Georg R. Baumann
Inactive
April XV, 07
Right, so here I am and I made that decision, not an easy one, to write a diary on this fine forum.
I do not fear to embarrass myself, I can laugh about myself. But I fear to fail, this is for sure!
So what?
I was in many situations in my life that were life threatening, I saw human despair und suffering on scales that most of the people in my peer groups will never witness, so I hope! So what Bear? You are afraid to fail. Suck it up, face it! <smiles>
The purpose of this diary is two fold, one purpose has to do only with myself, I explain later, the other side is a more altruistic approach, I chose to share the pitfalls, the up and downs, the heavens and the hell of doing what I try to do. It may be of value for others who plan the same at some stage. What happened so far?
Not even a month ago I decided that I want to be serious about my photography. I want to achieve commercial success on a scale that allows me to make a living from nothing lese but photography, selling prints that is.
My first target audience? -Tourists -
We have a National Park close by that has a seasonal high frequency of international visitors, as well as other outlets that offer prints.
What to do first? - Marketresearch -
Not long ago I went there and to other places on purpose to talk to the managers, I looked at the prints on offer and was shocked to the bone. For example, a display, one of those who you can rotate around, loaded with matted prints wrapped in foil, but "What the Heck is that?" I look at each and every single picture. "This can not be!" I go to the manager and introduce myself as someone who might wish to join his outlet with fine art prints at some stage, and I ask him as to how successfully this sells, pointing towards the display. He laughs and lets me know that fresh baked warm bread sells probably less successful. I thank him for the conversation and ask for his details, take his business card and leave.
I am speachless. The quality of the photographs and execution in print was really not what I would have thought to be a seller. A5 matted, some of them look like taken with a point and shoot from 2-3 years ago and printed on epson R300, I really think so because I have that consumer printer myself. Motivs out of focus, massively blown out highlights in the landscapes, well, all in all not what I expected to find. The prices? Fasten your seat belt, between 30-50 Euro each across the outlets and parks that I visited!
Allright, this is interesting.
They operate with a hefty 20%-35% cut, but I can calculate my prices accordingly.
2 Weeks ago.....
Photoshop. Oh my God. What a program! I need to study this, where to start? Amazon!
4 days later some "people arrive".... Katrin Eismann, Dan Marguis, Martin Evening, Alain Briot, John Beardsworth, Roger Ping, Scott Kelby, Uwe Steinmueller, Doc Baumann, Heiko Neumeier, Matt Kloskowsky, Adrian Bircher and more arrive at my doorstep and demand entry.
My eyes are red, my coffee consume high, my screen sucks, I feel edgy, my wrist hurts, I order a WACOM INTUOS 3, it comes, but without the pen, thanks a million. Grmbl. A lot of phone calls and flippin eamils to get that pen here. Unbelievable, this is customer service. Yeah right!
Layers, Masks, Colormanagement, Preferences, Actions, Scripts, Brushes, Pencils, Lab mode, Adobe RGB, Ditgitall Asset Management, Sharpening, Blurring, Blending Modes, Filters.... "Tanka", I call my dog and leave the house and walk to the beach, I am exhausted. I am not 20 anymore and I realize stuff takes so much longer for me to stick to the brain, much longer in deed. In my twenties, I was able to eat that in much shorter time. It is disheartening. "Suck it up!"
Right, so there is that mountian in front of me, a businessplan needs to be developed, pictures need to be taken and to become better, much better, photoshop skills need to be learned as quick as possible, and money.... well, this is another one, a big one. Our assets are in our development project which is on budget and on plan, I am proud of that! But there is not much room for manovering, I need to make a list of most important investments that have to be tackled to start. can not do everything at the same time. Priortize!
A dolphin stranded on the beach. I am in tears. Life is too short to not enjoy it to the fullest. "Calm down! Yes, you want all this to happen yesterday, but it will take time!" I call the authorities and let them know of the dolphin, climb up the clifs and watch over the atlantic. Last year I found another dolphin on the beach, his partner was still out there, for days circling in the bay, looking for her partner. I do not see another one right now.
I made my first prints last October, 30x24 and 40x30, stretched canvas, regardless who saw them, all mentioned I would have to start selling my pictures.
I always laughed, I am not laughing anymore. I started this journey now, and I look forward to it, whatever will be....
tbc.
