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Comments

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  Suzi Sidock June 23, 2010 at 8:38am

  I like your thinking Bill!! Thanks! I do have a passion for my work...here's to others thinking the same!!
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  Bill Sargent June 22, 2010 at 8:03am

  There's nothing like just getting out there and doing the first 40 shows. There seems to be no way in the world to predict how an individual piece or a body of work is going to be received until you "crash test" it by hanging it out in front of the crowds. Good luck. If you have a passion for your work you should be able to put in the energy it takes to make your vision succeed.
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  Suzi Sidock June 21, 2010 at 1:11pm

  Thank you three sooo much for the advice!!! It's warming to know that you took the time to help a newbe out!!
  Thanks again, and I'm sure I'll be asking more questions!
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  Lindsay Pless June 21, 2010 at 10:49am

  I started doing shows on the advice from friends not knowing what I was doing or what I was getting into, but after the first few, it really gets in your blood.....I love it!
  
  I got a tax ID when I first started on the advice of a friend....it helped me be able to buy my materials wholesale. I got my business license this year in my third year since I wanted to be able to do bigger shows which require a license...not looking forward to the extra record keeping and everything that goes along with it but to me it means I am definitely moving forward in a good direction :-)
  
  Credit cards........a good 65% of my sales are with cards. Try www.propay.com It is only $29.95 a year with very small fees.....only 30 cents to transfer the money into your checking account and you can build these fees in your prices.
  
  Agree on Quickbooks also and Alison gave a great suggestion about protecting your photos!
  
  Do you also make photo cards? They're a great addition to your photography booth and make for some quick and easy sales. Dave does this on beautiful linen cards...I've bought several from him in the past and they are beautiful.
  
  Selling entails a lot more than just being in a show......as Dave said sharing where and how you took your photos is definitely the way to draw your customers in.
  
  Just go out there and enjoy........I'm sure you'll do great! Good luck :-)
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  Alison Thomas June 21, 2010 at 10:28am

  Hi Suzi, I am also a nature photographer and I've been doing shows for 6 years.
  Do you need a tax id - Probably. Here in Florida some shows will pass out a form to send into the tax people but it may work differently where you are. Always best to stay on the right side of the tax people.
  At least 75% of my sales are through credit card. I sometimes go an entire show without taking cash or checks. Yes, you can send them to an ATM with their debit card but quite often they don't make it back.
  Market - The most important thing in nature photographs with the explosion of digital cameras is to take photographs that the normal person thinks they can't take.
  Bookkeeping - Quickbooks
  To put your photos on the web size them to no longer that 600 pixels on the longest edge and save them at 72ppi. That way if someone does steal them they will not get a good enlargement of them.
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  Dave Hinde June 21, 2010 at 10:27am

  Sounds like how I started out 4 years ago! The Tax ID question may vary from state to state. In Virginia the shows are supposed to give you a temporary tax form. If you do more than a few shows, you are supposed to get a tax ID. I just got one and now have to go through the hassle of reporting every month!
  
  For the credit card question, it's definetely meant the difference in sales for me. I finally got an account a couple years ago when I lost a big sale because I didn't take cards, and was at a show with no friends that did (sometimes another artist will take the cc sale for you - although I don't know how legal that is). If you have a long-standing relationship with a bank, ask them first. Mine doesn't charge me a monthly fee, and they cut my setup fee in half (of course they "own" my house and car!).
  
  You can watermark your pictures on the web with several different methods using Photoshop or other software. Same with patent marks.
  
  One of the nice things about loving nature photography is that you get to share it with others at the shows. Talking about where you took the picture, or other stories, can be enjoyable. Starting out, enjoying the show should be your major focal point, and breaking even your second. Do the shows as a learning experience. That's what I've done and can now see the difference, both in my photography, and in how I prepare the photos for sale. Also, this year I've finally had a couple shows where I made as much money as I do on my "day" job.