A re-assessment

[HannaFate]

As some of you know, I sell more artwork than framing. I work in a lot of different mediums, but mostly in fantasy genres.

I also do photography, and a few years ago I printed up some of my work, and started trying to sell it, along with my drawings and paintings. It didn't sell well, and I let it slide, while promoting things this did sell.

Yesterday, I was cleaning up in the studio (that is, pulling piles of junk out from under the mat cutter table, and throwing a lot of it away) and found a pile of my photos. I realized that I had hundreds of dollars of stock just sitting around because I had given up on my photography.

So, I decided it was time to put it out again, but differently. The first question I asked myself was, "Why didn't it sell before?"

That was a tough one. I finally concluded that part of the reason was that I was selling it in the same outlets as my fantasy art. My photography is not fantasy. I need to sell it completely separately from the color pencil drawings of dragons and fairies.

The second question is, "How do I do that?"

I have to decide how much time and energy I want to put into selling my photography. I am getting along pretty well with the coloring pooks, and don't want to take too much energy from that.

I'm starting by putting up some separate webpages for my photography. I am trying to get a look that will appeal to photography fans more than fantasy art fans. I chose a design based on other online photo galleries.

I am still putting the pages together, but I need input! How do these pages look? Too austere? Too many pictures? Too few?
http://www.unseengallery.com/html/photography.html

For comparison, here is what my fantasy art website looks like. This works fine for my drawings, but evidently not for my photos.
http://www.unseengallery.com/html/art_gallery.html

Thanks for any advice and input!

[Art Creations]

I think your photography is beautiful! I think that it definetly needs to be kept seperate from your other work... as they are very different. I think that you could put more work on each page.. if it starts feeling as if there are to many, you could always put a link next to the photo that says "more images like this" that would take you to another page.
I think it is a great start though!
Keep up ALL the cool artwork!

[Framar]

I agree that the two should be kept as separate pages - beautiful work - one typo so far on the photography page - "he" instead of "her" in the artist description.

[jframe]

Good grief, HF, I always love your photos and wondered how you managed to get such great ones! Before, you made it sound like you just do a few aim and shoot type pics on vacation. Now I know why you are so good! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

[HannaFate]

Originally posted by Framar:
I agree that the two should be kept as separate pages - beautiful work - one typo so far on the photography page - "he" instead of "her" in the artist description. I never can keep that straight...

[nikfrz]

Wow!! Those photos are awesome. All of them!!! I cant believe your work didnt sell well

[Paul N]

You know Hanna, I noticed you are a great photographer when you posted some pictures from your trip to the North East last year in the Fall. My favorite was one of a yellow / red leaf against the black surface of a roadtm, just spectacular!

You may want to frame a couple on your website, things look even better when framed, as you know.... smile.gif

[Val]

Wow, Hannah, they're all beautiful! I think my favorites, if I were pressed to find some, would be the Rockscapes. Different! But then, I'm a rock freak too. They're all over my house, and usually a couple in my pockets

I agree with keeping the sites separate. What a change from your fantasy stuff! Like you're two different people! (Something you're not telling us, Hannah?? ;) )

[Matoaka]

Fabulous! I like the size, very much. And they loaded quickly (even on my ol' clunker). I like the staggered arrangement, too. Just 'cause the cards didn't sell well out of your gallery doesn't mean there's not a market for them. Have you tried any of those strange little shops in your Nob Hill neighborhood? or Old Town? But of course you have... silly me. You're always three steps ahead.

What about coffee mugs with a text added across part of the photo face? Kinda like those "inspirational" posters that are out there.

Just a thought....

Happy selling!

[D_Derbonne]

Have you thought about submitting some of your images to a company like Superstock?
When someone wants to use one to print on a greeting card, etc. you get a check in the mail.
The images are still yours to use.

I know an artist that does this and it is a nice supplement to his income.

Another thought...how about selling some of the images to places like botanical garden gift shops?


I think it would be better to put the description with each photo rather than a list at the bottom of the page.

Nice work, Hanna!

[HannaFate]

An update
http://www.unseengallery.com/html/floral.html
(I still need to work on the other pages)

I'll check out superstock, that sounds like a good idea!

[wpfay]

With your photography you enter into a much more mainstream and competitive realm. Regardless of the quality (I personally like them, but if wishes were fishes...) what matters most is marketing and exposure (pun intended).

I know that you ain't got nothin' else to do :rolleyes: , but you might want to consider getting into the show circuit with those images.
My employee does fine art photography and has started entering regional show. Last weekend he sold a few images, won 2 awards, and got propositioned. Though he declined the proposition, he made about 3x what he does working for me each week.

Your work is very appealing, even to those that don't know what they are looking for or at.

For comparison to someone that lives off of their photography, check out www.dcpanoramics.com (http://www.dcpanoramics.com)

[HannaFate]

Well, I am loading my pictures on a stock photo site called shutterstock. They are selling well already, and I don't even have them all up!

They sell pictures to use as wallpaper as well, and here is the most popular of my pictures...

http://thumb.shutterstock.com/photos4/display_pic_with_logo/64073/64073,1147018186,2.jpg

[MnSue]

Your photo's are exceptional. thanks for sharing, and best wishes for your continuing sucess.

Keep those panoramic's comming! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[JPete]

You might consider raising the price on certain photos. When it is very good, it is worth more. Some how target both the high end and low end market. Include a couple more pictures on the about the artist page. Personally, I'd rather see more photo's and then read about the philosophy.