foraker Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 Is there some sort of bizarre non-linear formula for how photographic prints get priced in galleries? I was with my wife in a gallery this morning and was appalled to find color photos no better than your average goober on vacation might take priced at $350 - $500....nothing bigger than 8x10..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
light-zone Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 Matthew, Art is in the eye of the beholder. But deep down, you know that already. As far as pricing is concerned, market value is just that, what the consumer is willing to pay. And you know the old saying, if it's not expensive, then it can't be good. As sarcastic as that might sound, it's a prevelent thought going through the heads of many consumers. Go ahead and give it a shot. Raise your prices and test the limits, I'll bet you'll be surprised what people are willing to pay, as long as your marketing strategy is a good one. And you'll also want to kick yourself for under selling yourself for so long. As you might guess, these observations are not my therories but rather gathered from first hand experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 The question is: were they actually selling? And there is always: Art is in the eyes of the beholder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foraker Posted July 20, 2002 Author Share Posted July 20, 2002 Well, something must be selling because the gallery is in a downtown location and I can't see them being there very long given the rent/lease they must have to pay. It's the kind of thing that makes me think it might be worth selling my own stuff just to finance my trips and the occasional piece of equipment. Along these lines, it got me wondering about what sort of stuff to put on a rubber stamp that one could use to mark the back of the mounting board..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 Also; "There is no accounting for taste." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_atherton2 Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 > Also; "There is no accounting for taste." There is if you are a "mean" beancounter working for the gallery and the till keeps ringing.... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 The cost of operating a gallery is the same, whether they are hanging a 4x6 platinum or 20x24 Polaroid. It's not worth fooling with prints that sell for a (relative) pittance. They couldn't keep the doors open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted July 20, 2002 Share Posted July 20, 2002 BTW; Standard gallery markup is 100%. So if they are offeringthe print (print only -- no matting framing or glass) for $350, the photographer is charging $175.00 per print. ,.His or her costs per print produced (not including time, shots that didn't meet his expectations, materials used arriving at his/her level of skill) is probably around $50 per print if they are only producing a few prints at a time. If you then take into account the value of the artists time then you are probably looking at very little if any profit from his/her work. <P>If the artist is selling large numbers of identical prints of that image than possibly he or she is making some okay to decent money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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