Digital BW, The Print

I have to agree with the previous posters regarding pricing based on
number of prints sold. Great idea. I believe Michael Kenna and his
apprentice Rolfe Horn do this with their pricing. As a side note, Rolfe
Horn's work is stunning, and a great 'value'. I believe his prints start
at $450.
 
Anyway, the whole dealer model really chaps my hide sometimes, and I
recognize it for what it is. I like to believe that photographers like
to collect other photographers' work, so I like to frequent galleries in
my time away from home. So, I strolled into a local gallery here in
Austin, and saw Saint Ansel's 'Moonrise' print (something like a 40"x50"
print, or something huge like that) priced at a 'sell your double-wide'
price of $175,000. Hmmm. But I remember that sized print, signed by AA
himself, 'normally' sells for $60,000. Hmmmm. Interesting.
 
But don't we want it both ways? In a way, we are collectors ourselves.
No, I cannot afford huge Ansel prints, but I do like to collect prints.
 
I am very fond of the escalating pricing model. It rewards the early
adopters, so to speak, and when the prints start circulating, the price
starts rising.
 
My $.02

	-----Original Message-----
	From: sdmey4@... [mailto:sdmey4@...] 
	Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 9:40 PM
	To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
	Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Editions: Another Dumb Idea...
	
	
	Your edition outline sounds fine Mark, Any Gallery would except
it. Here is 
	what really happens. Lets say you have a portfolio of prints for
sale all on 
	editioned 16x20 papers. Guaranteed there will be a call from the
Gallery 
	about a client who wants a 20x24 or maybe even an 8x10 or even
an image 
	flipped to face the other way. Questionable business practice?
after all its 
	the gallery asking if you will make the "different print" Your
could end up 
	being the "no" guy which is fine.
	Most of us don't want to lose a sale, and these types of buyers
pay top 
	money. I think the best approach, if you think the image has
wide appeal is 
	to make the edition 50 and if an occasional odd size gets
printed it comes 
	out of the 50. Better yet, do what the photographers you admire
do. I have 
	made mistakes (plenty of them) I made a second edition of
20x24's numbered to 
	25 with my first #'ed to 50. Now I wish it was one edition. Hell
I'm learning 
	the game too and there is a lot too it. Regarding savvy
investors, there like 
	big corporate clients, cheap! First thing they do is pose as
Architects, 
	designers, etc., and ask for a trade discount 15-25% the
discount is almost 
	always given, split between the gallery and artist. The savvy
investor bets 
	his money on a possible rising star, or takes advantage of a
dealer artist 
	who don't know what they have. Like great work just starting
out. It wasn't 
	very long ago that Michael Kenna Prints went for 750, now they
start at 
	1500.00 and are sold out almost before his shows finish touring
the country. 
	These are 8x10's!Most of the Photography I see in galleries is
over priced 
	some probably worth it, I have my eye on a 3000.00 piece ;0) but
the good 
	news is crap doesn't sell at any price and there is a lot of out
there. 
	Galleries, investors, are all taking gambles there are no sure
things, just 
	instinct. I'm sure you've noticed what the entry level gallery
prices are, 
	usually 450-1000 and a little bit more for larger prints,
Success at that 
	level, about 3 years, leads to the 1500-2000 range and so on. I
seen great 
	entry level work priced @1500.00 only to get skunked because no
one knew who 
	the artist was. Hell, another 500.00 can buy you tons of name
photographers. 
	My point, hell I don't no ;0)
	Basically savvy investors look for good work at bargain basement
prices. I do 
	know I have an image close to a sell out at 50 and I will retire
it at that 
	number no more of any size. Looks good when shoppers see that
there have been 
	sell outs.
	Some thoughts and rambles thats all!
	Steve M.
	Snip,>>>>>  , 
	In a message dated 11/18/2002 6:29:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
	mark@... writes:
	
	> Right now, I'd say that 
	> there are many savvy buyers/investors out there who know how 
	> the game is played -- ie, there's always that chance that
they'll 
	> pay top dollar for a print, under the guise of a limited
edition, only 
	> to be informed later that a whole NEW edition has been 
	> introduced "in a new color", or "in a new size". Who on this
list 
	> can look me in the eye and tell me that's not a questionable 
	> business practice? (Whether it's done every day is no 
	> justification, either).
	> 
	> Hell, given this behavior, there's no wonder that the prices
are 
	> staying low; photographers seem to be their worst enemies.
	> 
	> -----
	> 
	> I am asking ALL of these questions under the heading of: "I
don't 
	> know and I'm trying to learn", so please read them with that
in 
	> mind. I'm a commercial hack, and all this art-talk is new to
me. 
	> And, as you can see from my writing, no words are over three 
	> syllables, so keep your responses simple.
	> 
	> Thanks very much,
	> 
	> MT, http://marktucker.com/
	> 
	> 
	
	
	
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