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

It's like asking how many high school athletes go pro. The answer is, NOT MANY.
There is so much competition today that selling prints has become extremely difficult.
Just a few of us MAKE MONEY. I have had three shows over the past 4 years and my total profit was less than $4000.00 total for all three shows. What I consider is a great print is not necessarily what others think.
If I were not retired with a great pension I would be just another starving artist.
My advice, enjoy your work, hang some of your best at home and enjoy your main job.

CaptainPhoto

Why do you think all the professional photographers switched from trying to sell prints to writing books, publishing ebooks and making instructional tutorials along with doing workshops. People just don't buy prints anymore since the explosion of digital camera. They can take their own photo and get it printed and framed. It isn't because your stuff isn't any good, I'm sure it is. I have talked to professional wedding photographers. They have taken a hit in business because every mother, friend or neighbor has gotten a digital camera and are advertising as wedding photographers. I have attended may weekend craft shows, farmers markets and seen a lot of 10 x 10 tents with lots of photographers trying to sell their stuff. And I don't see a lot of people buying stuff. Talk to Mike Moats, a professional macro photographer. He use to set up at lots of craft shows, 10 x 10 tent the whole nine yards, framed, unframed, etc. He gave that up years ago. Just not worth the trouble and expense. Very low return rate. Offering framed prints is definitely not the way to go, regardless of the quality of the frame. Your choice of frame may not match the buyers taste or decor. You're wasting your time and money offering framed images. If you're going to go this route, go with a simple mat and standard size prints that people can buy standard size frames. Just my 2 Cents.

SonyBug

Because everybody today has a cell phone and thinks they are a photographer. I have filled my walls, and now look for other ways to express myself. So, I am starting to do video, even though I did that years ago, now I post my stuff for others to see on YouTube. No money involved, but just a way to express myself.

If you want to make money, do portraits. People will pay for pictures - of themselves.

tcthome Loc: NJ

ELNikkor

I walk around the local craft and art festivals observing the booths that get the most action. If it is art or photography, it is those that have some small prints for around $10. The booths with lines cuing almost always are selling some kind of immediately consumed food. It is actually depressing to see a poorly lit and arranged booth with a sad looking photographer or painting artist, sitting in a chair, watching hundreds of people walk by without a second glance at, what the photographer or painter perceives, are his/her precious works of valuable art. They've invested a lot of time, expense and hassle to get to this show, and will end up leaving with nothing to show for it. Yet, years ago, a man cleverly packaged and sold rocks he found on the beach, and made a fortune. It is not necessarily the product, but the marketing that makes the business a success.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Selling photography is one of the hardest things to do. Everyone has a camera, and everyone thinks they are just as good as you are. So why should they buy yours instead of simply framing their own? I'm not aggressive when it comes to selling, so I don't do too well. I have a friend who is quite aggressive and she makes a good living doing art shows. Having small, less expensive items made with your photos does help one make booth. I'm finding that the larger prints, while admired, don't sell. They're too much $$ and "there's no wall space" for them. And it is true that modern houses don't have a lot of wall space. There's not even the "over the couch" space that was always a good sale in years past.

When I watch buyers at art fairs, I find that they buy things they can wear or eat and sometimes quirky things. Very few are looking for wall art. Sorry if I sound cynical. I've done art fairs for years.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Poifect!
Print the digital version.
Paint over it like a paint-by numbers project.
Number them: "X of 500". Every one will be different.

Normafries Loc: San Jose CA

I could not agree more! I have done the tent-on-street shows, been in galleries, held open studios, and hung art for sale in coffee shops. And the #1 thing I have learned is that people like to have a connection with the image and often get that through connection with the artist telling the story of the image. In other words, the images do not sell themselves no matter how good you think they are. But I have had considerable success when I engage with the viewer. Nothing better than at the end of the story, they say "I'll take it!" But you also have to be able to smartly promote your work and ALWAYS think of how you promote from their perspective, not yours.

Lastly, I agree that a watercolor (painted) vs what looks like a watercolor (digital) should indeed be far more expensive for all the reasons given by others. I have tried the former (failed) and now successfully sell the latter and have no issue whatsoever with the watercolor original selling for far more money. But both are art IMHO.

