Do you sell you work?

[Ian Grant]

Back to the OP's question, yes I do sell my work and in a number of ways although I've scaled it back in recent years because of very infrequent darkroom access while living abroad (outside the UK). I do some commercial work (non analog) but plan to resume traditional prints ales when I get a new darkroom setup (it may be temporary).

I sell through workshops, Exhibitions and Galleries, plus a few on-line although that side could be vastly improved. Apart from sales I've also had support & sponsorship from Arts bodies and suppliers and I think that support for production is extremely important - if the work merits it.

Ian

 

[Bob Carnie]

I started exposing negatives with my solarization project about 10 years ago, I started putting my images out there for sale about two years ago, I am selling mainly to people in the Toronto GTA . I have shown here a few times in Gallery settings here in Toronto and that is where my sales are coming from.

I have moved my work to three locations , Calgary, Riverside, Springfield,Louisville, I have not sold anything from those showings, but I feel that one must show the work, and get more and more people looking and liking your work, the sales will follow, but it is hard work and needs an investment of your time, and money, as well marketing the best you can.

I think that once I have shown 25 more times in Locations other than my home town, my sales will increase and be worth the investment.
I am not interested in grants, as a small business owner I do not fit the criterea, but I am willing to put all my effort into creating, printing, framing and moving the work to venues that want to show my work.
I feel strongly about my work, and I think the prints are as good as I can produce , and am willing to wait another 15-30 years to be an overnite sensation.

Other than the flavour of the months , I think it takes 15 -25 years to hit the market properly and those not willing to be patient and or invest in their work really do not stand a chance of selling for large $$$.


I must also add that I am prepared for the worst and be in the position of leaving behind editions of all my work in nice archival boxes, without ever realizing my goals.

 

[Wayne]

Other than the flavour of the months , I think it takes 15 -25 years to hit the market properly and those not willing to be patient and or invest in their work really do not stand a chance of selling for large $$$.

Oh good, I only have 12 years more or so of being patient!

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I've had a couple of good years where I've sold more than a dozen prints, which was nice for me, because it was enough income to sustain the hobby.

But lately the economy has changed a lot, and it's difficult to get people to invest in prints, so that made me stop trying a couple of years ago. But I also stopped because I just didn't have time to pursue opportunities anymore. Working more than full time, I went through divorce, moved twice in a year, and going to school for a degree, all at the same time, means I don't even have time to print. So, in the unlikely event that anybody would like to purchase a print from me, it's sad but true to say I wouldn't even have time to make the print.

Maybe when I'm done with school and things settle down I can spend more time on it. I see a couple of my photography friends having some commercial success, which is really good to see, but only after they work really hard at it, and also spend a lot of money on it. Money is another really rare commodity in the Bertilsson bank account.
It is strange, because I feel that when I print, I am producing the best work I've ever produced, but I have no time, literally, to bring it in front of other people or potential buyers.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

don't hang or advertise in libraries. they are only frequented by people who are to cheap to buy books!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I never sold a rint through the inter net. I do not believe that the internet is a marketing tool; just a way to communicate.In order to sell; you must show your work and sell on the spot.

 

[eddie]

I do not believe that the internet is a marketing tool; just a way to communicate.In order to sell; you must show your work and sell on the spot.

I agree that a website is primarily a communication tool. I've sold a bunch through my site, but only to people who had seen it in person. (At least I can't recall ever selling to someone who hadn't seen it hanging somewhere...) Sometimes it's months later, but the site gave them a way to find me. It also gave them an image to mull over, before purchasing.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I agree that a website is primarily a communication tool. I've sold a bunch through my site, but only to people who had seen it in person. (At least I can't recall ever selling to someone who hadn't seen it hanging somewhere...) Sometimes it's months later, but the site gave them a way to find me. It also gave them an image to mull over, before purchasing.

tha'ts a good point. don't expect anybody to find you on the internet ublessthey knew you already, but once they know you and cannot find you via google you don't seem to exist.

 

[MattKing]

tha'ts a good point. don't expect anybody to find you on the internet ublessthey knew you already, but once they know you and cannot find you via google you don't seem to exist.

On that point Ralph:

Any progress on your wonderful website??

 

[RalphLambrecht]

no, I'm still looking for a new provider.

 

[henbo]

No I don't sell any prints and have no plans to do so.

About 25 years ago I did shoot photos that were sold (not many) to the local newspapers and also took photos at parties that were sold. I still remember that I worked in the darkroom (one that I borrowed from a friend of mine) until the middle of the night to reach the deadline of the newspaper. The photos I delivered both to the newspaper and to the people having the parties didn't mean much to me. In the end it meant that I lost all my passion for and my interest in photography for about 15 years.

About 10 years ago I moved to the other end of the country and didn't know any people in the local area, so I decided to take up photography again as a hobby. I have been asked maybe once or twice every year if I would take photos for weddings etc., but I always politely reject telling that photography for me is a hobby and not something I want to generate income from. The portraits I do, I always do for free (and give the person that I'm portraying a number of free prints) and only if I find the person interesting to portray. Today I enjoy photography much more than I ever did before. It's both a hobby and a passion at the same time and I hope it will be for many years to come.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Waiting and being Patient is not enough Wayne

Working really hard at getting your work out there is important.

Oh good, I only have 12 years more or so of being patient!

 

[Wayne]

Darn. But yeah, I know that. My work was out there, and it will be again soon now that I'm no longer mourning for Ilfochrome.

 

[Alan Klein]

Try to sell your photos on a cruise ship line. Artists do that with paintings. Or at least companies that represent many artists.

Which reminds me of a personal story. My wife and I were sailing on a big cruise ship to Bermuda from NYC. They had a auction aboard for mainly oil artists. So my wife and I review some of the paintings before the auction to flag those we might be interested in. I had never bid at an auction so it was all new to me and I really didn't want to pay a lot anyway.

The auction opens and they show one of the pictures my wife likes that we saw earlier. There are about 40-50 people there. Trouble is the bidding has to start at $1400. I really didn't want bid that much but to keep my wife happy I opened the bid figuring to bow out quickly.

"Do I hear $1600? Do I hear $1500? Do I hear $1450?" said the auctioneer.

Well, no one raised my bid. I was the only bidder!

"Sold for $1400".

and I was stuck buying it. With commissions and other fees, it cost me over $1700.

Well, my wife's happy. It's pretty. It's hanging on our wall. It's the last auction I'll go too.