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on advice

Jun 7th, 2006
by Jim Reverend.
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When it comes to personal matters, the advice you, my dear readers, give is all over the board. But, I'm able to collect it and it allows me to consider opinions and thoughts I never have before. For that, I'm grateful. However, when it comes to matters of my photography and my business, quite frankly, you suck.

* You told me I wasn't charging enough for my prints, so I started charging more and my sales went down.
* It was suggested that I should make my prints as cheap as possible, which I did, this increased the number of sales but my total income was less than it was when I was charging a more moderate amount.
* By suggestion and as an exercise in testing price point I had a "name your own price" sale, which actually ended up costing *ME* $75, despite several of you making very generous offers, because I miscalculated my costs and accepted a few too many low offers.
* I was told that if I offered matting and framing more people would buy my work because it would be ready to hang. So, I spent nearly $500 buying supplies to mat anf frame prints. To date, aside from the "name your own price" sale, I've *never* had an order for anything other than an unmatted, unframed print.
* I was told that I should accept donations, so I built a page to do so. Since that time, I've had exactly $0 in donations.
* I was led to believe that a book of my work would be in high demand and that the price point I had settled on would be quite fair, and that a discounted pre-sale would be even fairer. Yet, even after begging, I only have 9 pre-sale orders despite having over 50 people respond saying they would purchase at the price I was targeting. And, to make matters worse, 6 of those 9 people aren't people who repsonded to the initial inquiry.
* The "Five-A-Week":http://revjim.net/five-a-week/ program was *my own idea* (that I stole from "Jonathan Coulton":http://jonathancoulton.com/ which *I discussed with absolutely no one*. I currently have 4 subscribers and consider it my most profitable endeavor yet despite the fact that PayPal takes 33% of the subscription rate.

I have people ask me on a regular basis how I'm making the book, who I'm using to print the book, where I get my prints made, what kind of software I use to sell my prints, what my profit margins are, how I ship my prints, where I buy matting and framing supplies, and what techniques I use to produce my photographs. It seems that everyone really likes what I'm doing and how I'm doing it, yet no one is willing to support that.

So, from now on I'm not asking for your advice. I don't care if you think my prices are too high and I don't care if you think they are too low. I don't care if you like the quality of my prints. I don't care if you like my product offering. I don't care if you don't understand my art or my vision. I don't care if you think I'm going to fail as an artist, a photographer, or a human being.

While I'm implementing this change in thought and direction, there's another big thing that needs to change. From now on, unless you're a *friend* — a real honest to goodness *friend* who has done something for me in the past, will continue to act as a friend to me, and would offer similar amounts of time, money, effort, support, and loyalty as you are asking me to offer you — I have no desire to do favors for you. I have no desire to help you sell prints. I have no desire to give information on how I'm making my book. I have no desire to photograph you, your dog, your wedding, or your children. I have no desire to give you personal feedback on your work, or to recommend equipment to you. If you aren't offering me something in return (money, ideas, a larger project, true friendship) then I have no desire to do anything for you.

To my *real* friends, my "patrons":http://flickr.com/photos/revjim/tags/forsale/, my supportive fans, my "good models":http://flickr.com/photos/revjim/tags/girl/, and my "Five-A-Week":http://revjim.net/five-a-week subscribers: you are important to me. Your thoughts and ideas and suggestions matter because you've proven that you put your time, effort, loyalty, support, and money where your mouth is. To the rest of you: well… I hope you enjoy my work. If not there are lots of other photographers on the internet. I'm sure you'll find something somewhere else to your liking.

My art is mine. I do it for me. I'll share with you if you share with me. I'll consider you if you consider me in return. It is, after all, my art, my life, and my peace of mind. I'm taking me back.

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Posted in: business, everything, life, ljxp, photography, sitenews.

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  • Bob
    Welcome to the real word Daniel!
    Forget fame and fortune, just keep on taking photographs because you enjoy taking them. Things tend to eventually work out when we do them for the best reasons.
  • Unfortunately it seems having sufficient audience is very difficult.
    I truly believe your work is top notch, but I couldn't give you any clues on how to acquire the proper clientelle(sp).

    I liked the idea of LuLu, not because of any great pricing, but because you can get the book listed in Amazon. From there, friends could buy, which would increase sales rank and associate the book with others, which might possibly increase sales.

    But, please understand that any of my recommendations should always be taken with 2352908562986 grains of salt. I don't know nearly as much as I think I do, so "You should..." would be best translated into "Have you explored..."

