I have a few outlets/venues/galleries that have agreed to take a look at some of my work. I simply don't have the time and cash, nor the ink and paper to waste on experimenting with different sizes. I'd like to mount and mat the prints and also some as gallery wraps. I've asked the folks at the venues what sizes sell and they don't have a clue either - which I find weird...
I personally like large prints - anything less than 13x19 is a waste to my taste. I have excellent equipment and make large fine art prints on my 24" Epson 7800 that take advantage of it. But - that's *me*. Over the years I've seen photographers sell work ranging from postcard to poster size. I've seen 3x4 in a 8x10 frame and 4x5's framed in a 16x20 frame. I think it's weird seeing so little in the middle of so much but I ask myself - "does it sell?".
I did a search and can't find anything relevant and find it hard to believe the question hasn't popped up before. So now I ask the pros on FM - what is your best selling print size and what type of art is it selling at that size. I ask the type because to my mind someone buying an art piece (such as an abstract) may have a different take than someone buying a landscape.
Thanks!
The only two sizes that I've sold are 7-1/2 X 10 (usually in 16 X 20 frames) and 10 X 15 (usually in 20 X 30 frames).
That said, all my sales are to private parties (i.e., either friends or word-of-mouth) or to existing clients of my product photography services.
I had an exhibition in a coffee house in 2009 and after printing, matting, and framing 20 prints, I sold zero. But I got a nice commission which netted me much more than the exhibition cost.
If you're working with a gallery, I suggest asking what size they want (not what size sells) so they can show the work off best. If it's a crowded gallery with busy walls, you may need small prints to fit in, or not...
As a good introduction to what to expect from galleries, I suggest reading Cay Lang's book "Taking the Leap." It explains a lot about what gallery owners want, what they are accustomed to getting, and how to get them on your side.
Remember that making prints for sale "on spec" is always going to entail some risk on your part and that sales always fall short of expectations. So look for ways to get the most flexibility at your end with the minimum cost.
cwebster wrote:
As a good introduction to what to expect from galleries, I suggest reading Cay Lang's book "Taking the Leap." It explains a lot about what gallery owners want, what they are accustomed to getting, and how to get them on your side.
<Chas>
Thanks for that - always looking for a new book to add to the library - I might even get around to reading this one.
(we all have those unread good intentions books don't we?)
Thx!
Jon
You'll have a hard time selling any print bigger than the one's you display. If you want to sell 30"x40" prints
you better have some on the wall. You may not sell many but they will make the 24" x 30" and 16" x 20" prints seem smaller and more affordable by comparison
One advantage to the old brick and mortar studio concept was having reception and sales areas where sample images could be displayed in a living room or office-like setting which allows the client to get an idea of scale.
In the Washington, D.C area all the high-end portrait photographers rent wall space at the shopping malls with the high-end designer shops like Chanel, Fendi, etc. and display large prints with rack on the wall with a brochure. I don't know how much volume that generates in terms of commissions for prints the same size, but it certainly good targeted marketing to the people who can afford a 30 x 40 over the sofa in the livingroom.
Before the economy tanked I sold many 16 x 24s matted to 24 x 32. My best selling size was 12 x 18 matted to 18 x 24......I would sell them all day long at art shows and in gallery's. I also sold some 9 x 12 matted to 12 x 16 to people that didn`t have enough room on their walls. After 2008 everything seemed to change.... no more 24 x 32s....not even many 18 x 24s. Sold mostly 12 x 16s and started selling flat prints (no matt) 9x12s and 12 x 18s cheap. Last year things have been improving and I also started doing canvas prints on Gator board. Prints 12x18 matted to 18 x 24 seem to be improving....but it seems I sell more canvas on Gator board then anything else. 9x14, 12x18 and 16x24 canvas sizes. People seem to like these on Gator board because they don`t have to be framed and they are different then the normal gallery rap. I put 1/2 in. blocks on the back so they hang 1/2 in off the wall and make a nice shadow.
Hopefully things will improve even more this year.....but I don`t know if we will ever see sales like during the bubble.
Best of luck Peter
Peter Le wrote:
Before the economy tanked I sold many 16 x 24s matted to 24 x 32. My best selling size was 12 x 18 matted to 18 x 24......I would sell them all day long at art shows and in gallery's. I also sold some 9 x 12 matted to 12 x 16 to people that didn`t have enough room on their walls. After 2008 everything seemed to change.... no more 24 x 32s....not even many 18 x 24s. Sold mostly 12 x 16s and started selling flat prints (no matt) 9x12s and 12 x 18s cheap. Last year things have been improving and I also started doing canvas prints on Gator board. Prints 12x18 matted to 18 x 24 seem to be improving....but it seems I sell more canvas on Gator board then anything else. 9x14, 12x18 and 16x24 canvas sizes. People seem to like these on Gator board because they don`t have to be framed and they are different then the normal gallery rap. I put 1/2 in. blocks on the back so they hang 1/2 in off the wall and make a nice shadow.
