Chris Hunter
(K=25634) - Comment Date 1/14/2005
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"So then, what categories of photographs are preferred most by the general public to hang in their house?"
As simple as it sounds - "Pretty Pictures"
Art lovers will, I believe, always have a unique taste, but for the average person... a pretty picture is all they want. And if it's taken somewhere local that they and their guests will recognize...all the better.
"And how does one go about finding potential buyers on the internet and otherwise?"
Start local...and then worry about the internet later. Libaries, galleries, schools, etc. are great places to offer free exhibitions and meet locals who may be interested in purchasing a print. Get your name out there...contact local newspapers and magazines and offer to submit work for free (w/ a photo credit of course).
The biggest problem will probably be coming up w/ the money for prints, mattes, and frames when there is no guarantee on getting a return on it.
Chris
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sean slavin
(K=3488) - Comment Date 1/14/2005
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what i've found is that most people don't buy prints off the internet. it's a nice place to view them and get an idea of the type of art you sell but people want to be able to stand in front of it. you get a better sense of it that way. most people also have no concept of sizing. they don't realize how big a 20x30 print really is when it's framed.
as chris said, start local. check into local art fairs or markets. see who's selling and what they are selling and what people are buying. the average person prefers color (and lots of it) to black & white. some like images of their local area. others prefer exotic places that they know they'll never get a chance to see in person. i sell a mix of both.
when you do sell, make it professional. no pre-cut mattes or frames from aaron brothers. use a pro framer. the quality difference is quite noticeable especially if you've had a professional quality print done.
most importantly do not undersell yourself. most people do not grasp the amount of time it takes to produce a fine art quality print. you need to get compensated for your time as well as the cost of making the print.
best of luck.
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Richard Dakin
(K=12915) - Comment Date 1/15/2005
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I think there is a need for you to do a bit of research locally. I have had good success selling moody B+W landscapes which are neither pretty, nor colourful. To further cloud the issue I'll agree that you should not undervalue your work, but also be careful not to overprice it. Sales often lead to more sales, and a smaller profit margin may help to sustain you until you create more of a demand for your work. I am assuming you are just starting out.
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Scott McFadden
(K=5663) - Comment Date 1/18/2005
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Often the greatest photos of anything is from where it comes from the heart.
So perhaps look within and find out what sort of stuff you want to do.
Once found its easier to find a market for that then waste lots of time chasing something that may not entirely satisfy your needs as a photographer.
if like me you really just need more money to justify a little extra gear then find a nieche.
what I mean here is find something your especially good at outside of photography and then think of ways you could use your camera to make a profit from this.
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Richard Dakin
(K=12915) - Comment Date 1/18/2005
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I agree with Scott ..... shoot what you love, and then find or create a market for your work.
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Chuck Freeman
(K=13616) - Comment Date 1/25/2005
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There is a saying around these parts that goes like this, " Everybody like them but no one likeS to buy them. And I am talking about really great photos. The above comment is EVERYONE LIKES PRETTY PHOTOS IN THEIR HOUSES. Many years ago I was in a middle class home, and I noticed a painting hanging on the wall. I looked closely and determined that it was by a well known painter from Greenville, South Carolina. The lady of the house apologized for the greazy appearnace (20 years of cooking in room next door to where this painting hung.) She was stunned to know that it could be valuable as $10,000 if cleaned. The wife was excited but the father was unimpressed for it was a pretty painting they had "won" earlier in a church raffle many years ago (before the artist struck it big.) IN SOME CASES IGNORANCE IS BLISS
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Girish Menon
(K=1384) - Comment Date 1/26/2005
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that's a nice story, Chuck Freeman
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Chuck Freeman
(K=13616) - Comment Date 1/28/2005
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Be careful, some of these traveling photo , rare photo salesmen-are really knowledgeable. But sometimes they get to know photographer well and sell their "rejects." I know this for a fact.
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Pico diGoliardi
(K=540) - Comment Date 1/29/2005
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For what it is worth (FWIW?), I made a decison a few years ago to tell my most recent print with the original negative. Does that help?
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Pico diGoliardi
(K=540) - Comment Date 1/29/2005
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Of course I meant "sell my most recent". Apologies for the poor English.
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