Selling your photo entries at the County Fair: Has anyone ever sold your photo entry at the County Fair? This year anyone who enters their photo into the judging competition has the...

HardwareGuy

Has anyone ever sold your photo entry at the County Fair? This year anyone who enters their photo into the judging competition has the option to sell it. The Fair gets a 15% commission.
I'm entering several framed and matted 11 x14 photos that have gotten very positive comments from friends and family. I have no idea what to charge and any thoughts, or sharing previous experiences will be welcomed.

mrpentaxk5ii

Hard to put a price on some thing you can't see, with that I bid 50 cents.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I would ask the county fair people what range people generally price their work at.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

HardwareGuy wrote:

Has anyone ever sold your photo entry at the County Fair? This year anyone who enters their photo into the judging competition has the option to sell it. The Fair gets a 15% commission.
I'm entering several framed and matted 11 x14 photos that have gotten very positive comments from friends and family. I have no idea what to charge and any thoughts, or sharing previous experiences will be welcomed.

$250 is what I have seen prices at the county fairs that I have attended. Thsat leaves about 215 for you.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

For a bare professionally done print, I’d say $125-150. Matted and well framed with good glass would add $100. Just my opinion for advanced amateur work. Recognized pros will obviously charge more. My son has sold some truly excellent prints on metallic (by Bay Photo) unframed and unmatted for $150 (and $175 for 16x20) under these circumstances, but he’s just beginning to make a name for himself.

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

Why should the work of an amateur be priced lower than that of a pro? It’s the image that is being bought and paid for. All too often, I see superior images made by an amateur over that of the pro’s. They are paying for the image. Not for who’s name is on it.

SVP

Collhar Loc: New York City.

Kiron Kid wrote:

Why should the work of an amateur be priced lower than that of a pro? It’s the image that is being bought and paid for. All too often, I see superior images made by an amateur over that of the pro’s. They are paying for the image. Not for who’s name is on it.

SVP

Good point. Makes total sense.

rond-photography Loc: Connecticut

HardwareGuy wrote:

Has anyone ever sold your photo entry at the County Fair? This year anyone who enters their photo into the judging competition has the option to sell it. The Fair gets a 15% commission.
I'm entering several framed and matted 11 x14 photos that have gotten very positive comments from friends and family. I have no idea what to charge and any thoughts, or sharing previous experiences will be welcomed.

I generally sell 11X14 on 16X20 mat for $60. For reference, 5X7 on 8X10 is $20; 8X10 on 11X14 is $40.

After looking at other photography booths, this seems to be the general price. If you have a following, and some stunning photography, you can command much more, but these are prices the average person is willing to pay. Don't get your hopes too high, though. Sorry!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

HardwareGuy wrote:

Has anyone ever sold your photo entry at the County Fair? This year anyone who enters their photo into the judging competition has the option to sell it. The Fair gets a 15% commission.
I'm entering several framed and matted 11 x14 photos that have gotten very positive comments from friends and family. I have no idea what to charge and any thoughts, or sharing previous experiences will be welcomed.

Cost plus the price of a bear.
If you want to stay legal, charge sales tax, Oh, get a vendors license from your state and then pay your sales tax to the state when it comes time. Don't forget to claim all profits, if you make any, on your state and federal tax return.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

billnikon wrote:

Cost plus the price of a bear.
If you want to stay legal, charge sales tax, Oh, get a vendors license from your state and then pay your sales tax to the state when it comes time. Don't forget to claim all profits, if you make any, on your state and federal tax return.

Wonder what bears are going for today 🐻? Just kidding, but Bill makes a good point - Pros do all those things. My son got a license and started reporting when he began getting regular photography work.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Kiron Kid wrote:

Why should the work of an amateur be priced lower than that of a pro? It’s the image that is being bought and paid for. All too often, I see superior images made by an amateur over that of the pro’s. They are paying for the image. Not for who’s name is on it.

SVP

That's a bit naïve is it not? A known name always sells higher than Joe Blow on the corner. It doesn't matter it it's photographic prints or Levis or hand bags. A DeLorean sells higher than a Chevy Volt. I understand the sentiment and in a perfect world, things might work that way, but not in the real world.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Kiron Kid wrote:

Why should the work of an amateur be priced lower than that of a pro? It’s the image that is being bought and paid for. All too often, I see superior images made by an amateur over that of the pro’s. They are paying for the image. Not for who’s name is on it.

SVP

Unfortunately the "real world" doesn't work that way.

Thomas Mangelsen gets $395 for a 10x14 print of a recent image, matted and framed. It's a signed and numbered limited edition, although his editions are usually pretty large (~400 or more). It's printed on Fuji Crystal Archive paper, mounted in museum quality 100% rag matting and all framed under anti-reflective glass (probably Tru-Vue, may or may not be UV filtering, I dunno).

But even using the same quality of materials, I doubt an "unknown" photographer could charge anywhere near that much for their work. I would be surprised if you get $200. In my opinion, you might be lucky to get $150 or $175 for an 11x14 matted and framed.

If the fair is taking a percentage of the sale price, hopefully they will also be handling the transaction and responsible for collecting any applicable sales tax.

dick ranez

Check with the fair people - selling there may not require all the "formalities" of a business license etc. They may well collect the sales tax, if any and be considered the seller. Selling a couple of prints isn't worth the hassle unless you intend to do it often.

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

An acquaintance tells me canvas prints far outsell other formats, even photos which would look much better in gloss or on metal (photos of sunsets or stars, for example).

I've also noticed many sell ordinary photos for around $60 plus the cost of the print and any mounting. Exceptional (um, all my photos are exceptional, but I don't know about yours!) or rare photos may sell for significantly more.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I don't believe people go to a Fair to buy pictures. You picture has to "bounce out" to make the sale Good luck