Selling prints

[n-hatton]

Tazzers and Flake.


Just came across your old posts on the early days of starting out selling prints. I'm considering the same after being impressed with finally printing, mounting and framing a small number of my better images to finish off a redecorated room - want to do all my rooms the same now s other prints can see the light of day! ;-) IMHO thought they looked at least as good as some of those seen at smaller stalls @ craft shows, or prints in places such as Cargo etc.

I think the comment that "joe-public" has a differnet taste and critique to images than from other photographers - via photo web sites such as this - is possibly true and interesting. Have you identified any popular images\subjects that are more succesful? Ones I had in mind and worked well when I mounted them were duo-tones of lanscapes and flowers as well as some abstracts.

Have any of you tried a stall at a craft show etc? If so, what's the basic cost?

Did you get any decent succes at car boot sales; sure one of you mentioned these? I normally attend one twice a year to "flog" unwanted stuff from the house after big tidy-ups. Was wondering whether to take a few prints next time.

What size prints and mounts are popular?


Regards,
Neil

[mousemat]

Theres some great advice here, thanks

I've always fancied selling prints but like others have said, its a confidence thing. Plus of course getting the presentation right etc.

I think this will be one of my plans for the new year, to get out and take some photos for for selling as prints.

[n-hatton]

Originally Posted by mousemat

I've always fancied selling prints but like others have said, its a confidence thing. Plus of course getting the presentation right etc.

Mousemat.


I'm at the same stage as you and know what you mean about having the confidence to try and start selling.

Can recommend the following as an exercise, after doing it myself;

1. Check out prints and art work in some of the bigger popular shopping chains; see how your images compare and what subjects are mostly stocked.

2. Buy a decent picture frame in the sales; my matching ones "end of line" from Cargo in Xmas sale - £10 each 10" x 8". Get a pre-cut mounting card (Heelas\John Lewis appx £2 each). Then have a go printing some of your images and place in the mount and frame to see what a finished article might look like.

When I finally did no.2, after all these years of only looking at my images on screen, I was suddenly impressed! Was then that I felt they were at least as good as some of the high-street prints and must surely be worth trying to sell!?

For presentation, I think I got really lucky with my 1st attempt which may have added to my impression? Frames, nice chocolate brown, large moulding, basic white card mount - chosen as always intended converting images to "brownish" duo-tone (pantone 125) so all matched with new living room decor. The result is brilliant and I want to now print and mount loads more!!!

I note forum advice to only "mount" prints for selling - don't frame, people have widely differing tastes. So only need to worry about a couple of different frames for yourself to experiment with and maybe as examples to customers?

Will take what seems like good advice; starting small by approaching local card shops and cafes, as well on the side with normal car booting to start.


Good luck if you do decide to give it a go.



Cheers,
Neil

[mousemat]

Hi Neil

Thanks for the response.

Like you, I only used to have images on the PC screen. I have printed, mounted and framed a few already and yes, they look fantastic (IMO). Makes a huge differance seeing them printed and framed.

Frames I can get wholesale from a local supplier to me that is very reasonably priced. For mounts I have found a few online retailers selling them fairly cheaply.

I have a roungh idea of the type of images I want to produce, all to the same style if I can. Duotone etc like yourself. I like the idea of producing a 'set' of images in a particular style and so on.

Next step woulkd be to approach places to sell them.

Ian

[n-hatton]

Ian.


Sorry, didn't realise you've already printed and framed etc.

Yes, found a few Internet suppliers for cheap mounts and stuff - now I've done an initial couple for myself - will order ready for selling-on.

Good luck.


Cheers,
Neil

[mousemat]

Ive only printed and framed some up for family etc.

You could try these from frames. Very reasonable and they sell them to many retailers. You need to register on the site for prices but you don't need to be a retailer to buy them at the discount prices.http://www.hhj-trading.co.uk/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Do you print your own or use a lab? I tried both, printing myself on a canon IP3600 and having a couple printed by Loxleys.

Ian

[n-hatton]

Originally Posted by mousemat

You could try these for frames. http://www.hhj-trading.co.uk/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Do you print your own or use a lab?

Ian

Ian,

Thanks for the url. Will pay them a visit. Must get this started :-)

For printing; only have a little old HP Photosmart 7350 - A4 max - given to me a few years ago. This is where I think I got lucky, the duo tones I've just done weren't possibly very demanding? On A4 they were certainly pin-sharp and resolution brilliant @240dpi! As I come to print colour may have to play with settings for best results - can't find any ICC profiles - or use a lab. Obviously will have to "lab" if attemtping anything bigger than my apparent max of 20cm x 25cm.

Noticed superb reviews for photo-intended Canon and Epson printers at lower-end of £150. Might have to consider if this takes off.


Cheers,
Neil

[mousemat]

Both Canon and Epson do some great printers, should be something there to meet your needs.

I popped into the local gallery yesterday to see howthey are presented. Very much the same as we are talking here. So I'll be starting to do some mounted pctures for sure.

[Dunkeld]

I bought a decent printer a few years ago to try exactly as you are about to do. Whilst the printer was the bees knees with reproduction, I found it very uneconomical because of the amount of ink it used. Once again, I'm thinking of trying to flog prints because if anything I have better quality as well as thousands of images to pick from. However, I live in China, the pirate capital of the world and have already turned down exhibitions here because of what appeared to be dodgy offers. Copywrite would be at best a bit "iffy" here, even at any printers I chose to reproduce my images.
Possibly online sales might work for me best, however I'm still left with the question, "who can I trust"? Having gone down the printer route once before, I'm loathe to buy another. The cost of replacement ink cartridges is just too prohibitive. Possibly laser?

[mousemat]

Dunkeld

I can see what you mean about the cost of printing them yourself. The cost of ink as we all know is fairly cheap, but to print images for sale on a large basis is far from economical.

Like yourself, I feel there is far to many images out there that are mediocre to say the least. Thats not to say that everything is mediocre nor indeed that my own images are better than anyone elses but there is a lot of competition and I think its true to say that not many people buy photos to hang on the wall.

China being the copyright capital of world as you describe it, could cause problems when having images printed by photo labs. What about Pro labs, would they be a better bet for you, either in China or some other country? I use Loxley but I'm not sure about postage costs etc to China, that too maybe too expensive. Either way, it is difficult to say the least