em. Your work is deserving of some $$$
JG
Don't sell yourself short - look at other photographer's websites to see what their work goes for, and use some judgement. Also, don't be afraid to offer a reasonable quantity discount. For me, it is almost as much work to prepare 2 prints as it is 12.
One thing I have seen at craft fairs I have done (no, I don't recommend that route for a whole host of reasons), is that the prices are so low that there simply isn't any profit there. By the time you pay for materials and more importantly, your time, you are essentially giving your work away. You can only go so low on prices, even staying above material costs, and then you are better off working at Walmart.
The other thing to keep in mind is that as long as your prices are not stratospheric, especially on large prints, people will buy them. My matted and framed 16x20's, which become 24x28 once framed, sell for multiple hundreds of dollars. It is a different market than those who buy the 8x10's, but it is there.
Don't sell yourself short - look at other photographer's websites to see what their work goes for, and use some judgement. Also, don't be afraid to offer a reasonable quantity discount. For me, it is almost as much work to prepare 2 prints as it is 12.
One thing I have seen at craft fairs I have done (no, I don't recommend that route for a whole host of reasons), is that the prices are so low that there simply isn't any profit there. By the time you pay for materials and more importantly, your time, you are essentially giving your work away. You can only go so low on prices, even staying above material costs, and then you are better off working at Walmart.
The other thing to keep in mind is that as long as your prices are not stratospheric, especially on large prints, people will buy them. My matted and framed 16x20's, which become 24x28 once framed, sell for multiple hundreds of dollars. It is a different market than those who buy the 8x10's, but it is there.