Do you buy photographs?

Alan9940

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Hi All:

I have a curiousity that I'd like to explore with this membership concerning the buying of other photographer's work and, perhaps, the selling of your own work.

Recently, in an effort to try and get some interest and traffic in my own newly created website I sent an e-mail to a fairly well known (no names) photo blogger requesting rates to place a small ad on his website, and if he thought this exposure might help stimulate sales of my images. His response struck me as very odd... Basically, he reasoned that since it was mostly photographers who visited his daily blog and who were probably more interested in creating their own work, that he doubted I'd see much activity (i.e. sales) on my site. To be fair, he also stated that he really didn't know and, maybe, I should just run an ad for a month and see. He did provide his rates, btw. Fair enough...

What dumb-founded me was his implication that other photographers aren't interested in buying...well...other photographer's work! Am I missing something? Do I have a serious brain deficiency? I have the work of Ansel Adams, John Sexton, Alan Ross, and other lesser known photographers hanging on the walls of my home. I have some of my own, too. Am I to understand that as a photographer you've never been moved enough by another's work to want to own it?!?

Therefore, I'll circle back around to the subject of this message: Do you buy the work of other photographers? I'm fully aware that in order to be even mildly successful selling your own work that you have to find your target audience--and, maybe, other photographers is not the right audience--but, perhaps a more through understanding of our fellow photographer's psyche will help all of us trying to sell images.

Thank you to all. Please don't beat me up too bad with your responses... :confused:
 

ann

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yes
 

Whatadame

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I absolutely buy photographs. I also buy sculpture, paintings, etc.
 

Ian Grant

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Yes I buy, not so often now but mainly from known photographers. Now I mainly trade prints.

But many if not most of the more discerning photographers I know buy from other photographers.

Ian
 

MurrayMinchin

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Disposable income is a foreign concept for the foreseeable future.

Murray
 

JBrunner

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I buy and trade photographs from and with other photographers. I purchase and trade prints foremost for what I like, and also for examples of work from other photographers I admire. You can learn allot from a really good print from a really good photographer. When it comes to analog, you haven't ever seen anyones work until you see a real print.

Many "gearhead" photographers aren't really into prints. They are more into gear, and tend too view an image on a monitor as the end result. These types are what would be prevalent at the blog site I think you are mentioning.

Print sales are a tough nut. The costumers you are seeking, collectors, photography fans, art buyers, interior designers, etc. aren't so much to be found on photography sites, although any exposure anywhere is good exposure. Cost effectiveness is another matter. You will likely not find an avenue of promotion that pays an equal dividend in an immediate fashion. Promotion in the print niche is a cumulative effort, and generally a hard row to hoe.

It might be cheaper and more effective in the long run to publish and distribute a book. You probably won't make money on that either, but you might start selling some prints.

I know I make it sound hard, and it is, but it is also amazing how little promotion and public relations most photographers seeking to sell prints actually engage in.
 
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Garry Madlung

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While I try to look at as many photographs as possible and admire many many photographers' work, I don't actually collect prints or even put my own prints on the wall. That's right, blank walls. I am strange. At some point I'd like to.

I actually cut photos out of magazines and newspapers and store them in envelopes. Mostly photojournalist stuff. That's even more odd since I'm a landscape guy.
 

rcoda

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Yes. I take a LF class (club) here in Phoenix with Rod Klukas. He said something once to us that struck a nerve with me. "Support your fellow photographers." A few classmates had a group show a few weeks later. I bought a print from each (got a group discount). I have also bought (a long time ago) a Daniel Anderson, a couple of EW/CW Westons, a Cole Weston, a Henry Gilpin...

Recently I have bought two Brett Westons, a Randy Efros (Brett's last assistant), three Hunter Witherills, a Don Kirby, a Jody Forster, a John Wimberley.

I am starting to do trades now for images I really like.

If you have the means, you should support your colleagues. Just my two cents.

