Selling Prints- HUGE MISTAKES I Wish I Didn't Make! 

Awesome and inspiring video! I really love it that you tell us about the business side of photography. It helps me as I try to build my own business. Considering print, I would really love to hear about the technical side of it (Is there any difference in the editing process?) and what to keep in mind when ordering prints. Cheers from the Netherlands!

This video was really helpful for me as I would like to eventually make money through photography. Having more videos like these can help inspire others as people often tell me that there's no money in photography and it's over saturated. Which is partly true, however it doesn't deter me as I'm extremely passionate about this art form and would like to pursue it, even as a side business. It would be extremely helpful if you could make another video answering questions on this topic :) My questions are: - When do you think is a good time to be selling prints, would you need a significant following or brand awareness on social media? - How much time do you set aside for doing admin work and how does it fit in with your daily life such as; juggling between other clients or other jobs?

Evan Ranft As a college student, unfortunately I do not have the ability to print myself. So, I have been trying to work with an online printing service but it seems that when I used their ICC profiles in Photoshop the test prints didn’t come out the way that I wanted them to even though I thought that I edited them correctly. Would love to see a video about breaking down ICC profiles and how to actually match them so you can get a realistic idea of the final print.

Hey Evan, would love an honest opinion on print sizes for different megapixel cameras. There are charts out there that say how large you can print if say you've got a 24 megapixel camera but that doesn't give us an idea of quality when it comes to the larger prints. You seem to shoot with a variety of cameras so am interested on your take. Thanks for all the great content!

Chase Thomas Have you looked around your college to see if there is a campus printing/ reproduction shop? Many colleges have them and you can get very inexpensive prints there.

Thank you

Awesome

are there any reputable printing for fine art photography?

@@christopherwharton8901 Brooke Shaden a fine art photographer uses Fine art American and White House custom color

@@christopherwharton8901canson or huhnemule certified printer labs

The non-toxic ink of each Sharpie pen is waterproof and smear- and fade-resistant, for archival-quality journaling and scrapbooking.

If you are doing watercolor and sign it with anything other than watercolor it’s considered mixed media

@@belindawest3558 I think we are talking about prints here, not originals.

@@sandycathcartwild I realized it after I had left that statement

Micron is an amazing brand just for that, sharpie will bleed through and destroy since it’s acidic.

I'm trying to get my foot in the door in the photography business, could I trouble you for some advice? I'm currently working in a warehouse 50+ hours a week and hate it. I love taking photos and I want to move away from my job and move towards making money in the photography business. Any advice on where or how to start?

Hi Chase. I know your situation exactly! That was me 30 years ago. Its not the same as it was when I started out. But in many ways it still is. I won’t offer you a step by step guide as it will be different for you. I got into it in a different time in a different country probably. But here’s some general advice I think is worth passing on... You need to get some presence. And by that I mean places where people will see your shots and where you can direct people to look if they want to see what you do. Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, maybe a website, etc. You need to immerse yourself in your work and get it out there where people will see it. Be a photographer! Even if people are not paying you. Treat it like a job. Dreaming oh I’d love to be a photographer won’t cut it. Knock on lots of photographer’s doors and try and get assisting work. ( but only after you have work you can show them. People love to help those who show a real passion and enthusiasm. ) That’s really how I broke into it. Once I had worked for one guy for a few months (off and on ) I started doing freelance assisting for two years. That was great. Like doing an apprenticeship. Man I learnt so much about lighting, photography, and the industry, in a real world setting. That was super valuable. I also made contacts through that. And I got to borrow lighting gear, studios etc to do my own shots in a pro environment that I could never afford to buy or rent. After a couple of years I started really knocking on doors and showing my portfolio ( yes this was almost pre internet : ). Ok so you won’t be knocking on doors, but you get the idea. Every photographer has a different back story but... Good luck happens when opportunity meets preparation! Think about it. I’m an absolute believer in that maxim. Opportunities to “be a photographer” will happen when you’re in the right place, doing the right thing - photography. I don’t mean that to sound like airhead bs but that’s how life works. Opportunities (like jobs) come along when you’re in the right place or doing the right thing, for them to come along. Practice your craft. Only show the best work - your portfolio is only as strong as the weakest shot as the saying goes. Get others opinions on it, but value your own judgement as well. Spend any spare time shooting, talking, doing things photographic. Meet other passionate amateur photographers. Connect to photography in any way you can. But number one is get your work out there. Good luck.

@@robinhodgkinson thank you so much. I appreciate everything you said and will follow your tips. I appreciate you

@@robinhodgkinson Yeah honestly, your advice is invaluable, as your wealth of experience shows. I'll use your experience as a benchmark when I'm ready to take my photography to the next level, thank you!

Thank you!!! Makes so much sense.

As an artist you project your ego onto your work by default, that's what artistry is about - opening yourself up. Be it music, films, paintings og clothes - it comes from your brain, your personality, and most people would like to know who the mastermind behind their favourite song or photograph is :-)

😅 interesting never thought of it like that

No man, signing your work isn't a "ego" thing, when someone buys an original piece, a simple signature simply makes it feel like a novelty. Nobody can replicate that, it connects the buyer with the artist and thus making the money spent on it feel worth it.

I didn't used to sign mine, until someone stole my work and tried to pass it off as theirs. So it's not about ego-it's about ownership.

I am also an artist and my work feels incomplete until I put my name on it. A curator once said to me too that your best form of marketing is to have your work in people's homes. If someone is browsing around a room looking at the artwork and they like your piece how are they going to know it is your work if it doesn't have your name on it! It doesn't even have to be big, but legible is good!

Yep, I thought the same thing...but I'd be annoying my friends with my ads...closer to doing it now!

Halo. I'm yusuf shabbir millwala from Bombay , India. SELL PAINTINGS AND PRINTS. Wud u be interested in buying. Do let me know. Hope to get a positive response from your end. Thank you.

Lucky

I opened my print shop 2 days ago also, how did you do it?

It's bad advice he is giving. Avoid it.

Exactly, selling or not printing is such an awesome thing to do!!

@@RanftEvan 💯💯

Yes I would like to see this as well. Did he ever do one for it?

That would be a great video. But it sounds like he has his prints made by professionals and shipped to him.