Why we need to buy and print more photos
Or stop scrolling through Instagram for inspiration.
The Net.
The internet is an amazing resource for a wide variety of different subjects. It has made connecting with people around the world easier than ever. It has even created a new way of publishing work be it through, online galleries, live stream events, or even interactive media. The creation of the internet has revolutionised the way we live our lives and has impacted how when and why we take in information. The invention of the smartphone made it possible to access the network between digital spaces where ever you are, whenever you want.
Whilst it does allow us to do all these amazing things I do think it has some shortfalls.
Let’s get physical!
Photographs are like people.
That might sound outré but bear with me and I’ll try to explain.
As we have all learnt from being locked up in our houses for the past year, the only real contact we have had with people have either been the people we live or work with. We have not been able to go and socialise with other members of society unless we stayed 2 metres apart or via video calls. Both of the previously mentioned are better than isolationism but neither really give us a satisfying connection with the opposing individual/s. Video calls especially I found, leaves much to be desired. It is hard to build that connection not only because of the slight delay between the two individuals but also because the atmosphere of conversation is completely lost.
Face to face, close up, stuck in. Here we can read every subtle gesture given, we build a connection, we can feel the presence of the room. That distance the screen creates is gone, the wall has fallen.
Photographs are exactly the same. The ability to view a photograph in the real world makes it a thousand times better. You can read the subtle details, the grain the texture of the print. You can build a connection with the person or place photographed, and you can feel the atmosphere of the photograph itself in how the picture is printed.
Whilst a moody black and white photo of some foliage may be perfectly composed if it is only published digitally the photo loses the chance to be something even greater.
I know I don’t look very happy, but I am incredibly pleased with how this print came out!
There’s no gift shop in an online gallery.
When browsing online galleries you can scroll up and down and maybe click a button to read more information on the selected image, once you are done you close the tab or navigate to YouTube to watch cat videos again. In a real physical gallery, you view each image and feel the emotion the photographer wants you to feel. You walk to the next, still carrying the weight of the last image. Upon the end of the exhibition, you can choose to make a purchase to help the creator, curator and gallery. Anything from a guide, a photo book or even a fridge magnet. You can take something physical home, a part of the work. You also take home the experience, the thoughts, the feelings. This is your psycho souvenir. The memories and emotions are stored within your purchase and it will transport you back to the gallery and ignite the feelings you felt on that very day.
What you and I can do!
We can make a difference, we need to agree to print more, we could even surprise ourselves by seeing our own work printed or printing on certain papers.
If you have a gritty high contrast scene why not print it on some textured paper as opposed to a standard satin poster paper. I personally never use to like using glossy paper for black and white images but this year I have come around to the idea because of seeing a photo of the chrome bumper of a classic car printed on matte paper. It didn’t sit well with me personally.
At the end of the day, it’s all about experimentation and if you find a paper that brings your photograph to the next level then that’s great!
Show it off
If you think that the image has extra depth then show it off! The more people see your work physically the more likely they are to connect with the work. Put on an exhibition, show your peers, sell some prints!
In regards to selling prints don’t be that person that overcharges, by all means, cover your costs for the prints but if you mark the prints up too much it might turn people off immediately. I personally found a company that handles all the printing and shipping but does not charge too much in the grand scheme of things.
Say you choose to sell an image for $10, the company you use charges $2 to print and takes 15% of the profit you make. This will then leave you with a $6.5 profit. To me, this seems like a fair selling price. This also allows for enough room to offer a discount code to try and incentivise people to buy!
Speaking of which if you have made it this far through this article here’s your reward.
Use the code “READER” at my online store for 20% off your order!
(Nice segway)
Once you have some work up for sale tag me on Twitter, Instagram, email or comment below and I will be sure to have a look and maybe make a purchase!
I aim to keep these articles free!
That said it does cost money to host this website. For your consideration I will advertise my own products below that will go towards keeping this website up and running for the foreseeable future.
