Pricing framed art work for sale

[IIIMik3]

So for my first time ever, i will be displaying some prints of mine publicly. It's nothing big or fancy really, just on the walls of a local coffee shop/cafe in San Diego. I will be placing them up for sale, but don't know how to go about pricing them. They are hand printed silver gelatin prints of NYC done in fairly documentary style. They have been silenium toned for archival stability. The prints themselves are 8x12 and they are matted in archival fashion on 4ply natural white board and framed in 20x24" black wooden frames. These are the original prints and are the only ones except for my proofs. There will not be multiple runs or anything. As a rough estimate, each print/frame cost me about $100 in materials, and about 4-5hrs of work. I have no idea how to go about pricing this sort of thing, so i was wondering what you guys would suggest? I want to be able to actually make a sale, but i definately do not want to sell myself short. I'm actually having a hard time parting with them, because of the amount of work i put into them, and the fact that they are the only ones. But i figure this could be a good stepping stone in helping to get my name out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Charles Michael Ballestamon

[Steve Parr]

What part of San Diego?

If you're in La Jolla or Del Mar, you might do well in making a few bucks. If you're in Barrio Logan, not so much.

I've been thinking about doing the same type of thing with some of my prints, but I figured it out last night; I've got about $16.00 into each framed and double-matted picture. Not too hard to make a profit when that's the case.

You might also want to think about art festivals and such. The La Jolla Festival Of The Arts would be a good place. It's held on the grounds of La Jolla Country Day, and enjoys a huge attendance every year.

I think that the LJFOTA is held in late May or early June...

Steve

[IIIMik3]

I believe the area is considered North Park. The cafe is called Lestat's in case you've ever heard of it.

Thanks for the idea about the festival of arts. I'll look into it.

[Steve Parr]

I believe the area is considered North Park. The cafe is called Lestat's in case you've ever heard of it.

Thanks for the idea about the festival of arts. I'll look into it.

Lestat's? Yeah, I know it.

I don't know that you'll find the clientele you're looking for there, though. My daughter goes to Lestat's on ocassion, and Lord knows she doesn't have enough to even cover costs.

Then again, maybe they have other nights where a more "able" customer would be there...

Steve

[IIIMik3]

yeah, i realize that the clientele isn't ideal, but it's better than nothing. Like i said, it's my first shot at this, and so anything to get me going will work for me. Even if i don't price them to sell at lestats, i don't mind the idea of potentially finding a buyer in the future at another location, and i don't want to have to worry about changing prices with each location. Or should I?

As a side, i've been to Claire De Lune, another coffee shop in the area, which has quite a bit of photography for sale on the walls, and they have some prices reaching into the 4 digits. So i would assume it wouldn't be absured for me to price my prints in the couple hundred dollar range.

[Steve Parr]

yeah, i realize that the clientele isn't ideal, but it's better than nothing. Like i said, it's my first shot at this, and so anything to get me going will work for me. Even if i don't price them to sell at lestats, i don't mind the idea of potentially finding a buyer in the future at another location, and i don't want to have to worry about changing prices with each location. Or should I?

As a side, i've been to Claire De Lune, another coffee shop in the area, which has quite a bit of photography for sale on the walls, and they have some prices reaching into the 4 digits. So i would assume it wouldn't be absured for me to price my prints in the couple hundred dollar range.

Hmmm... well, I haven't been to CLaire DeLune; a friend of mine plays there on ocassion. I should get over there.

I can get on board with exposure train; wherever you can hang it is good. And, I guess you never know; someone may drop in for a cup of coffee, see your work, and decide they can't live without it.

My experience of Lestat's is that, for the most part, "kids" (18-25) frequent it, and people in that age range generally don't have much disposable cash.

Let me know when you hang them; I'd like to go down and take a look...

Steve

[IIIMik3]

sure, they go up the first monday of june! I'm kinda excited, even though it is just lestat's hehe.