Now I am just waiting for all those fellows to return the favor ;^)
 
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clwyd

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I tend to buy books of photo's so i can study the composition of photo's that grab my attension. I would also buy a print that i really liked. Chris
 

Robert Hall

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I buy art. If there is a lovely photograph or a nice piece of stone work, or an oil, I have no problem getting out my check book.

I sell my work as well, and find that very few photographers by my work. This to me is neither here nor there as my work will appeal to those it may.
 

DannL

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I am a very proud owner of two recent acqusitions. One being an original sitting portrait of an unknown lady, created by Henry T. Koshiba (H. T. Koshiba, of Providence) ca. 1900, who was the family photographer to John D. Rockefeller and family for nearly half a century. I believe he had a studio on 5th Ave. and was Vice President for Rhode Island chapter of the New England Photographers Association.

http://books.google.com/books?id=eSMEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA247&dq=h.++Koshiba&as_brr=1

And an original portrait of Dorothy Stanley Emmons, daughter of Chansonetta Stanley Emmons (a well known new england photographer) created by J. E. Purdy (another famous photographer) of Boston Mass. dated 1910.

http://books.google.com/books?id=IJAYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA137&dq=Purdy+photographer&as_brr=1#PPA137,M1

I enjoy original portraiture by the great masters and their studios. It saddens me to no end to acknowledge that the skills to create a truely fine portrait are lost forever. If I could, I would gladly have traded a leg (either) to spend one week with these two masters in the studio.
 
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arigram

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Once I bought a painting from a friend.
It was the first and only I have ever bought, cost me 300 euros and left me completely broke.
Since then I haven't been able to afford any other artwork.
I try to think that by buying film for myself, I am also buying artwork...
 

nze

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I buy, trade and sell photography. In fact, I start by buying photography years ago. It is less easier this days as prices are far higher. But I keep on buying on etsy or ebay or even directly. I love to have other photographer work on my wall.
 

gandolfi

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I have never bought a photograph. I don't have the money fot the ones I like to own)
I have sold some - a few to people with cameras (interestingly enough lately most to digital oriented people) - I have given a lot away.
 

mabman

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I bought a print last fall from a photographer half a world away from me that was mentioned in APUG's Photographers forum - otherwise I probably wouldn't have heard of him. It wasn't expensive as these things go (he's not a household name, either), and the photographer's wife seemed very happy to be doing business with me, so it was a good experience overall.

I also just bought a couple of mounted photos from a guy who had a booth at a local mall/marketplace last weekend - he specialised in local scenes, and was pretty good. A couple of the shots caught my eye - it's funny, but with some of his work I either thought "Wait, I've taken that shot!" or "I know exactly where that is - I could do that myself a little more to my liking!" As it turns out, he said he still used film for most of it, too.

I would love to own an actual print from one of the masters, but that's out of my reach for now - although lately I have been looking at the poster versions of some of them available online - not as expensive, although selection can be a bit bare, and I'm not sure about the printing quality...
 
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Alan9940

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Thank you to all who responded...I'm truly glad to hear that other photographers do buy photographs and other art.

A special thanks to Jason for your thoughtful and considered response. I couldn't have said it better myself. When I first started down the path of trying to reach a level of what I considered "fine art photography" it seemed very obvious to me that I would need to visit galleries displaying the work of fine photographers, and to buy a couple of fine prints (for daily viewing) before I'd have any clue as to what a fine print looked like. I will never forget going to Ansel Adam's "America and the West" show at the Museum of Modern Art back in 1979. Up to that point, I had not seen truly fine photographs. I vividly remember standing in front of a small image of a dead tree clinging to a rock in the middle of the Merced River during spring runoff when I realized that I was drooling! The silvery tones of the water were so refreshing!! I know it sounds a little silly, but it's a fact. It took me many years before I made a print one day (on Ilford Ilfobrom) of a landscape in sunlight where I could actually feel the light in the image! Not all my images reach this level, of course, but it's very gratifying when you get in just right!

Thanks, also, for your comments regarding the selling of prints. Yes, I'm certainly finding it a tough row! Recently, I've made some platinum prints...gonna put 'em up on eBay and see how that goes.

Thanks, again, to everybody. This is a GREAT group!
 
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