Pretentious?

January 13th, 2011
I am donating a framed copy of one of my photos to a local fundraiser for Easter Seals. This is the largest local fundraiser they have in my area. One of the organizers told me I should sign the print. Would it be pretentious of me to sign it? I tend to think it would be. I'm not Ansel Adams, afterall.

Opinions?
January 13th, 2011
Nah, it's your work! You should take credit for it. :) I do that with all of my art. Even the tattoo designs I draw up for my friends.
January 13th, 2011
Nope
January 13th, 2011
I say sign it. Its your work, be proud :)
January 13th, 2011
HVR
If it makes you feel self conscious, I wouldn't. If they pressure you, you could sign the back.
January 13th, 2011
Not pretentious at all.
January 13th, 2011
I would sign it. Who knows, maybe one day someone would ask who took the picture and they would know it was you and they could ask you to do something for them.
January 13th, 2011
definitely not pretentious, be proud :) x
January 13th, 2011
Definitely sign it! If I bought a picture I'd want it to have the artists signature on it.
January 13th, 2011
Some artists sign their work on the back--you might try doing it this way if it makes you feel more comfortable.
January 13th, 2011
And toss a sticky on the back with your name and phone number on it so people can call you to buy more...
January 13th, 2011
I think you should sign
January 13th, 2011
I have donated framed photos to a couple of charity events and I have signed the mat in pencil, with the title on the left and my signature on the right, immediately below the picture. I think people feel they are getting more of an original piece of art if it is signed . . .
January 14th, 2011
My Mother paints watercolors, as a hobby. Some of which she gives me. She usually signs them all, in pencil. They do a little craft show in our development and many of the ladies showcase their watercolor work. All of them sign also, and certainly none of them are famous by any stretch. I don't think it is pretentious at all. And maybe if you sign it they can get more money in donations for the work since it is signed. I'd rather buy a print that was signed.
January 14th, 2011
Sign it!!!
January 14th, 2011
I dont think it is pretentious at all. Just good practice IMO :)
January 14th, 2011
Well, I guess I'll sign it then :-) Thanks for the opinions!

@icywarm EXCELLENT idea; I definitely will do that...Thanks!
January 14th, 2011
The other thing people used to do is place the negative in archieve paper behind the matt... that really ups the value as it means no more can be printed... but tougher with digital... Tape your USB Hard drive to it?!?!
January 14th, 2011
@icywarm Nah, I'll just throw the raw image on a cd for them. :-) Not quite the same, but close.
January 14th, 2011
I'd sign it AND number it !! haha
January 14th, 2011
If you want to do it ... it is only someone else (usually jealous) who would consider it pretentious. If you're too shy to sign the front, then sign the back with info of the date, the why and what and as others have suggested, number it! #1 is always the most expensive so go for it. (I'd number it 500/500 so collectors go looking for the other 499 ... lol)
January 14th, 2011
Sign it! Then they'll wonder who you are and google your name for example...and then sell more work. For the win. :)

January 14th, 2011
Well, you already know my sentiments, don't you?
January 14th, 2011
Whatever you do... sign it. You earned that much.
January 14th, 2011
totally sign it! it's your work and you should be proud. your photos are so good, you should consider get your name out there.
January 14th, 2011
@moncooga I knew you'd weigh in on this Chris ;-)
January 14th, 2011
Sign it, yes.....yes.....yes. And I totally agree with Jordan about putting a sticker on the back with your info on it.
January 14th, 2011
Sign it. It's your creation.
January 14th, 2011
I'd say sign it. It creates the connection between the art and the artist. As a customer, I'd find it much more personal that way.
January 15th, 2011
Sign it the only ones I don't sign are ones that are truly paid for, if there are just a gift to friends or what ever always sign them. You should be proud of everything you do and signing it shows your pride.
January 15th, 2011
Definitely sign it. It's your work. And it will mean more to the person who ends up owning it. I cherish the few pieces of artwork that I own that are signed by the artist!
January 16th, 2011
SIGN IT! That's awesome.. definitely not pretentious; just really, really cool! If they like it enough to ask you, you should be proud enough to want people to know you took it :D
January 16th, 2011
If there's a matte beneath the frame, you could sign your name small, lightly in pencil as some do, but not cover the actual photograph with anything.
And, if (despite our encouragement) you still feel uncomfortable about appearing pretentious, sign it on the back instead. The contact info sticker is good idea.

This made me remember the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, where Larry David donates $ to a nonprofit org (museum, environmental center or something) for a new wing -- then he finds out that his friend Ted Danson has made his donation anonymously. So then Larry thinks he should change his donation to "Anonymous," but that makes him want extra credit for it because of the honor in donating anonymously... ;->
January 16th, 2011
@shutterbug0810 Signing the back is a common thing, or having a caption with your name.

I had a discussion about this at a gallery night and the general consensus was to never sign the photo...
January 16th, 2011
Sign it! Or sign the mount. And put a contact sticker/information on the reverse.... Your work - be proud of it!
January 16th, 2011
I agree with Elizabeth--and what a nice thing of you to do!
January 16th, 2011
Sign it!! =)
January 16th, 2011
Definitely sign it ! ! !
January 16th, 2011
@shutterbug0810 i am an art teacher and the first thing I teach my students is to sign and take ownership of their work. Good or average, they made it and own it and should show it.
January 16th, 2011
Definitely sign it... your work as the others have said. Not in the least pretentious!
January 16th, 2011
definitely sign it!! Art is art...regardless
January 16th, 2011
I i like the idea of signing the back...
January 16th, 2011
my creative writing teacher in high school told us to put our name on absolutely everything we wrote, regardless of whether it was a draft or a final copy... always take credit for your work!
January 16th, 2011
sign it!!! if you don't feel completely comfortable signing on the front sign and date the back!
January 16th, 2011
Sign it. Period. It's your artwork. A painter wouldn't sign a painting, why should a photographic print be any different?
January 16th, 2011
Sign it! and CONGRATS!
January 16th, 2011
Absolutely sign it. You're proudly taking credit for your work, not smugly announcing you're the worlds greatest photographer. It also adds artistic and sentimental value, sometimes monetary. If you're not proud of your work, why would anyone else be?
January 16th, 2011
i'm a writer and i'm very mindful of 'copyright' issues. you should always sign your work, it's not being pretentious at all. it lends credibility and authenticity to the work.
January 16th, 2011
Personally, I wouldn't sign it. I would feel pretentious. In fact, I have never signed anything I've done for charity. I'm sure nobody would fault you if you did, though, especially if they asked you to. Either way, congrats! You've gotta be proud :)
January 16th, 2011
Sign it I am a consultant with a stamp and scrapbooking company and we tell our customers to sign everything you do no matter if you sell or give it away.
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