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  David Perry Lawrence February 9, 2016 at 3:41pm

  I dont have the time to look for the rules of one fair that required pics to be in folios right now, but it was there. a folio is a set of images on the same theme.

  I'm starting a new thread on signing photographs if people would like to chip in.

  thanks

  --david
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  Larry Berman February 8, 2016 at 8:45pm

  The shows that require expect all sizes to be inclusive. But I know a great many photographers that only number their larger sizes and sell the smaller prints unlimited.

  As for signing, I would sign on the front of the mat in pencil and I sign my metal prints on the back. But there is no hard rule. Just be consistent and have a COA with every print so people know what they are purchasing.

  Larry Berman
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  Cindy Lindow February 8, 2016 at 8:39pm

  Thank you so much for this great discussion you are answering many of the questions I have had regarding applying with my photography to art shows. I do have a few more. I personally found that prints without signatures seem to sell better so I only sign my matted or mounted prints. I sign them on the back of the print so as not to interfere with the photo. So in terms of a show requiring limited edition signed prints could I sign/number on back? Would say the #250 incorporate all sizes of a print or only one size i.e. 250 20x30's and 250 12x18's. Thanks for your help.
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  Larry Berman February 8, 2016 at 8:01pm

  First, I don't believe in numbering photographs. Again, it's the competitions way of forcing limiting the number of prints you can sell. But most of the shows that require it say editions of no more than 250 in the edition. Virginia Beach is the only show I've heard of that actually checks, watch out for the art police....

  Here's an interesting related article:
  http://bermangraphics.com/artshows/photographysrole.htm

  I don't know what a folio means in terms related to art shows. After over 35 years of doing shows I've never heard of that term.

  Larry Berman
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  David Perry Lawrence February 8, 2016 at 7:57pm

  Thanks Connie for your response and input. I'm new here. It's wonderful to get so much support and dso many answers to a question. A true community.
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  David Perry Lawrence February 8, 2016 at 7:55pm

  Thanks to all of you for replying to this thread with your own take on this subject.

  Another requirement I have read at several shows is that all photographic prints be from a signed and numbered limited edition, and in some cases that the photographs be part of a signed/numbered limited edition 'folio' of several images. What do you all think of that? What number of images would you consider for a 'signed and numbered limited edition' of photographs? On the other hand, one show told me that they did require signed and numbered editions of a photograph, but if I wanted to sell unsigned, versions, unnumbered, that would be ok.

  Thanks for your responses,

  David
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  Connie Mettler February 8, 2016 at 3:40pm

  Thanks to all of you for this sharing of information. Good job -- the two Davids and Slobodan haven't posted before, to the best of my knowledge. As you well know, it is not the equipment that makes you a photographer, and "what kind of camera are you using?" is hardly the point.
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  David Hohmann February 8, 2016 at 3:10pm

  I include a Certificates of Authenticity with every print.  I describe the process from when, what, where and in what media (digital, B&W or slide film) the original image was taken to whether or not I personally printed or, if larger format, under what printing facility I used.  i have a Canon Pro-1 that I use for most of my prints but I usually use a pro-photo shop around the corner for larger format work on paper.  I also have had metal prints made from online sources.  In any case, I'm clear to where the image was printed on my CoA.  I will also state that my images are all printed under my supervision as I believe that the digital image file is really the important step.  I also have the final say and the final step in supervising the process is not accepting bad prints.  I have had to many metal prints made that came back orange instead of red and/or with small little dents (from where the frame was attached on the back.)  They didn't meet my standards so I returned them or put them in the trash.  The fact that I'm hanging my images for sale in my booth and standing next to them, as most every other artist is doing at fine art shows, should be enough to satisfy the jury as to whether or not I "supervised" the printing.  I'm aware of a few "photographers" who misrepresent their work, and that's a job for the jury's/promoters to figure out but I don't think that there's any deception in having one of your original digital images printed by a quality printer.

  Dave

    
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  David Perry Lawrence February 8, 2016 at 2:01pm

  Larry--

  Thanks for your input. I've read other artists in other media griping about photographers and their ability to make multiple images. Good advice just to be aware, and as we've talked about above, tactful. My wife is excellent at the latter!

  --David
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  David Perry Lawrence February 8, 2016 at 1:52pm

  Thanks, Slobodan--

  My points exactly. Big sells (I had an uncle who was a close friend of the painter Jackson Pollack. For a long time their gallery had them pricing paintings by the square inch!), making the file is the photographer's version of working in the darkroom; choosing and relying on a trusted commercial lab is the same as 'hand supervising', and some work simply can't be made by the photographer himself or by an assistant. Unless they are ignorant of the technology, judges and organizers must be letting people skate on this archaic rule. I'm glad to hear that, other than canvas prints, you simply ignore the restrictions about using commercial printers. It seems to me that if the show judges really cared about this rule, they would ban your aluminum prints because it would be pretty obvious you didn't print them yourself. Thank you for your answer to my question. Also, thanks for leaking some information on pricing!

  Visited your website. Beautiful work. Seems like I've seen some of it before on Petapixel

  Thanks again for your reply,

  --David