Selling Prints

[D Boone]

I have a chance to rent a wall at a very high traffic, folky, touristy, consignment mall. There is currently another photographer who has work displayed for sale there, and has been for problably a year now, and I don't really think that the work is good (sorry). So, I am assuming that there is a market there, and I will be able to sell enough work to pay for the space. Even if there is not, I am willing to spend the money for a few months to give it a try. I am in the process of developing a porfolio, business cards, and getting enough prints to start. What I would like to know, is how to price my work. I have a baseline what I would take for them, but I hope it doesn't come to that. Is doubling what you have in the product to start with asking to much? If the print costs me 15 to have printed, and 20 to frame, then 65? That seems kinda low to me for a 11x14 in a decent floating frame. Should I break the bank on frames for some of them? Pay, say 50 dollars to get them professionally framed? What do you guys think? I am kinda nervous about putting myself out there, but have an irrisitable urge to do so... and I want the encouragement of knowing I can sell some prints before I tried to take another step in the field... Anybody got anything for me? Thanks

[snibbetsj]

Personally I think an 11x14 should be at least $40.00 (probably more like $60). I would offer framing and matting as an additional cost. Perhaps a single mat for $25 and $40 for a double mat. Let them pick out a frame and then charge a 50% - 100% markup on it.

[D Boone]

Good idea... Also, how do you sign these things!!! With a small digital signature in the corner, or with a paint pen after printing?

[snibbetsj]

There's a lot of different ways to sign it. If you want to actually sign the print, use a Sharpie. Some people will sign the print and some will print with a white border on the bottom and sign on the border. Some will sign the mat itself instead of the print. The customer may not want it signed at all.

I'd also put a label on the back of the print with your copyright notice and contact information (name/phone number/web site/etc). Make sure you use an archival-type label. Also make sure the mat is achival mat board.