SELLING CANVAS PRINTS
Mar 20, 2014 11:21:50 #
If you're seriously going into doing canvas prints as a look for your artwork, I would suggest you visit some art shows and fairs to get an idea of what others are charging. Be careful to note if their pictures are actually SELLING for the prices listed. Also note artists who do work similar to yours. I have a friend who does canvas prints at Costco. I believe her sales price for a 20x30 is $400. She sells a lot of them. I prefer the look on aluminum. I price the final piece at 3-4 times the cost price. Part of the pitch on the increased price is that they don't need expensive framing.
Mar 20, 2014 15:01:37 #
CGProPrints does a 16X20 for $28. Better quality than others also. Ship in 3 days.
https://www.cgproprints.com/
https://www.cgproprints.com/
Mar 20, 2014 15:08:14 #
Mar 20, 2014 15:10:31 #
Good point AZ. Framing is expensive. Thanks for the tip on checking out the competition. I plan on visiting and hopefully getting into, the Laguna Beach Arts festivals. Rich beach community and they love to brag and boast about their art. ;-) Thanks
Mar 20, 2014 15:11:01 #
Mar 20, 2014 15:54:35 #
The only problem with canvas is that you loose detail of the image. Prints on metal are much better. I don't know how to price your images but I'd double the cost of printing and add your going price to the art of your image.
RichardJohn wrote:
Does anyone have experience selling their prints on canvas or metal? I'm getting a lot of requests for some of my pics to be put on canvas/metal and I'm not sure how to structure the pricing, specifically the mark-up. I know what Bay Photo and Canvas on Demand and Costco charge, but not sure of the % of mark-up since I haven't sold my work before. Is there an industry standard? Any suggestions would be so appreciated. Thanks, Rich
Mar 20, 2014 16:20:15 #
OK Rich, here's the deal...
If you are a professional photographer who makes a living selling fine art photographs, you would be someone with a body of work, a web site, maybe a gallery showing or two, or at least building toward those things. Your work commands a premium price.
Or, if you are like me and consider yourself an advanced amateur who takes pretty good (sometimes great) photos that your friends and colleagues have praised and even asked to have copies of from time to time, then you are in it for the love rather than the money. If this is you, then there is likely more value in having lots of people enjoying your art on their walls than there is in making a lot of money off just a few copies.
In other words, what is more important to you....knowing there are 50 copies of your surfer on peoples walls that they paid a modest fee for.....or 2 copies on a couple strangers walls that they paid $500 for? For me, the large framed prints I sell are generally in the $175-$225 range, including an "average" priced wood frame from Hobby Lobby, (bought with the 40% off coupon). But making a profit off my hobby is not my primary goal. Having my nice photos hung on friends walls is.
Another thing I do, which I didn't see any of my UHH buds mention yet, is I put a "Limited Edition" label on my prints. If anything, this potentially helps validate higher prices.
To find my market range, I donated a few framed prints to charity auctions, and then tracked what they went for, and they were generally in that range of $175-225. So far, that price range seems fair to people, and is high enough they feel they are getting a product of value and not some cheap stock picture. I also sign and number the print (well...the mat).
Don't know if any of that helps, but it is something to think about. Best of luck, and keep taking those great beach sunset photos....those are my favorites too! Cheers!
If you are a professional photographer who makes a living selling fine art photographs, you would be someone with a body of work, a web site, maybe a gallery showing or two, or at least building toward those things. Your work commands a premium price.
Or, if you are like me and consider yourself an advanced amateur who takes pretty good (sometimes great) photos that your friends and colleagues have praised and even asked to have copies of from time to time, then you are in it for the love rather than the money. If this is you, then there is likely more value in having lots of people enjoying your art on their walls than there is in making a lot of money off just a few copies.
In other words, what is more important to you....knowing there are 50 copies of your surfer on peoples walls that they paid a modest fee for.....or 2 copies on a couple strangers walls that they paid $500 for? For me, the large framed prints I sell are generally in the $175-$225 range, including an "average" priced wood frame from Hobby Lobby, (bought with the 40% off coupon). But making a profit off my hobby is not my primary goal. Having my nice photos hung on friends walls is.
Another thing I do, which I didn't see any of my UHH buds mention yet, is I put a "Limited Edition" label on my prints. If anything, this potentially helps validate higher prices.
To find my market range, I donated a few framed prints to charity auctions, and then tracked what they went for, and they were generally in that range of $175-225. So far, that price range seems fair to people, and is high enough they feel they are getting a product of value and not some cheap stock picture. I also sign and number the print (well...the mat).
