I was wondering if anybody who sells their work as framed prints could help me.
Do you think that making your prints signed limited editions actually makes them more saleable? If so, do you feel that this outweighs the potential loss of sales if a particular image sells like hotcakes.
Any other thoughts or advice on selling framed prints would also be welcome as this is a new venture for me.
When I was looking for a piece of art recently, there were several options of the same design. A framed, signed limited edition version. Or unframed, unsigned - no limited edition version. (The I-can't-afford-it original art itself too!). Depended on my budget. My personal preference was for the signed, limited edition. Added another layer to the artwork for me. Anything signed by the original author of the work will also have a higher value, not only from a sales point of view, but also to the purchaser. You also have to consider your market, and what you feel your market would withstand. Good luck! Get in touch with your local Business Gateway too. K.
So if it is a digital print, is it ultimately really limited in possible production? I think as a buyer I would be more open to limited print in film/darkroom/altermative methods than just a regular digital print.
I also lean towards not signing because I think people do not care as much.
Just to put it into context. The work in question is mostly large A3+ size high quality professional prints on top quality archival grade papers which are rated for 200 years. (These are not just A4 glossy shots run off my home printer). I have an exhibition space at a popular Cornish tourist attraction from January to September next year. About 30 images in total will be on display. The venue will be selling the work for me. They are a mix of fine art photography and some Cornish themed stuff (harbour scenes, lighthouses fishing boats etc.) aimed at the tourist market.
I have one image which a local framer asked to sell for me as a limited edition, I agreed to doing it and we set the limit as 25. With the condition that he didn't have exclusive sales rights.
He advised me that #1 is rarely (if ever) sold and normally stays with the artist - so that's hanging on my wall. So far, between us we have sold 15 of the 24.
I sign the mount for each image and each is numbered. I don't do the actual printing of the image and use a professional printer, using archival grade papers. All the images are 18x12 (inches).
I mentioned the size, as I had a "debate" with a photographer friend, he was selling a limited edition image and then I noticed the same image was being sold as a post card. He said the limited edition applied to a certain size other than that he felt it ok to produce the postcards. So the large version was limited to 50 reproductions and the postcards were unlimited.
My approach was that there would only be 25 reproductions of the image.
A question for you to consider, if you are doing a limited edition, and you set it to be say 25, when you sell the 25 will you then destroy the image?
The framer/gallery tell me that a limited edition sells better and can be sold at a higher price, but I really don't know how true that is for an unknown "artist" like me.
@davejf Thanks David. I agree that the limited edition should apply to all formats. However, given the location and high footfall in this tourist attraction I was planning on doing limited runs of 150 prints. I am working on the basis that if a shot proves very popular, I can go back and take a new but similar photograph and that will be good for another 150. :)
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I also lean towards not signing because I think people do not care as much.
He advised me that #1 is rarely (if ever) sold and normally stays with the artist - so that's hanging on my wall. So far, between us we have sold 15 of the 24.
I sign the mount for each image and each is numbered. I don't do the actual printing of the image and use a professional printer, using archival grade papers. All the images are 18x12 (inches).
I mentioned the size, as I had a "debate" with a photographer friend, he was selling a limited edition image and then I noticed the same image was being sold as a post card. He said the limited edition applied to a certain size other than that he felt it ok to produce the postcards. So the large version was limited to 50 reproductions and the postcards were unlimited.
My approach was that there would only be 25 reproductions of the image.
A question for you to consider, if you are doing a limited edition, and you set it to be say 25, when you sell the 25 will you then destroy the image?
The framer/gallery tell me that a limited edition sells better and can be sold at a higher price, but I really don't know how true that is for an unknown "artist" like me.