Selling photos in other peoples stores.

[Aaron04]

I am looking to make some side money with my photography, just to hopefully pay for more film and gear over time.

Not looking to get rich or make a ton of money. So with that said, I looked into a few small businesses that are near me and they had no problems with me hosting the photo's in the shops as long as they weren't inappropriate. I offered 5% of the sales price to them for the trouble of holding them.

Has anyone actually had success with this? IE: actually selling your works and getting some recognition?

I had an idea revolving a one print/ one negative for my film images. Literally framing the negative with the print, for some sort of exclusivity and artsy feel. I think with the area's I'm targeting, it would be quite successful.

As for the best size, probably 8x10? Or, larger/smaller? This is where I'm unsure.

With pricing, if the negative is included, I feel as if the price needs to be a little higher than usual. I would like the prints to be sold maybe 10% above cost? Still unsure on that.

But what about the prints with the negative? Would $100-$200 be reasonable. Hand signed 1 of 1 along with some information about the shot, to include camera, settings, location, etc.

So for the TL😀R
1. Is selling your photography in businesses/restaurants a good idea?
2. What sizes of prints should I focus on?
3. What should I charge for prints/negatives

Lastly, is there any danger to selling the actual negative? Like someone picks it up and decides to make it their own? Seal it in a slide and sign it?

 

[back alley]

never sell the neg!

 

[Aaron04]

never sell the neg!

Thank you for replying!
What is the main reasoning behind this?

I would like this to have some exclusivity to it, when you drop 200-300 on a photograph, wouldn't you like to know that you actually own it? Most people buying will be to hang in their house, not to tear open and try to reproduce. I understand there is some risk in that, maybe the sale will need to have some form of contract with it.

Put it this way, they sell postcards of the Mona Lisa for a dollar.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

What Joe said: NEVER, ever, ever, EVER sell your negative. First off, negs have ZERO value to collectors. Even negs of very famous photographs actually have next to no value to art collectors. The print is what they want and will pay for, so keep the neg. Giving it away just pisses away your ability to make money from future sales of that photo.

As for selling your work in shops, go ahead and try it. I would not hold my breath waiting for a sale; people who will spend money on photos will not usually buy something made by amateurs; they want to see evidence of deep, long term professional commitment. The economy is in such a state now that even established professionals are having a very hard time selling anything.

If you can afford to spend the money to mat and frame photos for sale with no expectation of ever getting that money back, then go ahead and try; if you can't afford it, keep your money and spend it on your family. That's a better investment.

 

[Particular]

But they don't sell the Mona Lisa for a dollar...

If the picture is any good, you will want to print it more than once. If it isn't, why would someone want to buy it at all? With or without the negative.
I once sold an original slide film in a light box. It faded. Client was not happy. I was not happy. I won't do it again.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Thank you for replying!
What is the main reasoning behind this?

I would like this to have some exclusivity to it, when you drop 200-300 on a photograph, wouldn't you like to know that you actually own it? Most people buying will be to hang in their house, not to tear open and try to reproduce. I understand there is some risk in that, maybe the sale will need to have some form of contract with it.

Put it this way, they sell postcards of the Mona Lisa for a dollar.

$200-$300 is really not much money to sell a photo for. The 'exclusivity' you're talking about is alien to the technical reality and cultural expectations of the photographic medium.

As I said in my first post, negatives are not collected and have no value to anyone but you: they allow you to make money long term off the photo. I would not part with one of mine for any amount of money. I've been selling my work for 20 years; some of my best sellers have brought in very large amounts of money over the years.

 

[Aaron04]

Good advise, thank you. Now that I think about it more, it would be more of a headache and risk than it is worth.

As for print sizes, I'm assuming start small? 5x7's 8x10's with white or black borders, signed with print series?

 

[back alley]

have your images made into postcards or note cards…you will sell more of them than prints alone and you can use them as advertising by sending them out to friends & family.

 

[daveleo]

When you say "local small businesses" .... are these arts&craft outlets? serious art galeries? or restaurants and real estate offices?

I don't know anyone who ever dropped $200 on a picture hanging in a restaurant. I'm sure that it happens, but not often, I'd wager.


EDIT: my experience is that people are comfortable buying 8X10's matted to 11X14.
When it gets larger than that, it needs a big commitment of wall space in their homes.

 

[Aaron04]

Interesting idea on the postcards, I will look into that.

As for the businesses, none are really art galleries, a few upscale bars, antique stores, locally owned coffee places.

I think targeting the audience is key to any of these places. Antique shop would be a great place I think to hang pictures from Europe and Japan, in the coffee places, some street photography and architecture photos.

If they sit for a while, rotate some of them around, worst case, I have some nice prints to hang around my house 🙂

As for the prints, 8x10 with a simple thin metal frame, I'd probably be between $50-75 total cost. $150-200 should be right in there for pricing I think.