Don't know if any of that helps, but it is something to think about. Best of luck, and keep taking those great beach sunset photos....those are my favorites too! Cheers!
Mar 20, 2014 16:40:02 #
don1047 wrote:
CGProPrints does a 16X20 for $28. Better quality than others also. Ship in 3 days.
https://www.cgproprints.com/
https://www.cgproprints.com/
How much does shipping add to that?
At Costco I can pick up for free at the warehouse. Cost for a 16x20 is $37.99.
I am pretty happy with their quality, but if there is a problem, say a small flaw or the color is off, you just take it back to Costco for a refund. No hassles.
Mar 20, 2014 18:10:42 #
Don, shipping with CG Pro Prints is $14.50 I'm trying different companies to see which one best suits my fancy. My goal was to try 3 or 4, and pick the best one. Canvas On Demand had a nice product, but took forever to get to me. I'm trying CG Pro Prints today with one order I'm shipping to Illinois and they swear by a 3 day shipping turn around. We'll see. Easy Canvas Prints was going to be my 3rd option, and Costco the final one. There is a Costco blocks from my house. Everyone seems to say good things about Costco so unless one of these other options dazzles me, I'll most likely go with Costco. Don't know if they do metal prints or not though.
Mar 20, 2014 18:22:38 #
lighthouse
Loc: No Fixed Abode
CaptainC wrote:
There is no industry standard. You charge what your skill and reputation can command. A 3X markup would be on the low end.
If your time is worth anything, selling an $80 print for $150 is a loser. I would think it should be at least $250 and that is a bit low. Of course maybe your work could command $800 or just $85.00.
If your time is worth anything, selling an $80 print for $150 is a loser. I would think it should be at least $250 and that is a bit low. Of course maybe your work could command $800 or just $85.00.
Yes, what Cap is saying is inline with what works for me.
If you aren't selling for 4X cost then it is probably not worth the hassle.
But seeing as you already have 5 buyers lined up and no one is taking commission out of it then maybe $300 each is OK.
Mar 20, 2014 18:22:39 #
Timarron, thank you for all that information. I like the "Limited Edition" idea, and a couple people asked for a signed copy, but I'm probably more like you...an advanced amateur who has a job already (Govt) but since I'm retiring this year I hope to make this a professional second career. I have friends how are Pro Surf Photographers, and shoot for magazines and surf companies. They get to travel all over the world, shoot surf and get a decent salary for it. One is well established and has been for years. He is here: http://www.aaronchang.com/gallery I'm not anywhere near where he is at, but I would like to be close one day, but for now I'm shooting and selling mostly to friends, friends of friends, and people on Facebook. The surf picture you see further up in this thread I'm selling for around $200 for a 20x30 canvas, a little over a 3X mark up. If someone wants it framed, I'll accommodate and raise the cost accordingly. One thing I don't have is any name for myself ...yet, so I can't justify a much bigger price unless I sell some at an outdoor gallery like the ones they have in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. Just selling by mostly word of mouth right now, but its all been surprisingly really positive. Thanks for all your wonderful advice.
Mar 20, 2014 18:23:39 #
RichardJohn wrote:
Don, shipping with CG Pro Prints is $14.50 I'm try... (show quote)
Costco does NOT to metal, but I have been ordering their canvases in various sizes and for the price I am happy with them.
Please let us know how CG Pro Prints turns out. Their pricing for the 20x30 sure sounds good.
Mar 20, 2014 18:25:14 #
Mar 20, 2014 23:46:22 #
RichardJohn wrote:
Timarron, thank you for all that information. I li... (show quote)
I spent some time looking through Aarons work, and it is indeed awesome. He has clearly spent a lot of effort on the "business" side of his photography as well as the work itself, and is now in a position to command premium prices for his work. It would be interesting to ask how much he sold his FIRST photo for!
Another world class photog is Peter Lik at lik.com. At his web site, his newest release is also an ocean wave. In his comments, he said he took "several weeks looking for the right location and took thousands of images of waves". That must be an indication of the dedication necessary to be in the elite category of photographers. Some of his photos are several thousand dollars.
Or, we could follow the advice of Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote the following to some high school english students "Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out whatÂ’s inside you, to make your soul grow".
Mar 21, 2014 00:26:58 #
greg vescuso
Loc: Ozark,Mo.
RichardJohn wrote:
Thanks Capture. Good information. I take mostly be... (show quote)
Take into consideration where your market is.I live in Missouri my market wouldn't be half of what Huntington Beach would be I think in your market
$500 is on the lower side of your market price, your area will pay this and more.
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