Hopefully things will improve even more this year.....but I don`t know if we will ever see sales like during the bubble.
Best of luck Peter...Show more →
Extremely interesting post - thanks so much!
I too used to sell 12x18 and 13x19 matted out to 18x24 because the size fits so well and the frames seem to hit a good price point. But I haven't been able to move them now either. Thus my post on what sizes are selling - I suspected smaller was teh answer but *how much smaller*. I think you've given me a good handle on that.
Now about this canvas on gatorboard thing. I was in Lowes the other day and noticed some reasonably nice thin wood sheets that were 1/4" thick, surprisingly affordable and had a nice finish. I was thinking "hmmm - get some shorter staples and nail some canvas to that. Seems you are dong something similar but I'd like details or a reference if you don't mind. I bet they look great being stood out from the wall by blocks - genius! - and it answered my question of the best way to hang such a creation.
Thanks!
BubbaJon wrote:
Extremely interesting post - thanks so much!
I too used to sell 12x18 and 13x19 matted out to 18x24 because the size fits so well and the frames seem to hit a good price point. But I haven't been able to move them now either. Thus my post on what sizes are selling - I suspected smaller was teh answer but *how much smaller*. I think you've given me a good handle on that.
Now about this canvas on gatorboard thing. I was in Lowes the other day and noticed some reasonably nice thin wood sheets that were 1/4" thick, surprisingly affordable and had a nice finish. I was thinking "hmmm - get some shorter staples and nail some canvas to that. Seems you are dong something similar but I'd like details or a reference if you don't mind. I bet they look great being stood out from the wall by blocks - genius! - and it answered my question of the best way to hang such a creation.
Thanks!...Show more →
Don't use wood sheets...they will warp over time and your canvas will sag. Gatorboard is a very stable, yet light product that will not warp. Glue the canvas to the Gatorboard and either hang it like Peter or you can frame it. In either case, no glass in front...you get that full canvas texture coming through.
Glad I could help BubbaJon.......I would stay away from the Lowe`s stuff.....although cheap I would not trust it . Google Gator Board it has been around a long time and is very rigid and long lasting. There are many places out there selling it on the web cut to many different sizes. You may also find it locally from a plastics supplier in 4X8 sheets.....this is definitely the cheapest way to buy it.......should be around 45 to 65 dollars a sheet. It cuts well on a table saw......can also be cut with a heavy razor on a matt cutting rig......but hard to get through the outer wood vernier skin. It comes in white or black......you can make the print a little over size... apply it to the board..... flip it over and cut the extra canvas with a sharp exacto knife. This gives a nice black edge(if using black Gator) or is best if you are going to frame it. It can also be rapped and gives a cool clean look. Comes in 3/16 and 1/2 inch. I prefer 3/16 and is plenty stiff for up to 20x30 and is easier to rap.
The best way I have found to apply the canvas is with something called Miracle Muck.....google it and you will find where to buy it. It works very well even for rapping....although I do that in two steps. You can also get Gator Board with adhesive already on it ....but is very expensive and I did not like the adhesion with canvas.
Again Best of luck....Peter
My bird photos and some landscapes 8X10 framed, my landscapes 16X20 matted. These are really the only two sizes I deal with. I sell probably four 8X10s to one 16X20. Mostly in galleries.
It depends on the subject. For my landscape work 24x30 is my most popular size however for portraits and weddings it 16x20. Of course I'm just talking wall sizes, 8x10 and small obviously outsell wall sizes when it comes to portraits.
I've been selling online for 15 years, and in my own gallery (mostly all gallery-wrapped canvas) for four years - all landscapes. I offer at least a dozen different sizes online each for paper and canvas, and in the gallery sometimes there are even more different sizes on the wall. I also sell direct to interior designers for custom jobs and offer any size they want.
- 99% of all online sales are for an 11x14 paper print in a black mat.
- Most repeat gallery sales are either 38x48 or 30x60 canvas. Small canvas prints don't sell too well.
- 95% of all sales (paper prints) to interior designers are 24x36, 30x40, and 30x60.
