Photographs for Competition/Gallery; What to Price them at?

[Ronza]

Hi Guys,
I've been photographing seriously for just over a year now and've decided to enter a few competitions. A flyer landed into my PO Box today, its an acquisitive prize; 3 winning prints will be "purchased" but the copyright won't be touched. Top prize is $600; the junior prize is $100 - won't quite make me a millionaire yet.

Filling out the form; there's a spot for "Price" - 50 images will be hung at an art gallery for sale, 25% commission aside. Said images be printed at 11x14" which'll cost me the princely sum of $6.00 to print each and the organisers will frame 50 selected prints.

Now - not really in it for the money, I'd be flattered at the thought of someone wanting to purchase any of my stuff to put it on their walls but at the same time wouldn't want to price stuff to hurt the chances of other serious photographers. Most of the stuff I see hanging at galleries/cafe's seem ridiculously priced but really have no idea what the going rate should be for a just-over-A4-print.

$100? $250? $80?

[Alpha_7]

I can't really help you with the price, but I'll tell your truely I'd consider having some of your work on my wall, and as yet I don't even have any of my own work on the wall.

(Me personally would be happy with $46-60 a print, but I really am out of touch with market prices).

[Willy wombat]

I think between $150-200 would be a reasonable price for a framed A4 print in a gallery and $100 for an unframed A4 print. That is what i would pay if i were in the market. However i would probably pay more if the image was absolutely mind bogglingly fabulous.

Dont sell yourself short. PS: Is "bogglingly" an actualy word?

[Matt. K]

$149.00 with a bulk discount for ten or more prints. In reality...how good is your work? Charge accordingly.

[Escapism]

Not wishing to be negative but the going rate for an unheard of yet keen photographer's prints is very low. Having just travelled around Oz and visited many many galleries, markets and the such to look at countless photographic sales, I saw fabulously talented photographers selling their prints for between $20-$40 unframed. Add a quality frame and mask and you may get an extra $50-$70...

I sell my prints for $30, framed in Jarrah for $80.

[Matt. K]

Escapism
That's too cheap for for an original work of art.

[Aussie Dave]

I think part of the equation should factor in where you are selling your artwork & what your target market is.

If it's the average Joe off the street at a local markets, then I would look to agree with Escapism's price-range . Moving to an inner CBD gallery, where those looking to buy prints are quite possibly looking for some form of investment (as well as a nice image to hang on their wall), then the name adds value. The bigger the name, the more value is added to it.

I'm sure we've all seen images being displayed for sale where some are an absolute bargain and some could be considered very over-priced.

After all, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it !

[Willy wombat]

Market prices versus gallery prices are definately different.

[Escapism]

Market prices versus gallery prices are definately different.

Absolutely...often the same degree of talent and quality is on display, its just the method of sale that is dictateing the price. Obviously if I could pull a Christian Fletcher and open a gallery in Margaret River and charge like a wounded bull I would (no disrespect intended, his work is utterly amazing) but I cant...as such I charge what I know I can sell. Perhaps one day my prices will alter due to circumstance but regardless, the prints will stil be original works of art...

[Ronza]

I've just printed the stickers off for them and decided on $150 after a highly scientific MSN survey

I printed 5x shots on the Kodak Endura Metallic stuff, picked out 4x (one of the shots which I thought would look sweet on the metallic...didn't) but for interests sake.









One of the girls at the print store complimented me on the fourth photo - subsequently thats got a $220 label on it Cost to me was 5x Prints @ $11.50 + $25 Entry Fee + $10ish postage to QLD. Assume half don't get exhibited and the gallery takes their 25% cut....I'll be a very rich man in a few centuries.

[wendellt]

yeah they are all excellent but especially like the fourth one

[colin_12]

#1 and #4 are eye catching Ronza.
Good luck in the comp.
Regards Colin