Help! Selling first photo...

and I don't know what to charge. It will be a 16x20 print of my Half Dome photo pictured below. I will have this print made on Kodak Royal by my local photo store. Can anyone suggest pricing guidelines (even your own)? Thanks.

Ray

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Originally Posted by schrackman

and I don't know what to charge. It will be a 16x20 print of my Half Dome photo pictured below. I will have this print made on Kodak Royal by my local photo store. Can anyone suggest pricing guidelines (even your own)? Thanks.

Ray

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For a 16x20 I wouldn't go below $175, unframed. Maybe throw in a matt.

The way I price stuff like this, stuff that doesn't do any volume, is by the time and knowledge I put into it. We spend an incredible amount of money on learning, experimenting, equipment, etc. And when a shot like this comes around, one that sells in the "fine art" category or thereabouts, charge with all that in mind. This is a piece of art, not some amusement park memento. It took you years of time, effort and money to get to this level, on top of the travel costs to get there. Even if you sell one print in your entire life, make it representative of everything you've put into it.

At least that's how I look at it.

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Originally Posted by Sebastian

For a 16x20 I wouldn't go below $175, unframed. Maybe throw in a matt.

The way I price stuff like this, stuff that doesn't do any volume, is by the time and knowledge I put into it. We spend an incredible amount of money on learning, experimenting, equipment, etc. And when a shot like this comes around, one that sells in the "fine art" category or thereabouts, charge with all that in mind. This is a piece of art, not some amusement park memento. It took you years of time, effort and money to get to this level, on top of the travel costs to get there. Even if you sell one print in your entire life, make it representative of everything you've put into it.

At least that's how I look at it.

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I haven't sold any prints, but definitely make it worth your time and effort.

As my father used to say (and still does): "If it was easy, everyone would do it!"

Great shot BTW! I see why they like it!

I'm gonna go against the grain here and say, for your first print, selling it cheap is ok...

The market value of your work as an artist is something that will only develop over time. You can't simply decide to charge a large amount of money for a print and then say "that's what my work is worth" and expect a crowd to come to your door and pay it.

Nor will selling cheap (or heck even giving your work away) a few times keep you from increasing your prices later and establishing a decent value on your name.

In the beginning, IMO it's more important to simply make the sale and have your image showing in someone's home or business. That is simply the best advertising you can have.

So, at this point you have to balance how badly you want to sell and show with how important it is for folks to know your pieces have a certain base price.

BTW, many artists purposely sell early "editons" of their work cheaper, then raise the price later as a selling point that the cheaper ones will increase in value. That strategy is certainly much smarter than asking a higher price early, then having to "discount" work because it won't sell. The only thing that does is have folks lose respect for you...

BTW2, I know this should be obvious, but that really is a great pic! Are you near SF? I'm coming out there this fall, and sure would be happy to do another print exchange... :D

Seb has some good points. but I think I am more with Steve. Of what little I have sold or even given away, I have just charged them the price for the print. I am not saying I haven't charged more. One time a buyer was happy to give me a lot more than what I was asking.

Somethings to consider, in my opinion are.
How relevant to your photographic experience is this image?
How much do you like the image?
Has this particular image been published, won any kind of awards, etc?

Good Luck Ray! Let us know how it goes. That is good photo of "Half Dome"

Brian

After readin gthe other responses, I would just like to add that I have VERY little experience with this sort of thing, so take what I say with a gigantic grain of salt. If you intend to sell many prints like this then what Steve says makes lots of sense.

It all depends on how you feel about it. Is it your business, do you need the money? Are you doing a limited series of say 10 or 25 so will be limited in selling in the future? <p> For B&W 8X10-11X14 for unknown or up and coming photographers in a gallery the price is usually about $200-300. Color would make it more so would your larger size. In a limited edition (again an unknown photographer) say of 25 the first 10 might be $300 the next 10 might be $500 and the last 5 even more. Usually the photographer will keep 3 or 4 proofs for themselves. Usually a series is limited to a specific size. <p> The above are guide lines. I've never sold a print but have given a few away for free to some friends. I get enjoyment knowing someone likes the work enough to pay for a frame and to hang it up. I print the work myself so the expense isn't great. In your case I would think to cover the costs at least for the processing of a large print. But in the end unless it is your life's profession or at least a hobby that pays for itself it is up to you.

Thank you everyone for your response!!! I have decided to take the middle-of-the-road approach. I don't mind giving photos away or taking people's picture for free, but this photo symbolizes for me the extent to which I have labored to become a somewhat decent photographer within the last year or so. I won't be selling the print for $175 but I won't be giving it away either. Thanks again for all your input. It was really helpful to read everything that everyone wrote.

p.s. I'll let you all know if my prospective buyer purchases the photo or not.

Ray

Ray just something to add. You mention you are going to get it printed at your local photo store. Do they do professional quality work? Your photo is absolutely beautiful from what we can see on our monitors. Hopefully the printer can capture what you have shown us here. Try to be as <i> reasonably</i> fussy and demanding as you can. I'm assuming you are showing the printer a smaller version of what you are looking for. There is a fine line between being fussy and a PITA.