The Red Dot

I never imagined this event to come so quickly. I imagined that this would happen sometime during 2014, but not so early on.

What is the "Red Dot?"

I learned quickly it's what you want to see next to your name when exhibiting your work. My first show in NYC was at the Mehu Show last year in September, I entered 4 pieces and sold a big Goose Egg! Nada. Zero. Nothing!! Needless to say I was crushed a bit, well not just a bit. Lets be honest it bothered me a ton, and it def got to me. That show sold only 5 pieces. Once I figured the average of selling work at each show I felt better. It's a low percentage of pieces entered in a show to pieces sold. Which is not unexpected. Once it all made sense I didn't stress.

Deep down inside I wanted a "Red Dot" next to my artwork label. I needed that damn "Red Dot."

I think for all artists trying to sell their work, and making a living off what they love to do its something that kinda haunts you. The want for the "Red Dot" follows you to every art show.

The "Red Dot" confirms a bunch of things. It validates for one thing. You know now you ARE good enough. Someone else out there loved your stuff enough to purchase whats part of you. A bit of doubt is erased. You feel a bit freer to be the artist you want to be, and not the artist you THINK you should be.

I struggle with that often. Certain work I want to exhibit I second guess: "Is this good enough?" or "Will this be enough to compete or be on par with what other people enter?" Im slowly learning that I should not second guess myself or my artwork. If I love it, it's good enough, and somewhere out there someone will agree.

My first "Red Dots" came in a pair. My first sale included both photos I entered into the show. I was emailing our group advisor, Patricia, about an upcoming meeting and she returned my message with my "Red Dot" surprise. I couldn't believe it honestly. I couldn't wait to tell my boyfriend and my sister. Even though I was told that I sold both pieces, I needed there to be no mistake. I needed to see it for myself.

Hey, mistakes happen, right?

I went to the reception, while also dropping more work off for two more shows (I hope to goodness Im accepted in the shows!) There they were, both my photographs with the "Red Dot." My third show ever, second in NYC, and my first sale! Those are not bad odds. This is what I needed. There were three sales for that show.  Two of the sales were mine. :-D Again not bad odds.





The first Art show I entered this year, and I sold both pieces.

Ok, I've Gained a bit of Exposure - Now to Try and Sell Online.

I think every photography that wants to make a living has embraced the challenge of making money, starting your business, and getting your name out there. This is definitely in my life right now. There are so many choices to be made.

I have had my website up for about a year and a half, maybe a little longer with just my portfolio. Meaning a place that has my photos just to look at. There is not a button to click to purchase any photo.  I did have that in the beginning with my photos linked to Fine Art America's website. I then unlinked everything. I didn't like how there are so many sites one has to go to just to buy a photo from me. In regards to my website in general I redesigned it so it was less complicated overall. I am happy with the changes so, now I am on the quest to make buying a photo from as simple, and easy as humanly possible.

My web-host is iPage, and it does have a "shopping cart" option, but with the nature of photos, and the varieties a person could want a photo printed is way too much for the format that they offer. And to be honest I don't want to limit my potential customers. If they want a canvas, they shall have it! If they want a 5x7 matted print well than dammit let them have it.

ok, ok, jokes aside, in all seriousness I want to give my customers options, and buying freedom. (some say they may be a bad thing- eeeek!)

Now with my new decision to tack on the buying option to my website I'm finding that this is a lot harder. Currently, I am looking for a web-host that specializes in working with photographers(which there are a ton out there.) Ya know nice galleries, options to be creative, and design the site you want with flexibility in your gallery options. Now, add the printing on demand feature the array of web-hosts to choose from comes down form hundreds to just a handful. I've done a bit of days worth of research. The print on-demand option if anyone isn't aware is just being able to have the customer order a print off your site, the web-host will take that order pass it on to one of the labs they are partnered with, make whatever the order may be then ships it out to the customer.  All the while you don't have much work to do, besides making sure your website is great, and easy enough to order from.

What I'm finding with some sites is there are some that take commission, some don't. Annual prices vary(all being pretty expensive at least for someone just starting out.) Some more customizable than others, some too many details to try and figure out.