    The only solid recommendation I can give you is to keep trying things until it works out, because while I'm not overly well funded to be a private benefactor of yours, I definitely am happy to the world that you produce the work(s) that you do.
  • BadWolf
    I support you and whatever it is you chose to do. I don't know if you think I'm a friend or not, because I don't comment often, or whatever i do or don't do.
    I support your book and your desire to share your art with the world. I think that a lot of people who think your book is a good idea and want to buy it, and tell you so, But not everyone can actualy aford it.
    I'd love to buy a copy of your book, but I can't spare the money. Hell I can't even sell a print of any of my work.

    I don't think that people are lieing to you or trying to mislead you, I think it's just that those who support you and want to help and buy your prints/book/etc but not everyone can spare the money, or they can when they say it but something comes up where all of a sudden they can't follow through.

    I agree, don't ask peoples opinions, or do, but also do what YOU think is best, what you think is too high or low price wise for your work. Just do what you think you need to do for your work, ask opinions but only take what YOU want from it and throw the rest away, because only you can decide what the best way to handle your art.
  • Pamela
    you go, Daniel. What others think of your work DOES matter, IF they're patrons but tire-kickers shouldn't really matter. (I say this even though my recent life has reduced me to being a tire-kicker ) Do your art for you, and others will find it. I certainly like what you do, and I know tons of others do as well.
  • Live your dream, don't live everyone elses. Learn from your own mistakes and go forward. But most of all do it yourself.
  • Good. You, your wife, your closest friends, they're all that matter in the end. Really. I still hope you find some way to make all this work, even if I'm not one of those people on your important list. ;)
  • danielle
    rock on with your bad self!
  • As a photographer myself, I would probably only take advice from other successful photographers (i.e. they make money doing it) where it concerns the business of selling photographs.

    Like Farris says, people are liars. That's not to say you shouldn't be soliciting feedback on your business to prevent you from making expensive mistakes, rather that you should be soliciting feedback from the right people.
  • Jenny
    Bravo! This is what I like to hear. Accept yourself, be yourself, and own your work. This is your passion and your life. While it is frustrating to receive mixed messages, thats people for you. Feedback is nice but not the begin all and end all of the possibilities. Advice most often comes with good intentions but is tainted by people wanting to feel like they helped, not actually helping. Often times they are looking to get something out of it as well. Most people aren't honest enough with themselves to handle being honest with others.

    You (and Jess) are your best foundation. Find your footing, set your pace, and let those you want to follow you on YOUR journey. You have amazing work. I have seen it get better and better as time has gone on and I believe the more liberated you feel, the more amazing your results.

    I hope to be more supportive in more ways as time goes on. Until then, thank you for continuing to share with those of us who aren't as active with our appreciation.
  • bonnie
    Farris: Jim has been sitting on some pics of me dressed rather provocatively. Perhaps you could buy some of those if Jim will cough 'em up.
  • Jerusha
    Good for you! You should be selfish in this respect. You're worth it, and so is your art!
  • "So, from now on I'm not asking for your advice. I don't care if you think my prices are too high and I don't care if you think they are too low. I don't care if you like the quality of my prints. I don't care if you like my product offering. I don't care if you don't understand my art or my vision. I don't care if you think I'm going to fail as an artist, a photographer, or a human being."

    I'm so proud of you right now. So many "starving" artists refuse to accept what you are now embracing: consumer-driven economics are a Good Thing, but consumer-mandated business policies are retarded. If you let other people determine (or even mildly influence, in some cases) your operations, you will fail. If the ultimate goal is not profit, but just revenues supportive of your art, then you must recognize and obey real-world economics.

    For every service or product you are trying to sell, you must do so at the price that will net you the most income: the price at which $REVJIMENUE where $REVJIMENUE = ($PRICE * $UNITS_SOLD) - $COSTS is the highest.

    You can't derive $PRICE from what people SAY they will pay. People are liars. You've already know that. And, to properly experiment, you have to come up with models to forecast $UNITS_SOLD. The only variable you have complete control over is $COSTS. So, you have to choose a $COSTS, and stick to that budget, and then tinkey with the other two variables until you either stop losing money or give up your dreams and lobotimize yourself of the quest for outside financial support of your passion.

    I guess what I'm trying to say is, right on. I know I don't verbally communicate my support of your art as often as I should, and it has been entirely too long since I've purchased any of it. I'd truly like to be more supportive in any way I can, whether it's business advice, tech support, or just congratulatory praise. If there's ever anything I can do to help, you know how to ask.
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