Hi stigmata77-ga -
Selling your photographs for the first time is a daunting endeavor,
I'm sure. Another photographer, Alain Briot, sells in a tourist
setting, as you wish to do. This is what he has to say:
"I sell in a highly touristic area and want to reach the largest
audience I can. For this reason I decided to go for many moderately
priced photographs rather than a few high priced photographs. Because
my audience consists of a variety of different customers I also
decided to ... offer my work in different sizes and presentations in
order to be able to offer a variety of prices and sizes. Currently my
prices range from $15 for an unframed 8x10 to $625 for a framed 18x40
panoramic. My photographs are matted and are available framed and
unframed."
As to pricing:
"First, add the cost of all the materials used to create your
photograph: the cost of the print (paper + inks or chemicals), the
cost of the mat board and the mounting tape if the photograph is
matted, the cost of the plastic bag if the photograph is presented in
a crystal clear bag, the cost of the frame plus glass and back if it
is framed, the cost of the framing supplies (wire, screws, framing
staples) etc. Count everything you used since it is part of the final
product. Remember that you paid for all these supplies and that you
should charge the customer for them.
"Second, estimate how many hours it took you to create this photograph
and multiply this figure by how much you want to make an hour. Add
this to the previous figure.
"Third, multiply this figure by 2 at the very minimum (I suggest you
multiply your costs by a factor higher than 2 (I do) but how much you
want to multiply your costs by is totally up to you). This is your
wholesale price. To get the retail price multiply the wholesale price
by two.
"Fourth, once you have reached the above figure compare it to the
prices photographers in your area are charging for work of similar
size and quality. If your prices are much higher you may want to look
into your costs and reduce them. If your prices are much lower you may
want to raise them since people will most likely expect to pay what
your competitors are asking. You can under price your competitors
(always a good idea) but there is no need to offer the same item at
half the price they are asking."
Selling Your Photographs
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/selling.shtml
The above is a practical, business approach, but should be taken into
consideration. To get at the artistic value of your photographs, they
are best compared to other art photographs with a given monetary
value.
Below are a number of websites showing photographs with varying
degrees of artistry and their prices. Some are being sold on the
Internet, others on consignment.
1) M.G. Gabridge sells 11x14 matted photographs for $100. The prices
can be seen on the first page. Click on the "Image Information" to
see the photographs. ( http://www.michaelgphotography.com/price.html )
2) Ray Hartl's equine photographs are priced at $350 for a 20x20 matted print.
( http://www.rayhartl.com/horseorderinfo.htm ) and his print gallery is here:
http://www.rayhartl.com/Horses/equineindex1.htm
3) Michael J. Hipple's photos are priced at $400 for framed 11x14
prints and $340 for unframed ( http://www.hipphoto.com/prints.php ).
His portfolio is here: http://www.hipphoto.com/places_1.php
4)Kenneth McGough Studio sells 11x14 matted prints for $75
( http://www.photomaya.com/ ) and his portfolio can be reached by
clicking at the side of the page.
5)Anil Rao sells 11x14 unmatted prints for $75 and matted prints for $100
( http://home.att.net/~arao99gsx/sale_info/sale_info.html ). You can
see her recent work here:
http://home.att.net/~arao99gsx/gallery/gallery.html
6) Carol Whaley sells 16x20 images framed for $350. You can see her
prices and photos here: http://www.carolwhaley.com/carolfinal/gsa.html
I also want to include an online gallery's offerings to give you an
idea of "higher end" pricing. The photographer Brian Kosoff, for
example, makes limited editions of silver prints which the gallery
sells for $600 to $2000). The prices charged by other artists can be
found by clicking on the artist's name at left.
( http://www.metergallery.com/viewPhoto.asp?photoID=2144002581 ).
I think you will see from the samples given above that the prices
cluster around the $100 level and the $350+ level. I would say that
you must make the decision of the price of your print, then add about
one-quarter for the matting and another 25-30 percent for the frame.
Or you could follow the recommendations of Alain Briot and double your
costs?your time, materials, matting and framing?twice to sell
wholesale. Double them again if you are going to sell the photographs
yourself.
To sum up, it might be worthwhile to take a look at this quote by
Christopher Wright on the website "$$ and sense of pricing photographs
and
prints" ( http://www.digitalphoto.com.nf/photo_pricing_five.htm ):
"So, I guess, the solution is to set the price that you think is fair
and reasonable for your photographs then market them in a way that
reflects both the pricing and your faith that you have priced them
right. As I shall continue to do."
I hope you found this answer informative, and I invite you to ask for
a clarification if there is something that is not clear or if you need
further information to make this answer complete.
Beautiful-Landscape Beaux Art Photography
http://www.beautiful-landscape.com/prices.html
Fine Art Photography on the Web
http://www.infotoday.com/linkup/lud041505-rubino.shtml
Photos for Sale ? Art Photos (mounting and framing advice)
http://www.darknessandlight.co.uk/art_photos_for_sale.html
google search terms:
pricing art photographs
pricing photographs
Good luck from a fellow photographer who DOESN'T sell prints (but now
knows more about it),
alanna-ga |