Right, so here I am and I made that decision, not an easy one, to write a diary on this fine forum.
I do not fear to embarrass myself, I can laugh about myself. But I fear to fail, this is for sure!
So what?
I was in many situations in my life that were life threatening, I saw human despair und suffering on scales that most of the people in my peer groups will never witness, so I hope! So what Bear? You are afraid to fail. Suck it up, face it! <smiles>
The purpose of this diary is two fold, one purpose has to do only with myself, I explain later, the other side is a more altruistic approach, I chose to share the pitfalls, the up and downs, the heavens and the hell of doing what I try to do. It may be of value for others who plan the same at some stage. What happened so far?
Not even a month ago I decided that I want to be serious about my photography. I want to achieve commercial success on a scale that allows me to make a living from nothing lese but photography, selling prints that is.
My first target audience? -Tourists -
We have a National Park close by that has a seasonal high frequency of international visitors, as well as other outlets that offer prints.
What to do first? - Marketresearch -
Not long ago I went there and to other places on purpose to talk to the managers, I looked at the prints on offer and was shocked to the bone. For example, a display, one of those who you can rotate around, loaded with matted prints wrapped in foil, but "What the Heck is that?" I look at each and every single picture. "This can not be!" I go to the manager and introduce myself as someone who might wish to join his outlet with fine art prints at some stage, and I ask him as to how successfully this sells, pointing towards the display. He laughs and lets me know that fresh baked warm bread sells probably less successful. I thank him for the conversation and ask for his details, take his business card and leave.
I am speachless. The quality of the photographs and execution in print was really not what I would have thought to be a seller. A5 matted, some of them look like taken with a point and shoot from 2-3 years ago and printed on epson R300, I really think so because I have that consumer printer myself. Motivs out of focus, massively blown out highlights in the landscapes, well, all in all not what I expected to find. The prices? Fasten your seat belt, between 30-50 Euro each across the outlets and parks that I visited!
Allright, this is interesting.
They operate with a hefty 20%-35% cut, but I can calculate my prices accordingly.
2 Weeks ago.....
Photoshop. Oh my God. What a program! I need to study this, where to start? Amazon!
4 days later some "people arrive".... Katrin Eismann, Dan Marguis, Martin Evening, Alain Briot, John Beardsworth, Roger Ping, Scott Kelby, Uwe Steinmueller, Doc Baumann, Heiko Neumeier, Matt Kloskowsky, Adrian Bircher and more arrive at my doorstep and demand entry.
My eyes are red, my coffee consume high, my screen sucks, I feel edgy, my wrist hurts, I order a WACOM INTUOS 3, it comes, but without the pen, thanks a million. Grmbl. A lot of phone calls and flippin eamils to get that pen here. Unbelievable, this is customer service. Yeah right!
Layers, Masks, Colormanagement, Preferences, Actions, Scripts, Brushes, Pencils, Lab mode, Adobe RGB, Ditgitall Asset Management, Sharpening, Blurring, Blending Modes, Filters.... "Tanka", I call my dog and leave the house and walk to the beach, I am exhausted. I am not 20 anymore and I realize stuff takes so much longer for me to stick to the brain, much longer in deed. In my twenties, I was able to eat that in much shorter time. It is disheartening. "Suck it up!"
Right, so there is that mountian in front of me, a businessplan needs to be developed, pictures need to be taken and to become better, much better, photoshop skills need to be learned as quick as possible, and money.... well, this is another one, a big one. Our assets are in our development project which is on budget and on plan, I am proud of that! But there is not much room for manovering, I need to make a list of most important investments that have to be tackled to start. can not do everything at the same time. Priortize!
A dolphin stranded on the beach. I am in tears. Life is too short to not enjoy it to the fullest. "Calm down! Yes, you want all this to happen yesterday, but it will take time!" I call the authorities and let them know of the dolphin, climb up the clifs and watch over the atlantic. Last year I found another dolphin on the beach, his partner was still out there, for days circling in the bay, looking for her partner. I do not see another one right now.
I made my first prints last October, 30x24 and 40x30, stretched canvas, regardless who saw them, all mentioned I would have to start selling my pictures.
I always laughed, I am not laughing anymore. I started this journey now, and I look forward to it, whatever will be....
tbc.