I was supposed to go to a baby shower today. Unfortunately when I woke up this morning (at 5am... b/c D decided that was an appropriate time to start the day) I kinda knew I just wasn't feeling it. Both Zach and I were pretty exhausted, it's been a long week, and the thought of going into town with D and only being able to stay for an hour or 2 max before he started getting cranky and needing a nap, and then having to come back... well, I got lazy. I kinda feel bad, but it was also a nice day to get to just hang out and enjoy a Sunday at home, together.
I've been spending a lot of time online reading up on different photography... stuff. Watching GIMP editing tutorials on youtube, reading up on techniques and software, etc in various forums (I've been particularly obsessed with this flickr group's discussion threads), lusting after lenses we'd love to buy... it goes on. Strangely I haven't spent that much time actually working with many images the past few days, but I figure I'm laying some groundwork. It's tough getting to it in short snatches of time, when I get a few minutes here and there to look something up, but that's life at the moment (hah, "moment," as if that's gonna change anytime soon...). Interestingly enough, though, I've done enough playing around with GIMP so that when I did open up Picasa2 earlier today to touch something up I already felt limited by it. Progress? ; )
I've been playing around with the idea of opening up an etsy shop to sell notecards with my photos on them, and maybe even trying to sell some actual prints. Don't know if it would actually go anywhere, but might be kinda fun to try. Debating on the actual logistics of it all still (buy paper for notecards and stick prints on them? Order photocards from a site and sell those? Does that even count as "homemade" anymore, even if it's my photography? And of course name, pricing, styles, when to actually make any of this stuff, etc etc etc). Of course the budding environmentalist in me is saying, "why do you want to sell paper and things that will just create more trash??" Not quite sure what to do with that yet. Of course then there's the whole aspect of looking around at so many of our friends who all have the same (or better) equipment I do and take incredible pictures, and why do I think I have what it takes to make people want to buy my stuff? But I guess if I never try then I'll never know.
wow, marce, I think that would be super cool! It's good you're thinking about all the logistics of it--you always have such a great head on your shoulders for decision-making--but you can always try it out...I mean, did Kara have all the fancy sewing equipment before she started selling purses online? Maybe you want to try some of the different options out first as Christmas gifts--like Cristina did with the key chains, remember?-and see how it turns out, justifying the cost as what you would spend for Christmas gifts anyway, and who wouldn't want pictures of you and yours and the beautiful countryside you've been a part of these past couple of years?
ReplyDeleteI think you could do it :)
The "Yes, but..." attitude is the killer of dreams.
ReplyDeleteYou take beautiful photographs and will only get better the more you do it. Put them out there!
You already have a following on imagekind, which is a great concept for consignment photography, so you could work on promoting that site more vigorously, adding to your gallery, etc. That way you don't have to do anything about printing, you just supply the images, and they do greeting cards.
You need to read this book, No More Mondays, by Dan Miller. I'm going to do a book report on it soon.
Wall art is not going away any time soon, and I think note cards are making a comeback. How special does it feel to receive personal mail?! Market to your (huge and fairly affluent) family to start and expand from there.
Go for it!
p.s. there is a lightning photographer who took 84,000 images to get 300 prints to sell
ReplyDelete1) People like personalized notecards, and they will buy them. This is why Etsy has a customer base - there are people who like these things.
ReplyDelete2) Since these people are going to buy/use notecards anyway, you might as well provide the cards for them - on recycled paper (or sugar cane paper, or paper from other easily-renewable sources). You're helping the planet and making pretty cards!
3) I think yor photos are perfect as they are, but if you want to add something to the cards (instead of just pasting your print to the paper), you can add little scrapbooking embelishments to the card. (Look into Stamping Up! - like Creative Memories, but with stamps and things for notecards, but you could adapt to photocards).
Don't talk yourself out of it. Listen to Jen. What do you have to lose, really?
Your pics are great! Start small and go for it. I have been pushing my hubs to do more wiht his pics too. Time is the big issue for us...none of it to go around.
ReplyDeletewhen Donovan wants to try out for soccer, are you going to think/say "Donovan, I really don't know if you should. some of the other kids are better?" hellz no! :)
ReplyDeletei am also considering EXACTLY the same things as you are. i've looked into it and i can at least say that i don't like the idea of buying the cardstock and taping my photos on. it seems tacky. on the other hand, choosing a recycled paper is environmentally friendly, and if you give people the option and they like your cards, then you are helping the earth with every purchase they make! bc otherwise, they might use regular!
I am going to look into it seriously when i get to usa, for pricing and practical reasons, and we could bounce back ideas and research if you want. i'd be happy to share notes.
just do it! not campaigning for nike! but try and see where things lead you.
ReplyDeletegoodluck.
your voisine ;)