BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

How Do You Sell Your Photos?

To love this question, log in above
August 03, 2002

As you are an "Art major" I presume you are pursuing creating and selling fine art prints. Most of the fine art galleries I have been to sell artist's work by having "shows." This is not something you can simply walk into, but must have a strong portfolio of work to show the gallery owner or director. The gallery must be amenable to photography if it doesn't specialize in it. If accepted, a show is scheduled, often months, or even a year later. It also requires knowing how to make gallery prints including matting, framing and glazing. Everything is archival and must be able to withstand decades of display without degradation (B/W fiber prints, color Ilfochrome prints, etc.). Print presentation (framing) is considerably different from what most people use in their homes. Frame materials are very plain and unobtrusive. Nothing fancy or bold that competes with the artwork. Matting is also unobtrusive, but is also wide (about 4 inches). One of the methods to get started and gain some experience is by entering local juried photography shows, usually sponsored by local and regional fine art associations. Note that their rules for presentation of submissions can easily be different from what's expected for fine art galleries. Building up a set of awards from juried shows recognized for excellence helps build a "resume."

Start attending gallery show openings, particularly those with photography. The primary purpose is getting to know who's who, and becoming a recognizable face and name. Also look at how the work is presented (framing). Each artist has a slightly different style, but you should also see a common thread too.

One of the other methods is seeking out a local art "co-op" owned and operated by artists themselves. All I've encountered have a committee that juries an artist's portfolio of "ready to hang" work and will reject the artist if it's not to their standards as "art" or for presentation. Many require that all the artists work there part-time.

You can also make and market postcards. This market is more for "stock photographs" of known landmarks, and scenic recreation/tourist areas. It requires a file of stock photographs from which to make the cards. This can be a tough market as it requires convincing shop owners to either buy your cards outright or carry them on consignment, and you must control printing costs to keep your pricing competitive. Shop mark-up is typically 100% of what you sell them to a shop owner for. In poplular tourist areas, there are usually well-known photographers who have had the market for them all but tied up for some time, and you have to work past that also. If they don't sell, they occupy a shop owner's space that could be used for something that does sell.

Another avenue is "stock agencies" and you must have a stock file of things they're looking for. Typical customers of stock agencies are corporations looking for photographs to use in advertising, catalogs, calendars or for things like annual reports. The photographer gets a royalty each time the photograph is used. The key to success with stock agencies is having the kinds of photographs the agencies are looking for and what's "hot" with their customers. This changes over time.

A little long. If I've missed the boat on what you were looking for, post a little more about what you're trying to sell and the kind of market you're trying to break into. Others may have some additional ideas for you as well.

Home darkroom:
Try a very large camera store; one that caters to professionals. They typically have an area for darkroom equipment. Just go and ask questions, lots of questions, then do some research.

-- John
P.S. Wish I could help you more with home darkroom gear information, but can't. Nearly all my work is now E-6, Kodachrome, Scala 200X, and Ilfochrome prints of the transparencies. Most of this has processes that cannot be done in a home darkroom.

To love this comment, log in above
August 04, 2002