Starting to exibit/sell photos

[acparsons59 6]

Hello All,

I am a long time photographer, but new to the exhibit/art scene. I have a couple of questions.

1. I have maybe 3 photos that are kinda popular, they have eat been in a small publication and I have shown them at one small exhibition. If people like them, should I keep showing them at exhibitions?

2. I have sold a print of a photo, is it ethical to sell a print of the same photo many times?

Thanks for the tips.

 

[manaheim]

It's common to sign and serialize photos.. so 1/50, 2/50, etc. A question I've always wondered about is if you don't serialize them, is it still ethical to sell them in ADDITION to the numbered ones? So let's say someone sells all 50 of their series. Can they still sell prints without numbers after the fact? It feels wrong to me, but I can see arguments where it would not be.

As far as showing your commonly liked works- yes, I'd say keep showing them, though do try to slip in other things too, otherwise people could in theory start to think you only have those three pictures.

 

[acparsons59 6]

It's common to sign and serialize photos.. so 1/50, 2/50, etc. A question I've always wondered about is if you don't serialize them, is it still ethical to sell them in ADDITION to the numbered ones? So let's say someone sells all 50 of their series. Can they still sell prints without numbers after the fact? It feels wrong to me, but I can see arguments where it would not be.

As far as showing your commonly liked works- yes, I'd say keep showing them, though do try to slip in other things too, otherwise people could in theory start to think you only have those three pictures.

That's great advice. I don't think I'll sell 50, but I'll serialize just the same. I'll be rotating some in for sure.

Cheers,

AC

 

[imagemaker46]

Years ago I had some rare football shots and decided to sell just 10 of them numbered, all 10 sold right away. I keep getting people asking for copies but because I numbered them it would be unethical for me to sell more. Honestly I regret attaching a number to them. I wasn't expecting them to sell in the first place, you just never know.

 

[acparsons59 6]

Expert opinion, do you think that this photo would sell? What could I charge for example a 11x17, I have no idea.

 

[sm4him]

NOBODY can really tell you whether a photo is likely to sell, nor how much you should charge for it. My general guideline is to sell a print for 2-3 times the cost. Smaller prints I charge three times the cost, the bigger the print, the closer I get to the 2x cost mark, although probably usually more like 2.25x or 2.5x.

Some guidelines on the numbering thing:
1. IF you choose to number, you are creating LIMITED EDITION prints. You are, in essence, saying that you are placing a LIMIT on how many of them are available. Therefore, as imagemaker says, imo it would be unethical to sell that limited number then just keep selling them without a number.
What you COULD do is alter the photo--for instance, the B&W might be a limited print edition, but not the color version.
2. You should charge more for limited edition prints. The idea is, you're limiting how many of these there will be, and it enhances their value. So, whereas I might charge $40 for a framed, mounted 11x14 standard print (I just made that number up, it may or may not be reasonable), if I were to make that print a limited edition of say 100, then I might charge $125 for the exact same size print--because I will only be selling 100 of them, and then that's IT, no more money can be made from that print.

EDIT: An addendum to the "is this photo likely to sell" question--I find it pretty amusing and consternating what people are most likely to like and buy in fine art photography. Much of what I consider my "better" work, in a critical, artistic sense, doesn't necessarily go over that well with the non-art crowd.
But take a photo of a bird, slap something inspirational on it, and people will eat that stuff up! :lmao:

 

[ronlane]

It's common to sign and serialize photos.. so 1/50, 2/50, etc. A question I've always wondered about is if you don't serialize them, is it still ethical to sell them in ADDITION to the numbered ones? So let's say someone sells all 50 of their series. Can they still sell prints without numbers after the fact? It feels wrong to me, but I can see arguments where it would not be.

As far as showing your commonly liked works- yes, I'd say keep showing them, though do try to slip in other things too, otherwise people could in theory start to think you only have those three pictures.

Manny, not to start a huge debate, but my thought would be as long as people want to buy the print, why not sell them. I realize that the argument is that the less of them makes them more "expensive" but I've never really heard of that extra money going to the artist or photographers pocket. I realize that I may be off-base on this one, but that's my thought.

 

[sm4him]

It's common to sign and serialize photos.. so 1/50, 2/50, etc. A question I've always wondered about is if you don't serialize them, is it still ethical to sell them in ADDITION to the numbered ones? So let's say someone sells all 50 of their series. Can they still sell prints without numbers after the fact? It feels wrong to me, but I can see arguments where it would not be.

As far as showing your commonly liked works- yes, I'd say keep showing them, though do try to slip in other things too, otherwise people could in theory start to think you only have those three pictures.

Manny, not to start a huge debate, but my thought would be as long as people want to buy the print, why not sell them. I realize that the argument is that the less of them makes them more "expensive" but I've never really heard of that extra money going to the artist or photographers pocket. I realize that I may be off-base on this one, but that's my thought.

Why would the extra money NOT go to the photographer/artist?

I think it's just standard operating procedure in the art world that if you make your work a limited edition, it should NOT be sold beyond that number. Otherwise, it renders the inherent value in the limited edition null and there's no reason to even offer the numbered version.

 

[ronlane]

Sharon, I'm referring to re-sell. The artist/photographer is only going to receive the money for the original sale. I've never heard of them getting money on the resale.

I have seen framed photos that were limited edition, numbered prints that you could purchase the same photo not numbered. One example is of Tiger Woods when he won his first Masters Tournament. There were framed copies available for sale, but you could still purchase the photo that was not part of the limited edition.

 

[manaheim]

It's common to sign and serialize photos.. so 1/50, 2/50, etc. A question I've always wondered about is if you don't serialize them, is it still ethical to sell them in ADDITION to the numbered ones? So let's say someone sells all 50 of their series. Can they still sell prints without numbers after the fact? It feels wrong to me, but I can see arguments where it would not be.

As far as showing your commonly liked works- yes, I'd say keep showing them, though do try to slip in other things too, otherwise people could in theory start to think you only have those three pictures.

Manny, not to start a huge debate, but my thought would be as long as people want to buy the print, why not sell them. I realize that the argument is that the less of them makes them more "expensive" but I've never really heard of that extra money going to the artist or photographers pocket. I realize that I may be off-base on this one, but that's my thought.

That's a decision you have to make, and the worthiness of your choice will be judged by the market.

 

[wyogirl]

Lots of times, the Limited Edition Numbered Print is of one size, for example 11x14.
Then, other sizes of the exact same shot are not numbered or limited.

 

[acparsons59 6]

This is all very helpful.

 

[sm4him]

Lots of times, the Limited Edition Numbered Print is of one size, for example 11x14.
Then, other sizes of the exact same shot are not numbered or limited.

I think you're right, though I'm not 100% certain of that.
Also, I think sometimes the limited edition may even just be of a certain TYPE--for instance, 50 metal prints or a limited edition of 100 canvas prints.

 

[wyogirl]

Lots of times, the Limited Edition Numbered Print is of one size, for example 11x14.
Then, other sizes of the exact same shot are not numbered or limited.

I think you're right, though I'm not 100% certain of that.
Also, I think sometimes the limited edition may even just be of a certain TYPE--for instance, 50 metal prints or a limited edition of 100 canvas prints.

You are correct about that.

 

[manaheim]

Btw I sell my prints in frames... 12 by 18... $275-400, depending on the picture.