I guess my top choice is Smugmug.  It seems to be my best option. I was on there for hours one day trying to figure out how to change certain background colors of my page!! Once I got it down it was okay. Even so, not as easy to change anything design wise like iPage is for me. But looking back to when I first started this website endeavor iPage took getting use to as well.

Some people think that Fine Art America is a good print on demand site, it's pretty much your cheapest option. Free printing options under 30 photos. if you want unlimited on-demand printing it's a $30 membership annually. Which isn't bad, but I'm extremely picky. I just don't like how I can't customize my page. I also feel like having everything being able to be done entirely on just my site legitimizes my business a little bit more, if not to my potential customers at least to me in my own little head. Hey, it's the little things, right?

There are others, but I'm not going to review every last one. One blogged helped me out though. Check that out here if you want more info on these type of sites. This person has a lot more experience than I do.

I'm definitely not the best at all this website/web design stuff, but I can hold my own for the most part, but this search started to be a bit overwhelming. The more I researched it, it slowly started coming together. I will keep everyone posted on what I go with, and when I have the buying option on my site.

Wish me luck!  

Pictures are Taken, then You Never Look Back?

I know like any photographer out there we take tons of pictures!! Our camera for the most part is by our side at any moment. You may consider that camera more than just a prized possession, I know I do. The camera is an extension of who I am, how I feel, and how I express myself. I'm sure there are those out there that completely agree. Sometimes when you feel like you have nothing at all, or anybody in the world, you know you at least have your camera.

Why do we take photos? I have other posts in here that explain why I take photos. Simply put, I see an instance, and I MUST freeze that moment forever. I want to look back, and remember that day.

After all the beauty of the day out taking hundreds of photos, you head back to our hotel room, or your home, or wherever to upload them to the computer. You than sift through, pick and choose which one you want to prepare for the client, website, or get ready for printing, whatever the case may be. It doesn't end there. Printing the photos? Well than you have to think about the matting, framing, where to hang it, sell it, or what gallery or show to put it in. Still, it doesn't end there. Running your own business? Than there are numbers to crunch, things to log, and organizing that needs to be done.

I say all of this because there is a lot of work involved. Taking the pictures is the fun part. All of the aftermath is what some of us call homework. I do love the end result, but if you're like me you're probably still dong this on the side, or you have at least been in my shoes. I already have a full time job, working way more than 40 hours a week, and sometimes looking back at the photos I took becomes too much of a time issue. I might not have the time to do that whole line of responsibilities. I find time whenever I can, but photos I have taken years ago are still waiting for me to review, edit, and to be shown to the world...or at least the people I care to see them.

I recently have been looking back to the photos I never touched, or given a second glance at, more often. I have to say I am happy I did. Some of my best work is coming out of this. My love for creating panoramas is being expressed more, and more. I recently did two panoramas. Both taken 2 or 3 years ago.  I think I have another one as well, but I need to put my logo on it. I have a few final touches I need to make before posting it to my website. It's another panorama from Alaska that I LOVE, so I have been taking a lot of extra care with it.

Sometimes when I re-visit folders of photos I took years ago and want to put together a panorama I think "Why the hell did you shoot it this way?" I can see my own progression in shooting, as well as getting better at seaming panoramas together, and faster I might add.

There are also photos I have re-visited time and time again, but chose not to edit. Sometimes I look at the series of shots ready to be seamed together for a panorama, and just feel overwhelmed. The "I cant do this" feeling comes into play. Or the "How the hell am I gonna put this together?" Or this one: "How long is this going to take me to edit?" I keep looking, and still not ready to tackle certain photo "Beasts" to word it that way. haha. The ones I just edited were those "Beasts." I was finally at a state of mind, or experience where I felt I was ready to put them together, and post them for everyone to see. I have been told they are more strongest photos to date.

Sometimes things are shelved. Maybe there is a reason. You have to wait for the right moment to be ready to tackle those "Beasts."

Take a look at these, and other panoramas I have taken click here.