Pimping myself or expanding my horizons? (Page 2): I pretty much agree with you, and appreciate you preferring my "normal" work. I do question the gallery owner's taste and don't...

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Cany143 wrote:

Each of these you've posted look unnecessarily ble... (show quote)

I pretty much agree with you, and appreciate you preferring my "normal" work. I do question the gallery owner's taste and don't intend to compromise myself out of existence. For one thing, I've explored this landscape for over three decades and have it in my blood and muscles and bones; she's new to the area (four years is new) and is trying to run a store. I can't expect her to instantly recognize my passion as salesworthy.

I do want people, tourists included, to recognize the natural beauty of this area, because it is too easy to exploit places that no one knows about, and that is happening here. So if it takes an overwrought image to grab someone's attention, I'll go there, for now.

If this was real photography and not just note cards, however, I'd stick to my guns and tell her, "That's not what it actually looks like." Thanks for your take on my situation.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Bret Perry wrote:

These have a nice contemporary look, to an old-school photographer, they do look slightly "over-processed" but I like them.

But BW or softer could be great, too— just in a different store!

Maybe it's that contemporary look the lady is after. Some of the images I like and others look, like CANY said, bleak (that's because I removed a lot of color from them). As much as I'm complaining, I did kind of enjoy seeing my photos rendered differently, so that was a good lesson for me.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Unless you are doing this for a living, don’t do it. Do what you are comfortable with and proud to put your name on it. To me, these are all overcooked.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

John from gpwmi wrote:

Make them to please yourself, especially if your name is on them. I think I would like your versions of the above better.

Thanks. Here is one of my original versions. I find that I don't hate the new versions, but I think I'm offended that the gallery owner would have a different suggestion! Perhaps this is a lesson about my own vanity.

(Download)

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Well you could always give her some of the "new" images and see how it goes. If they sell then perhaps she was right about what the trends are and what will sell. It doesn't do the owner any good for your images to be just be sitting on her wall. You know the bible verse that says "Pride goeth before the fall-don't want to be the case. In any case you are not doing these images to hang on your wall so keep an open mind.
I think doing the postcards could be fun.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

LoStrunzo wrote:

Like what I see. Maybe need to find another outlet

Perhaps. As I said, I have a grooming shop, so that is my source of income. Making these cards is a source of pleasure, and I like sharing my photography with people. I sound like I'm a purist, but these are just cards! But I'm glad you like them. Would you like to buy some?--ha.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

suntouched wrote:

Well you could always give her some of the "new" images and see how it goes. If they sell then perhaps she was right about what the trends are and what will sell. It doesn't do the owner any good for your images to be just be sitting on her wall. You know the bible verse that says "Pride goeth before the fall-don't want to be the case. In any case you are not doing these images to hang on your wall so keep an open mind.
I think doing the postcards could be fun.

Ain't doin' no postcards. But you're right about the owner just having stuff sitting around that won't sell. I get that. I haven't yet provided her with the "new look" cards so we'll see how that goes. When I look at the new images on my monitor I think, "Ick," but they don't look so bad as 4 by 6" prints.

I am not an event or architecture photographer, which is why I nix the postcard idea. There are lots of talented photographers around here to fill that niche. Thanks for your interest in my so-called dilemma.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

NMGal wrote:

Unless you are doing this for a living, don’t do it. Do what you are comfortable with and proud to put your name on it. To me, these are all overcooked.

To me, too. And thank God I'm not doing it for a living; otherwise someone would be posting my obituary "after a brave battle with starvation." I think this card selling business is just a phase I'm going through, kind of a post-midlife crisis.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

one shot wrote:

I have a problem putting my name on something I don't like. But then, I don't like to have someone tell me how to print my work. I probably would choose not to sell in that gallery. Your choice, of course.

I'll see where this goes, but it's not like retirement income or anything (I hope). I guess I felt challenged to try something different. Thanks for your input.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

fotoman150 wrote:

Develop your style and stick with it. Find the people that like your work and sell to them.

Thank you. I think this is good advice. Better advice for me might be to forget about selling my work.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Don’t process to please a gallery owner; he or she may know what pleases their particular clientele, but you should realize right off the bat that you are not aiming at that clientele.

Find a gallery that values and is enthusiastic about displaying and proactively marketing YOUR art! That’s what starts and maintains a good artist-gallery relationship.

Dave

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

SkyKing wrote:

...push yourself...go with what the client is looking for but add your personal touch...it’s a very modern look that would work well with the urban home styles they are showing today...this is two of the photo prints being sold at Pottery Barn...

Hmm...your comments make me realize I'd never want that kind of market. Yet I really do appreciate what you said. My photos are intended for people who know, or want to know, this area. Thanks for helping me figure that out.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Uuglypher wrote:

Don’t process to please a gallery owner; he or she may know what pleases their particular clientele, but you should realize right off the bat that you are not aiming at that clientele.

Find a gallery that values and is enthusiastic about displaying and proactively marketing YOUR art! That’s what starts and maintains a good artist-gallery relationship.

Dave

This is good advice. It's funny, one of the people that works for the gallery owner has told me that when people come in looking for original works of art but find the big stuff too expensive, she will direct them to my cards.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

SWFeral wrote:

You can tell by my title that I'm uncomfortable wi... (show quote)

Nice set.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

J-SPEIGHT wrote:

Nice set.

Appreciate that. I think I'm making too much over some silly cards.