 Derek Holyhead |
Selling limited Edition Prints Hi All, I have a couple of questions regarding the selling of limited edition prints, what is a good limit I thought 40 - 50. Second question: Does anyone know where I can get a certificate of authenticity? Thanks, Del
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ariel Lepor |
Why not make the limit 100,000? ;) Seriously, 100 should be an okay limit, 50 might be more reasonable or closer to what people think you mean. I've never heard of a certificate of authenticity regarding proof of the limited edition. Maybe I'm out of the loop, but I thought people just take your word for it.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Todd Bennett |
Derek, I would think you could create one in Microsoft Word. There is probably a template on their Web site for them. Then all you would have to do is keep track of how many were sold, who to, and what number they had. You simply change the number on the certificate each time you print one. Be sure to number the back of the print.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Todd Bennett |
Derek, If you have Word, take a look at this. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC061786971033.phpx?pid=CT101043001033 You could change this around a little and have a nice one.
|
|
|
|
||
|
John Rhodes |
Derek, Unless you are a famous photographer with a wide following, all your (and my) images are going to be self-limiting editions. I expect most photographers who show in several galleries and festival events each year will look back and find they likely didn't sell many of any one image. If I can sell 25, I count myself fortunate. I do not limit all my prints, just those "special" ones that, in my estimation, deserve to be limited editions. I limit by size; that is, 16" x 24" is limited to 25. I offer these same prints in a smaller size range (8 x 12 thru 12 x 16)in a 25 print limit. I may sell small prints of these same images, 4x6 to 8x10, as an open edition. I let customers know about the different editions. Now, as to a Certificate of Authenticity, I find them not worth the paper they're written on. My word should be enough - if not, then my written word would be just as worthless. Some day, if I achieve fame. I may increase my limited edition prints to 30 or so. John
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jagadeesh Andrew Owens |
Derek - John is right. I have sold limited editions and the most I've ever sold is 1! That's self-imposed so I can charge an exorbitant amount for the print. These are usually photos that I have done on assignment for the paper I shoot for, but the party or person I'm shooting would like to have a copy and tells me (and I also have rights to those photos as I get a model release even for "newsworthy" events and people). So, I tell them I will print him/her one and tell them the price and that it will be the only one in existence besides one that I may print for myself. This can really work or fall flat on its face - my last print I sold was a 6x9 and I sold it for $410. I can't help you on a certificate of authenticity but as long as you were to sign the back of the photo and numbered it you should be fine. I think that the only reason a certificate of authentication would be important was if you turned out to be the next Herb Ritts or Ansel Adams (yes - in that order) and people were trying to establish provenance a hundred years from now.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Derek Holyhead |
Hi All, The reason I asked was that while at Melbourne Arts Festival all the other photographers had a COA included so I thought that it was a good idea to go with the flow.
|
|
|
|
||
|
James Kirk |
Derek, I find the idea of limited editions in photography a little restricting. Besides the fact that actually selling that many of a single image, you would have to store them and blah blah blah... But... It is all about your market. If your market calls for it, do it. That said limited editions really are a thing of the past in my humble opinion. You would make limited edition prints of paintings, or fine art “chemistry” based photographs because of the time and cost to do an initial set up and then the run so you might as well print 100, 500, 1000 while you were at it. In this day and age, we scan, or start from a digital image, we retain that file and reprint an exact duplicate when needed. My two cents worth.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||