Thanks for the responses folks. There is certainly some food for thought and I have to admit, I am feeling a bit more enthused about this. Would I sell what I have sitting in the wardrobe? No, no I wouldn't. I suppose I just need to give myself time to print some stock, which is going to be the hardest part (time that is).
One exhibitor I know here in the US always has at least one image that he will sell for a twenty-dollar bill. He says he gets a good many impulse buys, and some of these buyers later get in touch for more expensive prints.
Very good idea. I was thinking of having a whole bunch of 5x7's or 5x5's as "postcards", unmounted, untouched on RC paper. $5 or $10 a pop. At least that might pay for the site rent for the day and get some stuff sold.
I've done about 200 art festivals over the last 20+ years. I don't know what they have in Australia, but I can tell you what I've learned in the US. If they have flea/farmers markets where you can get a space for 20-30 dollars, I'd start there. Here, art festivals can be 500 dollars for a weekend- expensive to learn at that kind of cash. Use standard frame sizes, and display a few framed pieces. The majority of sales will be matted (for me about 75-80 percent) but, if you keep them standard, framing them won't cost the client a lot. I don't ever offer unmatted prints, except for special orders post festival. Have a nice write-up, about yourself and technique, to hand out (I put them in the back of the bagged, matted prints). Buyers want a connection with the artist. It's important that they like you- be personable, presentable, and express your passion for what you do. No one will buy from someone they don't like regardless of how much they may like the work.
I only sell fiber, darkroom produced prints. Over the last few years, I've found buyers drawn to traditional technique, tired of seeing overly produced digital work on canvas, etc. They're even willing to pay more for an individually produced photograph.
As for pricing, I started out selling 5x7s matted to 8x10 for $25. My highest price was a 16x20 matted to 20x24 for $225. Bear in mind that was over 20 years ago. Today, my smallest is an 8x10 matted to 11x14 for $60. My top is a 20x24 matted to 26x30 for $775.
I think you'd do well at a car festival, especially with your detail images. If the cost of entry isn't too steep (bearing in mind your costs for matting/framing/etc.), I think you should give it a whirl. There's nothing like the feeling of selling a few dozen photos in a weekend. Good luck, and let us know what you decide.
Yeah, car shows and Rock'n'roll type events is what I was thinking. Rent shouldn't be overly bad and its a captive audience into what I predominantly shoot. My biggest fear is the old "hey, why are you selling photos of my car?" types (I have seen them before online), but that could easily turn into "Cool, that is a photo of my car!". I know pricing is going to be a bit different in Australia, but I would be probably a bit less as a "beginner".
All of my production prints were freighted to several places in Western Australia, another in Queensland, three in Tasmania and more still to Singapore and Hong Kong (contacts established in the early 1990s).
With some very specific exceptions (personal delivery), all prints were matted only, never framed, as framed prints present a risk of damage in freight and insurance is picky about this.
At the very minimum you should show you are serious about the quality of your work, and that includes presentation. Print, mat (either loose or sealed to prevent tampering with the print) and enclosed in wrap (unwrapped matted prints get very dirty and tatty from repeated handling, especially at markets etc.)
I have stuck to the 12x16" size for many years, and occasionally blow the printer's margins by enlarging to 80cm across. This presents challenges carting the stuff around, even in a wagon! Print what you are comfortable with, and can afford. The overall presentation of the product is more important than its size.
Get a couple of prints block mounted and also dibonded, additional to matted prints.Offer these options for various mounts at additional cost.
All of my prints are warm-white Regal 9-ply rag matt with Burke black molding. Prints are labelled verso.
Pricing — yes, really subjective! Start conservatively (e.g. at cost, and a little bit more), especially if going to a market. I have never seen anybody spend more than $200 at a bric-a-brac weekend market, but there can be exceptions if you set up a swank, eye catching rig that speaks of quality. Get a marquee and set this out with trestles inside to hang prints. For a 12x16" matted print, I started at cost-price + 20% and this worked very well. More recent prints have been priced at (and sold for) $1,470 (Lake Bonney/South Australia), sold by word-of-mouth and invoice book. Galleries are terrible here in Australia and have been accused of sending artists to the wall. I held one exhibition only and it almost bankrupted me as the people were added to the list by the gallery, not me, and it was me who had to pick up the tab for drinks and nibbles (several $1,000). And only two prints were sold.
It does not matter whether your prints are produced in a darkroom or by digital or whatever other means.
Thanks for the insite. Considering that you are local (enough) its good to read what you have been through (& I have known your name for long enough, I do respect your experience). I am definitely going to start out printing in the darkroom, mainly to prove to myself that I can do it and produce a sell-able product. Fibre vs RC is an interesting decision. I am still thinking of heading down the Fibre path, for aesthetics and also ease of retouching, but am also mindful of the cost. As you have already suggested, unless people know and understand the difference, they really wouldn't care too much what the images are printed on.
Its Also curious to see your sizing and pricing. I know a few people around Adelaide who have done or been involved in exhibitions. Usually the talk goes along the lines of "don't undersell your prints". While I appreciate that, very often I see exhibitions that don't make any sales, which in reality makes it a total waste of time and when they do, they sell it to their art friends. I think it becomes a bit of a circle jerk after a while (sorry for being crude - I keep on meeting the same people doing similar stuff time and time again and every time I still have to introduce myself.....).
Now, in general, its time to pull my finger out! I am the first to admit that I am a procrastinator and spend more time and effort planning than executing.
Reading these responses has slightly changed my tact, especially in regards to sizing, which is cool! I also don't have to narrow down this project to 10 to 20 key images (I.E., if I was doing an exhibition). I can just print what ever tickles me at the time and simple put them into "Stock".
Cheers and any further feedback would be welcome!
