I've not be active in selling my photos and would like to do better. I've thought to put together a small display or two to show in local businesses such as coffee shops, banks, and book stores. Maybe 10 or 15 framed prints. I don't especially want this to be a "vanity" showing and would hope to make a small amount. I was wondering if others have positive or negative experience doing this sort of thing? I sell a handful of prints through casual sales, but would like to get some of my photos available for viewing and possibly a small income. I live in somewhat of a metropolitan area but am totally lost on how to get more visability and generate a little bit of profit. I've done the arts and crafts fair scene in another life and craft, and it's not one that I'm especially interested in doing again. Any thoughts?
I found that matted, unframed, prints sealed in polypro bags sell much better than framed display prints. They are also much more resilient to handling. I also found that results vary wildly from one venue to the next so pick your display carefully, make sure the owner is willing to place your work where it is easily visible and not obscured by other things, and that the place has the kind of visitors that may be interested in photographic prints.
Hey Roger, I agree 100% with Guy on the unframed sealed prints will out sell your framed prints. In the stores, and art shows, its about 90% of my sales are unframed. I have canvas print bins I use in the stores for display. With the unframed its a lower price point, and they can go with what ever frame works best in their home.
I have a permanent show at a high end lodge/resort along the North Shore of Lake Superior. I have 16 signed, matted, mounted and framed prints for sale within the public areas of the lodge. But I also have those same prints signed, matted and mounted in white or off-white mats in clear bags in the gift store.
The framed images are to make people say "wow." The bagged images are there to give people the freedom to own "wow" at a lower price and to choose their own frame to complete the picture (you'll please pardon the pun).
The only framed images that regularly sell are a set of five images of wolves, one very large, one 8x10 image in an 11x14 frame and three 5x7 images in 8x10 frames. All my other sales have been of bagged prints.
If there is room in the business to display it the following way, I'd suggest you hang your most compelling image signed, matted in a light-colored neutral mat and very simple frame, with a completely professional look including a sealed back and a wire hanger. It should be your "wow" image. Below that framed image should be a short, professional looking bio and artist statement, and then in a rack or decorative box should be your signed, matted, mounted and bagged prints.
Prospective customers see the "wow." They see the bio. They keep looking down and they see the prints. They see the prices are about half what the framed print would cost. They buy. Plus, the business owner doesn't have to commit to as much space. I'd recommend keeping your prints to 8x10 in 11x14 mats, which generally sell the best, and don't be afraid of unusual crops that require custom-cut mats and custom frames. Strong verticals and panoramas do well with a certain subset of print buyers, and they won't blink at paying someone to custom frame those unusual images.
Also, I strongly suggest you price your work at the same level professionals in your area charge for similar work. If you deviate from that, perhaps just a small touch under that price range. People who buy fine art prints expect to pay a bit of money for something, and if they see a beautiful 8x10 in 11x14 mat in a clear bag and it's only got $20 on it, some people will actually believe the print quality or paper must be not so good and will turn away.
These are simply my experiences after having several gallery showings in the last few years and the one permanent show for about a year. We don't really share exact prices on the forum here, but it would not be at all out of line for me, in my market, to charge from $70 to $90 for a signed, matted, bagged 8x10 print in 11x14 mat. I don't do the mounting myself, either. I use White House Custom Color in St. Paul, Minn., for my lab, and I have them mount the print on matboard or foamcore so all I have to do is adhere the mat over it, sign it, bag it and put on printed price tags and a tag with my Web site and contact info over the flap on the back. My price tag on the front will read: (the price) and below that, "Ready for 11x14 frame" or "Ready for custom framing." My tag on the back will keep many from opening the flap and pulling out the print, which can get the mat dirty and always ends up crinkling the clear bag.
Hi, I agree with the topics discussed here and have had similar experiences. One item I would like to add is to check out the local art societies or groups. I live in a large metropolitan area too and have found there are many opportunities through these groups to display your works in banks, coffee shops, parks, community centers, etc.. The advantage to this is they've already done the work to permit art to be displayed, so all you have to do is participate. When you sell a work, you'll end up having to donate a percentage of your sale to the group you belong to, but the exposure you get is often worth it.
Discussion
5 repliesGuy
I have a permanent show at a high end lodge/resort along the North Shore of Lake Superior. I have 16 signed, matted, mounted and framed prints for sale within the public areas of the lodge. But I also have those same prints signed, matted and mounted in white or off-white mats in clear bags in the gift store.
The framed images are to make people say "wow." The bagged images are there to give people the freedom to own "wow" at a lower price and to choose their own frame to complete the picture (you'll please pardon the pun).
The only framed images that regularly sell are a set of five images of wolves, one very large, one 8x10 image in an 11x14 frame and three 5x7 images in 8x10 frames. All my other sales have been of bagged prints.
If there is room in the business to display it the following way, I'd suggest you hang your most compelling image signed, matted in a light-colored neutral mat and very simple frame, with a completely professional look including a sealed back and a wire hanger. It should be your "wow" image. Below that framed image should be a short, professional looking bio and artist statement, and then in a rack or decorative box should be your signed, matted, mounted and bagged prints.
Prospective customers see the "wow." They see the bio. They keep looking down and they see the prints. They see the prices are about half what the framed print would cost. They buy. Plus, the business owner doesn't have to commit to as much space. I'd recommend keeping your prints to 8x10 in 11x14 mats, which generally sell the best, and don't be afraid of unusual crops that require custom-cut mats and custom frames. Strong verticals and panoramas do well with a certain subset of print buyers, and they won't blink at paying someone to custom frame those unusual images.
Also, I strongly suggest you price your work at the same level professionals in your area charge for similar work. If you deviate from that, perhaps just a small touch under that price range. People who buy fine art prints expect to pay a bit of money for something, and if they see a beautiful 8x10 in 11x14 mat in a clear bag and it's only got $20 on it, some people will actually believe the print quality or paper must be not so good and will turn away.
These are simply my experiences after having several gallery showings in the last few years and the one permanent show for about a year. We don't really share exact prices on the forum here, but it would not be at all out of line for me, in my market, to charge from $70 to $90 for a signed, matted, bagged 8x10 print in 11x14 mat. I don't do the mounting myself, either. I use White House Custom Color in St. Paul, Minn., for my lab, and I have them mount the print on matboard or foamcore so all I have to do is adhere the mat over it, sign it, bag it and put on printed price tags and a tag with my Web site and contact info over the flap on the back. My price tag on the front will read: (the price) and below that, "Ready for 11x14 frame" or "Ready for custom framing." My tag on the back will keep many from opening the flap and pulling out the print, which can get the mat dirty and always ends up crinkling the clear bag.