Do you "sell out" ?

[Field]

Do you like to take landscape photos to sell somewhere because, well, they sell? They may also include buildings etc. The point being people want to put them in their home.

I am unaware of how big the market is, but I can tell you it is all I see.

Never it town do I see B&W except in galleries. The flea markets always have color photos. They are not terrible expensive but are prints.

Do you do this?

 

[Field]

I am attracted to the idea of someone enjoying photos I make. I think that plays a factor.

 

[Field]

I understand, that is why I said, "sell out" because I do not think of it that way entirely but... when you make a LOT of prints it starts to be like, how long can you ride on just a few photos?

 

[Steve M.]

Well, I like that word "sell". Good word. Usually means I'll get some money? I'm all for that!

I just make images. If someone wants to hang it over their couch, or throw it in the trash, it's all the same to me. Just gimme that green stuff. I make images for me, not others. Making it for others, that's called commercial art. Nothing wrong w/ that, but it is what it is.

 

[wafflecakee]

If I could I would in a heartbeat.

 

[ampguy]

I have some photos up in a gallery right now, of landscapes color, and as curator of the gallery, I'm next going to put in b/w landscapes.

The landscapes I have, are of a place I've only been through 2 or 3 times in my life and were amazing to me and our family.

Ironically, some of the gallery patrons have lived in the area, knew the locations, highway names, etc.

I got one sale after a discussion that went like this:

viewer: I know exactly where this is, and it reminds me of when I was a kid and used to work out in the fields with the plows and all.

me: Wow, so this is like where you grew up?

viewer: yup, exactly.

me: Well, you should have some nice photos of it to show your grandkids, or they aren't going to believe your descriptions

viewer: hey, you're right. Let me buy this one here.

Ka Ching!

Another tip - don't replace all your old photos with new ones immediately, if you stage the cutover, the old ones sell, as viewers realize they might not get another chance at those old ones.

I'm wondering if I ban my own photos, if they'll get a surge in sales ...

 

[redisburning]

If I could get away with it I would do it.

Two things stop me:

1. no one seems the slightest bit interested in buying any of my photos at all (and **** I'd sell a 8x10 and the negative for 100 dollars, and I'd sign it in blood).
2. I don't like landscape photography so my photos of landscapes are extra terribad.

I have taken a good number of photos of my dog and cats lately though. Maybe someone will buy those (LOL!)

 

[Lilserenity]

No, never intentionally.

If I have sold out somewhere down the line, I haven't realised, and it's best I never know 🙂

i just take pictures, I have ways I want to improve and up my game but I'm not one for thinking oh I need some cash, I'll do a calendar on kittens.

 

[delft]

If someone were to pay mo to go to a beautiful landscape, take a few pictures and give them a nice print, I'd be tempted to accept.

Dirk

 

[FalseDigital]

I've never sold cliche landscape prints before but I have taken some quite boring shots for corporate companies. They may be the least interesting but 1 job paid almost 5 months of my rent!

 

[rogerzilla]

If you want to see what sells, google Anne Geddes. Your eyes and brain will melt, I warn you.

 

[rxmd]

I can't feed myself and my son on the crumbs galleries throw to artists. [...] If dealers made a greater effort to sell the work of those artists they represent, it might be different, but my experience is that most gallery owners are people who begin with a lot of money and think owning a gallery would be cool [...] at the same time I see a lot of young artists being strung along by galleries that make very little effort to actually earn that fat commission while the artist literally goes without things he/she needs to live

Galleries sure seem to suck in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

My experience is from Berlin, where purchasing power is bad while there are lots of artists and lots of galleries with fierce competition, and the life of a gallery owner is not fun, the successful galerists in the long run (apart from those who luck out) are those who manage to keep a good working relationship with their artists over time to accompany them while the artists build their reputation and success. That sort of thing doesn't work when you rip them off. It's not an easy market, but not as drab and one-sided as you describe.

 

[jsrockit]

My first wife (bless her) is totally mystified by the type of photographs I produce and will often make inane suggestions as to what she thinks I should be taking photographs of.

She's one of those people who loves sickly landscapes and warm fuzzy pictures of puppies and kittens ... what was I thinking?

You cannot blame people who don't photograph for this... it's just a preconceived notion of what they think photography is. Think of something you don't know much about and you'll have preconceived notions of what that thing is as well.

 

[shadowfox]

Maybe the question should be worded: Have you ever taken pictures that you know will sell, but not necessarily what you like to shoot, just for the sake of $ ?

I *like* quiet but deep, contemplative landscape shots 🙂

So far the few people who buy my photos (prints and books, rather), bought the ones that I truly like also, but then again, I'm not a professional like Chris.

 

[FrankS]

If galleries don't make an effort to sell art, they sell less art, and make less profit. Doesn't sound likeca good business plan to me. Perhaps Chris' perception is a bit incorrect as far as galleries go. I have to confess that I have no direct experience with this, and am trying to understand using logic.

 

[emraphoto]

Never. Compromise that is... Bit of a character defect.

I truly believ it is why I have gotten to where I am today. Wherever that is?

 

[dct]

If you want to see what sells, google Anne Geddes. Your eyes and brain will melt, I warn you.

😱 Now I see why I never will sell something, if this is the art going well over the counter. Pure unadulterated kitsch. OMG...

Maybe the question should be worded: Have you ever taken pictures that you know will sell, but not necessarily what you like to shoot, just for the sake of $ ?
...

That's my problem: I make only pictures which I like. 🙁

 

[Nikon Bob]

If you are a pro photographer intent on making a living from photography you must know what sells and supply what the customers want. If it just happens to coincide with what you like then you are laughing. Nobody produces a product that none wants and stays in business for long. If you shoot only for your own satisfaction you can do what you want. That is unless you want others to enjoy your work more widely then you are back to tailoring your output to what those people appreciate most. I don't know if selling out is the right term but it does take a certain amount of compromising in either case.

Bob

 

[d_ross]

In defense of dealers and galleries

In defense of dealers and galleries

I have many friends who own galleries, or are art dealers. none of them would fit the description Chris gives of art dealers. Along with the dealers I have relationships with that represent me, they are all passionate art lovers with a desire to both promote the arts in general and the artists they represent! In my experience they all work hard to sell for their artists! it is as frank says a two way street.

An important thing to consider if looking for a gallery-dealer, is to look for one that while they sell your genre of art that they don't already have stable full of artists doing what you do already. For starters your not likely to get into the gallery and if you do, well you are going to have an already established competitor for that galleries clientele. It's also a good idea to look for a gallery who's perception of art includes what you do.

I would also add that in my experience whilst most artists make art for themselves they also make art for other people at the same time, there is little point, other than self gratification, and there's nothing wrong with that, in making work just for ones self. All the artists I know make a statement about something in their work, whether that be society or the environment politics etc, and the dealers and galleries I know look for this, not just, but also not excluding, beautifully crafted pictures.

 

[Pherdinand]

i find those boring on the wall. They are usually too neutral. They are OK for short term rental of houses 😀 like a few months.
If i hang stg on the wall, i need to have some tie with it. If it happens that it's the Iguazu Falls where i have kissed a gir the first time in my life, and i find a nice Iguazu Falls photo framed, i might go for it. But if i've never been there and never had anything to do with it, then why?