Selling Fine Art Photos

Submitted by Syv Ritch on 18. May 2011 - 9:50

Alain Briot did an interview with Gordon Lewis of Shutter Finger. Alain Briot is a successful fine art photographers with a few books under the belt.

My matted and framed prints sell for as much as $3900. But again, understand that I am selling much more than a print in a frame. I am selling my unique vision and style. I am selling prints of exceptional quality and beauty. I am selling luxury-level customer service combined with a one-year 100% money back guarantee, a lifetime fade-free warranty, and a lifetime framing warranty. And this is all an integral part of how I market my work.

— Alain Briot, the author of "Marketing Fine Art Photography"
— Shutter Finger

The important part is “understand that I am selling much more than a print in a frame.” He is selling luxury-level customer service! I will make a guess that Alain doesn't sell his prints from behind a counter. Many of his photos are sold in galleries. Close you eyes (after reading this post), the “potential” customer walks in the gallery, looks around, gets a wine glass from the gallery owner, they look…

  • How many will buy from the gallery and ask for the framed print to be delivered?
  • How many of the customers will try the photo on their walls before buying the print?

Whatever the percentage, this is a personal sale, two people interacted and did the transaction. It isn't an impersonal transaction with a counter separating them. The people get to know each other, not like on Craig's list.

Actually, he's selling much more than luxury-level customer service. He's also selling his name which in part he built by writing books, web articles especially at Luminous Landscapes, workshops…