How should I go about selling a shot to a business?

[aepoc]

It's called the Orpheum Theater (and restaurant), in Madison, WI. I have a great shot of the outside of their building with their ORPHEUM sign. I have printed an 8x10 of it and framed it in a very nice, white-matted frame. I would like to contact the theater and see if they would be interested in purchasing the image - frame and all, from me.

I'm wondering what the best approach is. Email? Telephone? Should I just go down there and ask to speak with the manager? I'm also wondering what I should do about the price. It's a high quality frame, which cost me $30. White matte (2" on the sides, 1 1/2" top and bottom), gold trim around the inside, and a nice, heavy black as the frame itself.

Here is the shot:



http://www.fkphotos.net/jase/Orpheum.jpg

[fivefish]

Maybe it's just me, but to me, the message this photo conveys is this place is old and dingy.

[aepoc]

A link to some photos of the place:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79171984@N00

[SoaringUSAEagle]

Nice shot. I would personally go down and talk to the manager/owner.

Good luck!

[fivefish]

That's because it is old and dingy. The place is right on State Street in downtown Madison between the state capital building and UW-Madison campus. The crowd in that area, aside from the bureaucrats/politicians, is politely described as "free spirited" and "eclectic". Think Berkeley, CA of the Midwest.

There's a reason for the saying, "Madison is 40 square miles surrounded by reality".

:lol:

Then you captured the subject right on!

[MikeMcL]

yes. i would try to do a face to face with someone there. I would start with the approach that you are willing to do some work for a very affordable price, if they are interested.

Their next question will probably be to see your work... BAM! you have a perfect specimen.

Smugmug lets me get my photos made into postcards... maybe you get a few of your other shots put onto smaller prints, or some postcards.

Whatever you do, dont just call up there and be like "hey, i took this picture... You want to buy it?". that will not yield very good results.

why are you selling? is it just to get rid of this one print that you have no use for, or to get more work, or to just make a bit of cash? Think about the true goal, and work toward that.

Maybe you want to offer them a whole package of their place, as souvenier sale items, or maybe you just want to dump this one photo garage sale style... we dont know from the situation you posted

good luck

[aepoc]

A face-to-face sounds like a good idea. I'm assuming I should call ahead to setup some sort of appointment.

I am selling the shot because I was just poking around downtown and was shooting everything I saw. When I was going through my shots later, I noticed that it would probably look really good inside their building, and thought I could make a pbit of cash in the process. I like your idea of shooting a whole package for them.

Thank you for your reply, very much.

- jason

[PhotogJeff]

Don't be discouraged if the management doesn't show any interest, after all the photo does not convey the message of a thriving business.

I think you have a fine photograph that is marketable but most likely more to a neighboring business or to someone who has a personal connection to the theatre.

My suggestion might be, if you don't make a sale after approaching the management, ask to display the photo in a nearby restaurant or coffee shop. Offer the management a small commission for allowing you to display your photo. This may end up being an in road for you to display other work.

Best of luck,
Jeff

[Michaelmjc]

It's a very nice shot, great processing on it.