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

I can only tell you what I did .. Started the same as you with the Idea in my older years that if I ever wanted to pursue photography every day I had to get my work out there I started visiting galleries in the area . To see what was selling only being able to print 13 x 19 Max i new I wanted more .I had spent the past 5 years at the time getting real good at editing other peoples image and my own . Developing a skill that would be my ticket to getting to where I wanted to . I met someone struggling to keep his gallery open but needed cheap labour to tend the gallery while he held down a paying Job.. he had a Canon IPF 8300 a 44inch wide printer so I was able to get my canvases printed wholesale ... 24 x 36 sold the best and high resolution sunsets and sunrises were the best sellers here in Florida he was printing large at the time 20 x50 , 36 x 60 mainly panos And so was I ... they seem to overwhelm the customer into buying . Everything was gallery wrapped canvases this was 2011 ..but to support monthly slow spells the key was printing for other photographers that didn't have access locally to printing . That proved to be the key to printing my works inexpensively long story short he bought a 60 inch printer to print larger and the Canon printer needed 2 new heads at $900.00 for the pair and gave the printer to me ...He later moved 95 miles away and I stayed fixed the printer and continued to print for 6 or 7 photographers .. I now have that printer and a New Canon PRO 4000 and a Epson 7800 to print on allure metal panels in the future .. just got a laminator to put the gloss finish on them I have been to busy to print my own work but don't need to every time they sell I sell ...just to keep their galleries full ... My point get the biggest printer you can afford and you you will be busy in photography... maybe to busy..eventually maybe your own gallery to support your vision I print from home and still go on photo trips ...

Normafries Loc: San Jose CA

You bring up a great point! Photography services can yield sales as well. I edit others photos and get them prepared for gifts the customer wants to give, etc. Printing others work is a great photography service. My printer goes to 17x22 and that has been enough for the types of things my own customers want. And of course, if it is your cup o' tea, teaching what you know. I have made more money from teaching one-on-one than sales of my work (although it is close!).

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Hehe, Yea, I can't paint worth a crap!

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I use Weebly for a website. Very easy, drag and drop approach using their online software. Have never sold a thing via the website, it's mostly for show. I have sold in galleries and at photography receptions. I know that selling photographs is difficult as people do not want to pay anything near what they are actually worth.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Shows and galleries. Around here most venues charge @ 50%. Plus expenses. How much can they sell it for?
It's more of a mobile society. Folk just move every few years. They hang- the TV, a clock, and one picture.
If it ain't a WOWZA! picture to knock the socks off rich Aunt Ida, they don't want it.
Those beautiful pictures you took and lovingly framed? Competes with Tiktok and Youtube for attention.
Can you do Kanya, sweaty and muscular, with 2 thicc groupies, on black velvet, blanket throw size? Success!
Some shows have services. Take a picture for the family. Maybe in front of a Disneyland backdrop. Bring hats.
Got costumes? Gunslinger and hooker is very popular for the under 40/ under 200lb club.
Did a few Corps show. Shots of the dinner for the newsletter kinda thing. The busy moneymaker was a photo booth. Lotsa cheapo hats, boas, noses, wigs and hairpieces, plastic swords, etc. Always a line. Cash.

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

It is less valuable for the same reason a brand new, custom ordered, Mustang GT is less valuable than a 1965 Mustang coupe. Perception, and the "I've got something you don't" syndrome. I am with you as to the relative value. To me most "art" looks like paint or other medium on canvas/paper. A photograph presents an actual image of what is. That's why there is nothing hanging on my walls except photographs. Watch Mecum or Barrett-Jackson auto auctions to get a feel for the true idiocy of humans.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

I am a marketing, creative guy most of my pro life. I am trying to make gallery or just prints to enjoy
to sell. I have images almost ready tweak or two maybe gimmick like color spot on b&w and a story in the shot like culture Italian lifestyle in b&s shot with Leica.
Have not got very far with this project. I shoot video for money that has stopped.
I do know good comments here are you have to be able to be a biz guy.
And even with that skill you never know what will happen.
Good luck my friend.