Selling Landscape Prints . . .

[Kathy O]

I am not sure where to post this question so please forgive me if it is posted in the wrong place. I am not a professional photographer (I have posted photos on here before), I have had several people (mostly local) interested in purchasing some of my photo's. I have had a couple of my photos put on canvas's and they do really look nice, I guess my question is, how do I go about this? What do I charge, the canvas's I bought were a little pricey I can't imagine what I would have to charge a buying customer. I am not looking to make this a way of living but if people are interested it would be a nice extra income here and there. I guess any information you could share with me would be great! I have posted a photo below just so you can see a taste of my work. Thanks for your help.

Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota USA

[JR1]

Facebook, twitter, website

Go on sales sites and see what others charge

[Kathy O]

Thanks Jeremy.

[JR1]

I used to rely mainly on my website but linking that to facebook etc is now the norm, also don't forget FREE advertising, you have two rear car windows unused I assume, place well printed ads here

[Kathy O]

I used to rely mainly on my website but linking that to facebook etc is now the norm, also don't forget FREE advertising, you have two rear car windows unused I assume, place well printed ads here

Thanks for your help, I am not to concerned with getting the word out, my main problem is I have no clue as to what to charge, right now I can print a 16x20 canvas for 104.00, what would I charge my customer???

[jamn4ex]

Figure what your time is worth then add that on top of what the customer selected. I take it these are people approaching you for your work, so the hard part of the sale is done. Knowing that you are obviously one of the better local talents frees you up to set your own prices. Btw that is a beautiful image, never sell yourself short.

[Polar01]

Kathy couple of questions. When you say you can print a 16x20 canvas are you the one printing it on your own printer? I figure that a 17x22 piece of canvas based on a pack of 10 sheets would cost about with taxes about $12.50/sheet and the ink at about $3.50 per sheet total cost of $16.00, now you have to make the 1.5" thick gallery wrap, stretch canvas, apply protective UV laminate finish. Your total in should be around $40.00 to $50.00 add mark up sell at $100.00. Because of this I find it hard to see how, if you are doing the printing and everything, that your cost is $104.00
A friend here prints on canvas, his 16x20 is $100.00 and a 16x24 is $110.00 and the shipping is included, now he produces a lot of work he has a deal with the shipper. He once said that he produced his 24x36 for around 50, sold to retailer for 200, retailer then sold for 400, he still sells that size to you, me and the retailers for approx. $200.00
So again is that cost with you doing everything or are you doing it by having someone produce it for you?

Cheers: Allan

[Kathy O]

Kathy couple of questions. When you say you can print a 16x20 canvas are you the one printing it on your own printer? I figure that a 17x22 piece of canvas based on a pack of 10 sheets would cost about with taxes about $12.50/sheet and the ink at about $3.50 per sheet total cost of $16.00, now you have to make the 1.5" thick gallery wrap, stretch canvas, apply protective UV laminate finish. Your total in should be around $40.00 to $50.00 add mark up sell at $100.00. Because of this I find it hard to see how, if you are doing the printing and everything, that your cost is $104.00
A friend here prints on canvas, his 16x20 is $100.00 and a 16x24 is $110.00 and the shipping is included, now he produces a lot of work he has a deal with the shipper. He once said that he produced his 24x36 for around 50, sold to retailer for 200, retailer then sold for 400, he still sells that size to you, me and the retailers for approx. $200.00
So again is that cost with you doing everything or are you doing it by having someone produce it for you?

Cheers: Allan

Thank you Allan for responding to my post. To answer your question, I do not print the images myself (and really do not have any interest in doing so) the printing is being done by someone else.

[Kathy O]

Figure what your time is worth then add that on top of what the customer selected. I take it these are people approaching you for your work, so the hard part of the sale is done. Knowing that you are obviously one of the better local talents frees you up to set your own prices. Btw that is a beautiful image, never sell yourself short.

Thank you James for your input and for your nice compliment.

[Polar01]

That is what I thought, however your post did say that "I can print". About the only thing you can do is go to the printer, ask if say, you bring him 2 or three images to produce what can he do for you. You have some images that people want, however you can't sell them with any kind of profit if you have to pay his full retail, it puts the images out of the market. What can we do to get to a win/win, printer makes something and you make a little. I would say less $25.00 off each image, then you can add $35.00 for a sell price of around $115.00. If the printer does not go for it than he gets nothing.

Cheers: Allan

[Kathy O]

That is what I thought, however your post did say that "I can print". About the only thing you can do is go to the printer, ask if say, you bring him 2 or three images to produce what can he do for you. You have some images that people want, however you can't sell them with any kind of profit if you have to pay his full retail, it puts the images out of the market. What can we do to get to a win/win, printer makes something and you make a little. I would say less $25.00 off each image, then you can add $35.00 for a sell price of around $115.00. If the printer does not go for it than he gets nothing.



Cheers: Allan

Thanks for the advice Allan! It is so appreciated!