Searching for ways to get people to stop telling me to sell my pictures.....

[JustJazzie]

I'm honestly getting frustrated constantly hearing "did they pay you for that?" "You should be selling these!" "You could sell these by doing xyz....." "If you charged for this, you could fund your next camera/lens!"


I became interested in photography as a little girl. After my dad died (I was 8) it was realized that the most recent photo of him was 3 years old, and the most recent family photo was 4 years prior. Thus, my interest was sparked in preserving memories.
I have ZERO interest in making money off my work. I enjoy using photos as a "gift" in whatever situation it suits.

No matter what I say though, people encourage me to start making a profit off of it. I've tried mentioning things like "I'd rather not pay taxes on that" or " it's not as easy as it sounds" or bluntly, "I'm just not interested" but the conversation rarely stops there and people are eager to offer me "solutions" for any reason I give that I am not interested.

So would you please, offer me something witty, or not- to stop the conversation in its tracks.

 

[photoguy99]

It would compromise my art, destroying my soul and leaving me an empty shell, were I to take so much as one cent in filthy lucre.

 

[tirediron]

It would compromise my art, destroying my soul and leaving me an empty shell, were I to take so much as one cent in filthy lucre.

The bolded bit! Seriously; explain to people that it's something you do for the love of it, and you like the luxury of being able to do it when you want, how you want, which you can't do when you're being paid.

 

[JustJazzie]

It would compromise my art, destroying my soul and leaving me an empty shell, were I to take so much as one cent in filthy lucre.

The bolded bit! Seriously; explain to people that it's something you do for the love of it, and you like the luxury of being able to do it when you want, how you want, which you can't do when you're being paid.

This might work when it comes to people photos, but I need a different idea for landscapes. I can already hear the "well you already HAVE the pictures, you could just submit them to the website!" ( can you tell I've heard that one before)

 

[photoguy99]

What's wrong with the filthy lucre bit?!!

 

[Overread]

The answer is very simple - after they make their suggestion look them straight in the eye - no blinking. Then scream loudly whilst waving your hands in the air like a manic crab; proceed to then crabwalk sideways away from them - continue to do this until out of eyesight with them. At which point revert to normal and walk on.

They will generally :
1) Have not have heard of futurama and will think you're totally bonkers

2) Say something like "oh cool Zoidburg"

At which point they won't be thinking of you selling photos; group 1 will likely be calling people in white coats to take you away though. But its a sure fire way to avoid photo selling advice








Or option 2 is to ask them how much they'd pay for one of your prints; then ask if they want to buy one and then say "and there's the problem" (because chances are they've either quoted high and said no or they quoted low and said sure*)


*note if they quote high and say yes - take them up on the offer and go have a free dinner on them or something^

 

[JustJazzie]

What's wrong with the filthy lucre bit?!!

I liked it. In fact, I wanted to rate the post as "like" and "funny" but it will only let you do one. :-(

 

[The_Traveler]

Or option 2 is to ask them how much they'd pay for one of your prints; then ask if they want to buy one and then say "and there's the problem" (because chances are they've either quoted high and said no or they quoted low and said sure*)


*note if they quote high and say yes - take them up on the offer and go have a free dinner on them or something^

THis ^

 

[Gary A.]

I appreciate the purity of your passion. Carry on.

 

[ByronBrant]

I doubt they are suggesting you put your heart and soul into selling your work. But if you are taking pictures that make you feel good. Then what harm would it be if you also posted them somewhere for sale? If they sell. Bonus! If they don't. Then no worries as that's not your mission with photography.

 

[480sparky]

Easy. Tell them, "I'll be happy to take photos for you. Just send the money to some guy named 480sparky".......

 

[Gary A.]

I gave this some thought ... "I don't do this for the money." Which will probably open up "But you're so good ... you could make a lot of money ..." and you can respond ... "There are a lot of things I don't do for money and photography is one of them."

 

[Nevermore1]

I often times people who try to tell me to sell my photos that my photos really aren't that good compared to the thousands/millions of other photographers out there (which is very true) and that if I were good enough to sell them I wouldn't do it because it would take all the fun out of it for me. I do photography because I enjoy doing it not because I want to get paid. Now, if someone came directly to me and offered to purchase something for themselves then I most likely wouldn't argue. Of course that would never happen because if a friend says that they really like a photo I took I tend to give it to them as a gift instead.

 

[SquarePeg]

Not that this happens to me all that often but when it does I say something to the effect of not wanting to turn something I enjoy into work.

 

[sashbar]

Tell them that taking pictures and selling them are two completely different professions. If they want to sell your pictures on your behalf, let them do it, pay 10% commission to them and give the rest to your favourite charity. If they do not want to sell your pictures why do they keep telling you to do it?