(no subject)

[arethinn]

(I know that asking this question of my LiveJournal audience is probably a pretty biased slice of stats, but you gotta ask your questions somewhere.)

Would you have any interest in buying (digital) prints or originals (b/w only) of any of the photos up on my website (or, I suppose, ScrapBook for that matter)?

Assume three things for this question:

1. That you have the spare cash just laying around waiting to be spent (so "but I can't afford it" doesn't enter into this - purely academic question)
2. That I have proper quality images to make prints out of (which is not often true, but just for the purpose of discussion), so this question is not having to do with the jpg quality up on the site, but imagine the images "at their best" if you will
3. That you are some random person who does not know me and so this is not the purchasing equivalent of a "pity fuck".

In other words, I just want to know, if you had come across the pictures randomly, would any of them make you go "hey, it would be cool to have a print of that, and I would pay >$0 for it".
[Poll #757258]

Comments

[desree42.livejournal.com]

Possibly not the information you want to hear exactly or the direction you want to go with this but...

Have you checked local arty cafes/restaurants in your area? Even if they are not interested in buying images(though some might be) often times restaraunts will work with local artists in putting images, gallery style, up on their walls with a price tag and then customers of that restaurant/bookstore/cafe/sex shop/whatever can then buy those pictures. If nothing else it can be a great way to get exposure in your local community.

Beyond that you do have some really nice pieces, some soso pieces and some eh pieces. Nothing bad but what I'm saying is youi have stuff that does really pop as beautiful examples of stella photography. Pick your best and put it in a more real world sale environment(upscale boutiques will often work things out as will some galleries). You may already be doing this I duno but if you're not you certainly could be and I think the quality of your work is high enough that you could be successful in doing so.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

I would buy some of them if I was in the habit of buying art---a habit I need to cultivate, because movie posters take you only so far. There are a number of your photos that I really liked, e.g. the gingko tree against the sky.

I should probably just have said "yes", given the assumptions. One way to try would be to find a local coffeehouse or similar that lets artists put up a little exhibition with prices---I know a few places around here that work like that....

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

I think some of your pieces are definitely saleable. I would recommend the coffeehouse art show idea as well, and the one piece of criticism I would offer is that although it is your "nature" pieces that would have the most popular appeal, the perspecitives you use are somewhat unusual and make them less likely to be bought by the general population. If you want to mass-market, you may need to look at using different perspecitives, more common ones. My dad and one of my mom's ex-boyfriends both sell primarily nature photography at things like craft fairs, art shows, etc., so I'm basing that opinion on what they've had as saleable works.

If you want to sell as an artist who uses photography as a medium, rather than as a photographer, then I think the quirky perspectives are fine. I actually like them, just saying that a lot of people would maybe be just turned off by them enough to not buy.

From an artistic perspective, I like you "things" photos best.

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

Eep. Even if there are any such places around here (we're dominated by Tim Hortons... there's hardly an independent cafe to be seen, and unlike some Starbucks I've seen which do display local art, Timmies doesn't), I'd have to have everything matted and framed and then I have to hope someone is willing to pay $100-200 for a photo or else I don't make back the framing cost. I'm not going to kid myself that anything I've done is worth three digits, because it's not. I was just talking about $5-15 range for a print on photo paper. Plus online has the potential to reach a much larger clientele, and since I can't command a high price the only way it would be worth the effort for a website would be in volume.

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

As I said to desree42, "live and in person" isn't really a viable option, which is why I was asking about online. I would have to invest a lot more in making the pieces presentable for gallery sale than I could ever hope to make back. I am talking about a few bucks for a print on nice paper here (like liselotte_e sells copies of her drawings).

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

the perspecitives you use are somewhat unusual and make them less likely to be bought by the general population.

Hmm, interesting point. Thanks for the comments.

[goldronin.livejournal.com]

None of them really sing to me, personally, but I do think there are many good ones that, if catching the right eye, would sell.

Ah, black and white makes me miss Photo 101. ::purrrr::

[lady-silverfire.livejournal.com]

Assuming, as you stipulate, that I do not have to consider cashflow issues, I would definitely buy prints. I am rather fond of your photography in general (and have been since before I met you) and your attitudes toward trees in particular.

[starlightforest.livejournal.com]

I don't recognize your username... did we meet at Dancing last year?