68degrees
Well-known
Is there any money to be made simply by making and selling 8 x 10 b&w darkroom prints of your own original interesting photos? As art. Like a musician may sell his homemade CDs and so forth.? Is anyone doing this?
Can money be made making and selling 8x10 B&W darkroom prints?
- Thread starter 68degrees
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Pablito
coco frío
Well, yes...
68degrees
Well-known
are you making money doing this? Do you have any suggestions that you could share?
back alley
IMAGES
there are 2 photographers doing just that here in snowbound hell...they sell at the local farmer's market. i know that one just works as a photographer but i have no idea what her overhead is...she might be living with the mother for as much as i know!
68degrees
Well-known
are you one of the two people you refer to?
back alley
IMAGES
not me...i highly doubt that my stuff has much saleability to it.
she travels, does the tourist thing and then sells her work. her sales 'table' is always busy...
she travels, does the tourist thing and then sells her work. her sales 'table' is always busy...
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
It is possible, I have done it for years, although this year has been really bad. For the first time in many years, I sold absolutely nothing during the Christmas season this year. In the past, I was able to support myself any my son from a combination of selling my prints, doing commercial work, and web design. The print sales were half my income. This year, no. The economy is so bad now that the generally well-off people who buy art are not buying. A friend in Santa Fe who made over $100,000 a year as an artist (not photography though) has seen sales drop to almost nothing too.
Getting to the point that we made enough to live took me and the others I know doing it, many, many years of exhibiting and publishing our work before we started selling enough to make a living, or at least a decent supplement to other income. It is simply not going to happen for you fast, even in the best of times. It is very hard work, and most aspiring artists are simply not willing to do it.
Getting to the point that we made enough to live took me and the others I know doing it, many, many years of exhibiting and publishing our work before we started selling enough to make a living, or at least a decent supplement to other income. It is simply not going to happen for you fast, even in the best of times. It is very hard work, and most aspiring artists are simply not willing to do it.
68degrees
Well-known
sounds dreamy.
skibeerr
Well-known
I personally know two guy's in Belgium who tried to make a difference with 8x10 alongside their normal activities as photographers. They both stopped because of lack of interest.
There is one who survives by selling contacts of 8x10 portraits of tourists in a 19th century heritage museum, Bokrijk.
In short, don't loose the day job.
There is one who survives by selling contacts of 8x10 portraits of tourists in a 19th century heritage museum, Bokrijk.
In short, don't loose the day job.
68degrees
Well-known
Ive been to your site. If you arent doing good then there is no hope for me whatsoever. Of course I dont need 100k a year like you are probably used to. Im only looking for 20k to supplement my other streams.
68degrees
Well-known
what day job? hahaha I got rid of that job several years ago now.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Oh I have never made 100k a year. Actually, I have never made enough to even be considered middle class, except for the couple years I lived in Santa Fe and that was mostly from commercial work (I did a LOT of very well-paid commercial work out there). Before I moved to Santa Fe, I actually ended up homeless. After coming back to Indiana, I have come close to ending up there a few times! It has been a terrible struggle. I'd be happy to make 30k a year right now. In Fort Wayne that is actually good money, since most jobs here pay less than $8 an hour. Housing is so cheap here that you can live well on 30k. When I was in high school, my father made 50k a year, and I was one of the 'rich kids', believe it or not!
jsrockit
Moderator
Oh course you can... but there are many factors. Do you want to sell on the streets, on a website, or in a gallery? Do you want to sell for $5 a pop or for thousands? Where do you live and how will people see your work? Is your content what people want to look at? Will you give up after a few weeks because you haven't "made" it?
V-12
Well-known
If you are thinking that 8x10 darkroom prints will be a unique selling proposition it may be for museums, but the vast majority of punters don't care if it is a silver print or an inkjet print. The picture has to be good, and it needs to be presented to industry standards, and it may sell. But expecting a premium specifically because they are darkroom prints (unless a rare technique like platinum printing) is a wild goose chase these days, but by all means use a darkroom if you have one. Don't think like the chap who bought a Leica thinking he could charge more because the picture had been taken with a Leica......
jsrockit
Moderator
Someone honestly thought this?
68degrees
Well-known
Well I was wondering if darkroom prints had any special value or qualities over digitized inkjet prints. Just as there seem to be two groups of photographers who each vehemently insist that digital photos are better than analogue photos and vice versa. I was wondering if there was a customer base who felt the same way.
Plus handmade things have added value to some people over machine made things even when the handmade things arent as perfect. I was wondering if the human element was worth anything anymore and if it could add value to a photograph.
68degrees
Well-known
I never thought of that ... thats very interesting. To you and I that seems ridiculous but there are people who find special meaning in anything. Especailly if they love Leicas or know and revere the name to an unreasonable degree.
However my curiosity was more digital vs analogue preferences among buyers and computer made vs human hand made. I do see your point as it is similar but I dont think its similar enough to by itself dismiss darkroom prints as possibly having an added human value quality if presented the right way.
Well I was wondering if darkroom prints had any special value or qualities over digitized inkjet prints. Just as there seem to be two groups of photographers who each vehemently insist that digital photos are better than analogue photos and vice versa. I was wondering if there was a customer base who felt the same way.
Plus handmade things have added value to some people over machine made things even when the handmade things arent as perfect. I was wondering if the human element was worth anything anymore and if it could add value to a photograph.
jsrockit
Moderator
I think one needs strong ideas and content before worrying if people will want to pay a premium for a certain technique.
bigeye
Well-known
Great member name!
90% of commercial success is creating good artwork. The other 90% of the effort is selling it.
- Charlie
90% of commercial success is creating good artwork. The other 90% of the effort is selling it.
- Charlie
JohnTF
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The art fairs always seem to have someone selling prints at a low price and in volume.
Some buy, if they like the frame. Frames and mats have gotten expensive when custom done, many cheaper others look like what we called the "dime store" frames.
I had a studio while in college, folks came in, admired the work, and left.
The guys on the Charles Bridge in Prague sell prints to tourists.
I have bought and traded some fine prints for my walls and have some vintage prints, but I do not think the market for fine prints is very healthy outside of the rare venues of NY, LA, Toronto, Paris? The appreciation for fine photographs has always been rare-- too much of the "You can always make another print" attitude.
I personally know a few fine print makers who have gained enough of a reputation and body of work to make a living from the art, and I know a few who make a living from the craft, plus some very good photographers who just do great work.
Regards, John
Some buy, if they like the frame. Frames and mats have gotten expensive when custom done, many cheaper others look like what we called the "dime store" frames.
I had a studio while in college, folks came in, admired the work, and left.
The guys on the Charles Bridge in Prague sell prints to tourists.
I have bought and traded some fine prints for my walls and have some vintage prints, but I do not think the market for fine prints is very healthy outside of the rare venues of NY, LA, Toronto, Paris? The appreciation for fine photographs has always been rare-- too much of the "You can always make another print" attitude.
I personally know a few fine print makers who have gained enough of a reputation and body of work to make a living from the art, and I know a few who make a living from the craft, plus some very good photographers who just do great work.
Regards, John
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