Hey everyone,
So some quick background-- I don't *actively* sell my photography. I print for myself and friends, and give away small prints to friends and family, which has in turn lead to the occasional sale-- not anywhere near enough to quit my day job, but enough to fund film and paper here and there. I have thought about marketing myself, but these days, that seems to be frequently online. I spend most of my time during my work day sitting in front of a PC, so I've never really had the desire to keep doing that after work.
Anyways, I abandoned digital a while back for that reason, and was often approached by skeptical and/or curious onlookers about my cameras and film usage. That has increased tenfold since dragging around MF gear, and I suspect will increase again when people start seeing me with my old 4x5. It also seems like I frequently get asked if I am a professional, and/or where they can see my results. I do spend a lot of time backpacking and hiking to my locations, sometimes very remote, sometimes not. Previously my answer has been along the lines of "I don't scan and display digitally, as my B&W work loses something when comparing to the actual prints". I also can't really point them anywhere to see my work.
Anyways, I don't know if any of these types would actually buy prints from me or become customers, but a lot of the time I feel like I may be missing out.
I can't really carry a portfolio of large prints around with me everywhere. I've been thinking of ways to display smaller prints that can stay with me in my pack or camera bag for these situations. Maybe I'll sell some more prints this way, and in the least it'll get them to stop asking a bunch of questions while I'm in the middle of things, lol.
So, does anyone carry something like a 5x7 portfolio around? Also, if so, does anyone have any recommendations for displaying at the smaller sizes that won't look cheap like the flip photo books in the days of minilab C-41?
Compact and professional is what I'm after, if such a thing exists.
So some quick background-- I don't *actively* sell my photography. I print for myself and friends, and give away small prints to friends and family, which has in turn lead to the occasional sale-- not anywhere near enough to quit my day job, but enough to fund film and paper here and there. I have thought about marketing myself, but these days, that seems to be frequently online. I spend most of my time during my work day sitting in front of a PC, so I've never really had the desire to keep doing that after work.
Anyways, I abandoned digital a while back for that reason, and was often approached by skeptical and/or curious onlookers about my cameras and film usage. That has increased tenfold since dragging around MF gear, and I suspect will increase again when people start seeing me with my old 4x5. It also seems like I frequently get asked if I am a professional, and/or where they can see my results. I do spend a lot of time backpacking and hiking to my locations, sometimes very remote, sometimes not. Previously my answer has been along the lines of "I don't scan and display digitally, as my B&W work loses something when comparing to the actual prints". I also can't really point them anywhere to see my work.
Anyways, I don't know if any of these types would actually buy prints from me or become customers, but a lot of the time I feel like I may be missing out.
I can't really carry a portfolio of large prints around with me everywhere. I've been thinking of ways to display smaller prints that can stay with me in my pack or camera bag for these situations. Maybe I'll sell some more prints this way, and in the least it'll get them to stop asking a bunch of questions while I'm in the middle of things, lol.
So, does anyone carry something like a 5x7 portfolio around? Also, if so, does anyone have any recommendations for displaying at the smaller sizes that won't look cheap like the flip photo books in the days of minilab C-41?
Compact and professional is what I'm after, if such a thing exists.