Richard Sullivan (richsul@earthlink.net)
Wed, 21 Jul 1999 11:07:37 -0600
Well said Tom.
I have a discussion of this on my web site at:
http://www.bostick-sullivan.com/musings.htm
It has been translated and re-printed in the current issue of the Helios
journal in France.
The situation is ripe for a lawsuit. Someone, somewhere, someday, is going
to take a gallery and photographer to suit over this issue. It will be
interesting.
if I had bought a limited edition print of Leibowitz's John and Yoko print
in color, and then saw it reprinted in platinum in another limited edition,
I'd be pissed! Ok his eyes are open in the Pt and closed in the color one.
Bzzap, bzzap, bzzap goes the old motor drive. Next frame please, new
edition coming up!
--Dick Sullivan
At 09:17 AM 7/21/99 -0700, you wrote:
>This is a very common gallery "game". Lets look at an 11x14 alt
>print. The first 5 sold at $450 each (1/25 to 5/25), the next 5
>sold are $550 each, the next 5 sold are $650 each, the next 5
>sold are $750 each, the final 5 sold are $900 each.
>
>I edition at 25 "fine art prints". Period, total, without
>excuses. 25 prints are made from the neg and 2 artist proofs
>(which I don't sell). The only exception to my rule is "poster"
>type reproductions, which sell for drasticaly less money. I've
>been lucky enought to have 3 images produced as posters, two of
>which sold "5 figure" copies. These, obviously, didn't count in
>my edition!!!
>
>The galleries like this steped price plan because they can say
>"You better buy it now, before the price goes up". It is a good
>"closer" for them. In fact, early in my art selling experience,
>a New York gallery refused to carry my work untill I agreed to
>this plan.
>
>For the artist it offers a self limit to constantly selling /
>printing one or two "best sellers" and adds to your chance of
>selling "new work". When the gallery customer is looking at two
>11x14 palladium prints one new 1999 image at $450 and a 1996
>image at $900, they often go for the new one! I don't know about
>others, but I'm always far more interested in moving my newest
>stuff, not the prints from 4 years ago.
>
>Are editions and steped pricing "games": yes. Are they false to
>the nature of photography: yes. Does that matter: No! My
>advice, when you are shooting wear your artist hat. Make the art
>you "want/have to" make. Don't even think about "business". It
>will ruin both the art and the fun if you (I) do. But, once the
>art is made, put on your CEO hat. You are now selling, not
>making, art. Now is the time to loose your sentimentality and
>act like a business person.
>
>And speaking of "business", I had better get off the net and go
>order my drum scans. Exciting??? portraits of business
>executives. You see, I don't sell enough of those personal
>prints or poster to pay the mortgage yet ;-(
>
>--
>Tom Ferguson
>tomf2468@pipeline.com
>http://www.thefstop.com/tf.html
>
>----------
> >From: FotoDave@aol.com
> >To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> >Subject: Re: $$$$ how to price prints
> >Date: Wed, Jul 21, 1999, 8:14 AM
> >
>
> > In a message dated 7/21/99 7:46:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > tomf2468@pipeline.com writes:
> >
> >> That said: I'll start by mentioning my prices. 8x10 alt prints
> >> start at $300 and raise to $600 as the edition sells out, 11x14
> >
> > Tom, I don't quite understand what you meant above. If the edition
>sells
> > out,
> > doesn't mean it is out (no more print)? So what print are you raising
>to
> >
> > $600? Or do you mean you currently sell all 8x10 prints at $300 each
>and
> > will
> > raise the price when you sell out all edition? But as you continue to
> > make
> > prints, wouldn't it be that you will never sell out all the editions? I
> > believe I misread you somewhere. Could you explain a little? <SNIP>
505-474-0890 FAX 505-474-2857
<http://www.bostick-sullivan.com>http://www.bostick-sullivan.com
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