A Little Perspective and What's Ahead: What's Coming and What's Going

I've printed and produced, I've dabbled and toe-dipped, I've dreamed and planned and to say I learned a lot in 2011 is to put it mildly.

Here is a fast rundown of what I've taken away from the first several months in this new life and what it means as I move into the new year.

• This is hard work!  I mean, I knew it would be but...wow.  There are a million reasons why art costs what it does. And, yes, that means that, starting with any new production of my works, there won't be any bargain basement pricing. I was so happy just to be getting photos out of my computer I was willing to do almost anything to make them available to others when I first started out. I have learned that underselling means I risk locking myself into a level of production that is below where I want to be.
• Quality is worth the investment. I've used a few different production companies and have tried several different media. They aren't all created equal. There is nothing worse than worrying about whether an item you sell someone will hold up well over time. Future production will strictly be giclee prints and backed canvases. The price will be higher but if I am going to be taking prints back and forth to shows and exhibits, I need them to be durable, able to show well and ship well.
• There is a reason people use professionals. I thought I could save money for you and me both by framing some of my own work. Ironically I forgot to figure in the TIME it takes to frame (especially when you don't have a framing workshop to operate in.) I imagine my language will improve dramatically with framing off my plate...color is best left to the photos, not the expressive nature of the thrifty framer.
• Custom work is really fun. I LOVE the collaborative nature of this. Give me a budget, show me the room, tell me the print you like and turn me loose. I do hope to have more opportunities to do this for people. It's been a real treat for me.
• Some people do want to do their own framing. Not everyone, but some.  So, I will be making all of my prints available for purchase, unframed. More on that in the next couple weeks or so. For people who like to get ideas for framing possibilities, I will keep a gallery of past framing work up at the website.
• Care packages are a little more trouble than they are worth. I feel bad about it, but it's true, I'm not going to offer care packages in the future. I'd rather spontaneously make them for people than sell them for a living. Who knows, maybe a little extra gift will make its way into the hands of folks who purchase my work. I always like to add a 'cherry on top', especially if I can do it of my own free will as the mood strikes. Maybe I'll add some fun treats as a sale bonus sometimes...we'll see.
• Greeting cards and all that fun stuff costs too much to produce to make it worthwhile. Alas, like the care packages, this is not a direction consistent with where I am heading artistically. That doesn't mean that I won't produce them any more as add-ons, because some of the cards are quite lovely. I'm just not going to sell them as a separate line. I'm too small and it's too time intensive for the return on the investment of time and production costs.
• People go to coffeehouses to buy...coffee.  It's been great to have places to hang my work...free places that don't charge a commission...so much better than having work in my closet and it's helped me keep the purchase prices down for everyone. I've been blessed to have my work in spaces where the patrons actually LOOK at the art (definitely not the case everywhere) and I HAVE sold some work through my coffee house showings so I'm certainly not going to swear that off as a place to present myself BUT I'm going to be picky about where I go. More importantly, I have to look for places people go to buy...ART...if I want to sell art. And that may mean (WILL mean) sales commissions (from 20-50%, with 35% being typical) added to my print costs. And there are also hanging fees and rental space to add on top of that.  It also will mean an increase in my production costs as I work to show my images to their greatest potential. You really may not have grasped how inexpensively I have been offering my pieces until now. That window of opportunity is closing as I type this.
• I have to listen to my gut. I don't love everything I've produced, even if other people have fallen in love with some of the images. And while I do understand that selling work to people that THEY like is more important than me liking it, I also find myself being MUCH happier when I love the work, too. I am THRILLED when someone purchases one of my favorite prints. That's how I want to feel about every print that I sell. Therefore, I am reserving the right not to produce some photos, no matter what you say.
• It's to everyone's advantage to purchase my work via my website. I just don't know that many people are going to find me that way. Selling from my home means no commissions or rental or hanging fees to pay so I can bypass those costs and you get work delivered to your door (usually with a treat or two inside). The thing is, as someone who is still largely unknown, no one is searching the web for my photos. Of course, if YOU like my work and want dibs on it at the lowest price I am able to offer, you can let me know to put you on my mailing list. And if you know people with whom my work might resonate, send them over. It's word of mouth on the web where this part of my life is concerned. (your mouths).
• Time is precious. I have to factor this in, whether I factor it into my prices, or in chosing where and how to focus my energies. I was willing to throw myself headlong into ridiculously long hours to get myself moving. That isn't good as a lifestyle. Discernment and a realistic assessment of investment (financial, emotional, temporal...) is going to be given greater attention now that I have a few good lessons under my belt.
• Some day I have to do a coffeetable book.  I did a portfolio book for myself and I've had many requests from people to buy one. I just can't afford to make it affordable (I can't buy in the quantity to make it feasible for you to own at a realistic price). It may not happen this year, but it's already in my head (sort of) so I will be ecstatic when I can actually do it. (Maybe I'll try a kickstarter project for this...)
• Some of my work is meant to be exhibited but is unlikely to be purchased. I do need to figure out how to do an exhibit of my end of life photos. I do have some really cool ones (and even other people say it, not just me). But this is a completely different animal, things for exhibit that won't make good home decor...hmmmm...another seed to germinate...

Bottom line: I'm so happy looking ahead.I've met some great people and have learned a ton this year. I've done some work I'm really proud of and have some people in my life with pieces that I love knowing they have.  I've gotten a few new prints done that I really love and have plans to redo some current works to show them off more beautifully. I'm meeting with a possible teacher tomorrow (maybe even gallery space with him) and checking out another gallery on Thursday. Whether I can make the investment right now...that's tough...but I'm getting the balls in motion so stay tuned. And I have my eye on a few other places.  I'm getting some upgraded software for my production and am really looking forward to getting more prints up for you. I'm more deeply committed to this all the time and clearer every day about what is and what is not consistent with what I'm wanting to create.

Stay tuned...

 

 

Comments

[Jacqui]

mmm LOVIN the idea of your beautiful work in a coffee table book.. put me down as your first customer for one of those please!!! ( whenever that may happen! )

[Laura]

Thanks! I really want to do it. I'll have to really research. Maybe pre-orders...maybe kickstarter...I need to get the production money to get a good price point for everyone's sake. We'll see...

[Kate]

Kickstarter! I'm loving that place, and it is so easy for us who want to support you to share the news.
And so far, none that have come my way have failed to reach their goal.

oh, btw, GREAT post.

[Laura]

Thank you, m'dear. And THANKS for forwarding The Hives' kickstarter project!!