Excellent advice, Keith. I think a simple - operational - version of what you say is to ask around what frame sizes are sold most, which ones are available (in stock), and check if the pictures are framed as is (full frame ;) ), or if a matte is used (that matte in Dutch we call "passepartout" borrowed from French and means either master-key, or references the posh cardboard frame in frame with a hole cut out for the photo (bevelled edge) and then it fills the frame as it means "fits anything" in this case). Sometimes more than one passepartout was used and in different tones. One of the golden olden rules with passepartouts is that the picture should never be in the vertical middle, but above it. This follows master carpenter and master construction worker logic that "equal=unequal". In my (Netherlands) country, us neighbouring to German, we adopted the German DIN paper size norm a long time ago. Yet, I had a hard time finding an outlet that had A3 size in stock.
I tend to stick to print sizes that can be framed easily & cheaply (UK) A5, A4, A3, 30cm x 30cm & 50cm x 50cm etc. The #1 question I get asked is "what size frame do i need" & "where can I get a frame for it"
I've found that landscape and seascape photo customers want "wallpaper size" prints, while "people photo" customers usually wants smaller. What surprised me a lot, was that there's a return of the "passport size" photo (because it's suitable for a photo of your loved one in your wallet) lately (the nineties have returned). Also - mothers tend to want 10x15cm (4x6", "postcard") images of their children for photo albums (that one will probably never go out of style). So I'm sticking to that for MY business, printing up to a3+ at home makes sense, maintenance for a larger printer becomes a lot more expensive, and it becomes better economy to simply outsource the printing job to one of the businesses that specialize in printing (if you do, make sure you find a business that actually gives you access to their ICC profiles so you can softproof). Another thing: Try to find one or two paper types that are available on all sizes you're going to sell (plus A4 for calibration). In my case that means Canon LU-101 in A3+ (and A4), and PP-201 in 4x6 (and A4) (I print on an Imageprograf Pro300)
VERY SIGNIFICANT .......7 min 5 seconds ..... "Dont get too hung up on what your own favourite prints are." ......... just because it's your favourite, it does not mean that others see it the same.........100% agree ....... though, developeing the foresight of correctly judging which images will be big sellers is definitely one of the skills that a pro develops.........over time ......with market knowledge.
Having lived in several countries, and in homes, vs. apartments, there are big differences in the kind of "space" for pictures, both physically and culturally. Many flats have smaller room sizes than a house, but, in older buildings in Europe, they often have much taller ceilings than a normal UK or USA apartment... then, in the USA, one has the California vs. Texas vs. New York kind of differences in size of house, and level of "flash" that people are comfortable with, from "down home" to big ranch house, or east coast mansions... Nice video.
I tried to frame myself some photos but I discovered to my surprise that frames for the 3:2 aspect ratio are difficult to find, other aspect ratios such as 4:3 or 7:5 are more easily available....thank for the interesting video by the way....
P.S. in case you missed it : the rats are paddling back to DPreview , Sony fanboys sharpening their arguments, Pentax depressives leaving home again . . . the world is a better place over night
Yes, thanks Like many I suspect, my reaction to their new overlords was "who?" I never saw much of the forum behaviour which people complain about - then again I was quite specific where I wandered about... ;-)
