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Christal Randolph

8 Years Ago

Do Buyers Look To Buy Abstract Products Instead Of Natural Photograhy?

I have only been on this site for a few days, and it seems that most of the work I look at is very bright and abstract. My photography is more simple, and I don't seem to be getting any buyers. Any suggestions?

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Shana Rowe Jackson

8 Years Ago

Welcome Christal! Unfortunately buyers don't typically come in just a few days. It often takes months of advertising your work outside of this site to bring the buyers in. As far as style, there is room for all different kinds of art here. Everything from realism, to fantasy, to abstract. They all sell..to the right buyer. As the photographer it is your job to find the buyer and bring them here. FAA doesn't do it for you.

 

Mike Savad

8 Years Ago

usually abstract is the last thing people buy.

your photos lack any kind of pop or pizzazz. they have a snap shot feel to them.

you won't get buyers overnight. it could take months or years to attract attention. you have to bring them here.

Photography Prints
keep in mind you have a lot of competition on images like this. this image, kind of dull compared to abstract things. you don't have any description, you don't mention where this is, or what this is. and you only have a few keywords.

always have straight horizons btw. and always start people in galleries. some of your images aren't in focus, others have odd filters on them.

always have descriptions on everything.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Valerie Reeves

8 Years Ago

Hi Christal, welcome. Not to further discourage you, but it does require a whole lot of effort on your part to drive buyers to your work, and often a fair bit of time as well. My first sale did not come for over a year. I have been here 4 years and had 5 sales. But I don't market my work nearly as much as many folks here do. Best of luck to you!

 

Xueling Zou

8 Years Ago

Welcome, best of luck to you :D!

 

JC Findley

8 Years Ago

No.

 

Toby McGuire

8 Years Ago

Ditto what others are saying. It could easily take a year or longer to start making regular sales. I've been here for just over a year and sales are still a rarity. But, like Valerie, I don't advertise that much. I was for a while on Twitter and Facebook but those platforms were really a waste of time because no potential customers were really seeing my posts. Mostly other artists.

 

Marlene Burns

8 Years Ago

My opinion is based on over 40 years selling abstract art professionally.
Nope. Most people are not looking for or wanting abstract art.

 

Edward Fielding

8 Years Ago

Not sure what you mean. Bright? Simple? Abstract? Natural? Just about anything that is presented well has the potential to sell. It has to be up to standards - properly exposed, in focus etc.

 

Welcome Crystal,

Don't let what others do or are doing be the determination of what you want to make available for others to buy. Whatever the inspiration that drives you is the best thing to cultivate. As you get more experience and knowledge you will modify what you have to offer.

Sometimes it's hard to hold to the freshness aspect of art and photography. I look at your portfolio and see the "beginnings" of your ideas... and the exuberance that drives them. Jar that up! Open that jar every morning! Drink of that well of life! You can only offer what it is you already have...

You can become the greatest at executing an image... even ones that don't have a life. Keep yours meaningful.

It takes lots of time and effort in this very crowded endeavor. Get comfortable for a long haul.

Glenn McCarthy Art and Photography

 

TL Mair

8 Years Ago

You have several images of Timpanogos, and Cascade peak, did you live in UT. at one point?

TL Mair
tlmair.com

 

Christal Randolph

8 Years Ago

No, but my daughter went to UVU in Utah last year, and I visited a couple of times. It was beautiful. Your photography is beautiful. maybe you could give me some tips.

 

Christal Randolph

8 Years Ago

Glen, Thank you so much for the " positive feedback." It was a very encouraging response. I will think of what you said often.

 

Susan Sadoury

8 Years Ago

Welcome to FAA, my one and only sale was a abstract.

 

Dale Kincaid

8 Years Ago

Christal - Glenn's message is inspiring and I agree. I see a lot of your artwork is wonderful and salable. As Mike and others would say, invest the time is good descriptions for each image. Add plenty of keywords. Replace all the crooked horizons and try adding black and white versions of some of your work ( such as city skylines). Join some groups to add your work to. Follow other artists you like to get followers back. Comment, like and favorite others work as you will get those back in return. Any and all activity is a good thing.

Be patient and market your work and site. My first sale took 6 months. Good luck to you. I think you will do well.

 

Dale Kincaid

8 Years Ago

BTW-To answer your original question from my experience. I have a collection of work titled Texture Art Photography. It draws a lot of interest and positive responses. Yet, I sell very little. My straight photography sells 20 to 1 ratio over the digital art. I think it would do better if that was a separate body of work under a different name and account.

 

Christal Randolph

8 Years Ago

Thanks Dale. I have not joined a group. I am not sure how to do that yet. I have a lot of back problems, and have to type and edit laying on my side, so I feel that I am very slow at this. Thanks so much for your input. It is great. I have not been able to work in a long time, so I'm working with my old photos, and hope to get to get a new camera and do some new stuff eventually. I tried to follow some artists, but it kept trying to load and never went through to my list.

 

Val Arie

8 Years Ago

Christal, Welcome!

I don't want to discourage you either but I agree with the rest. Uploading your art will not generate sales.

When I first joined this site I was here for about 8 months when my computer crashed for the umpteenth time...it was at that point beyond repair. Disgusted with my computer abilities...this was forth computer I killed...I walked away from the mess and didn't come back here for quite awhile...when I got back everything was basically the same... a few new comments and views and no sales. I did nothing and nothing happened.

There is a lot of stuff you need to do and you can find all that information on this site and in the different discussion threads. Since you said you have not been able to work and have some health issues this might be a great time for you to some reading and enjoy what you are doing. Being very slow at this is not a bad thing. As most will tell you....it takes time and a lot of work.

 

Floyd Snyder

8 Years Ago

Christal!

Welcome aboard! Your images are beautiful and very sellable! But it does take a lot of work on your part.

Glen is right on the money. I would only add do not let anyone discourage you with disparaging comments about your work. I have had people here tell me my "snapshots" will not sell. The thing is they were already selling and have been for over 30 years and they sell here just fine.

No one here can tell you what will or will not sell. The best way to get any idea of what is selling here is to keep an eye on the Recently Sold page that you can find on the front page of FFA or Pixels.

Do the very best you possible can with each image. Do the best you can with keywords and descriptions and then let the public decide if they want to buy your work. They are the only opinion that really counts.

Here are some links to how you may get attention to your work. The key is promoting outside of FAA and not messing with some of the features that only get you seen by members of FAA. The do not buy much from one another.

Pay close attention to the 25/75 Rule in the first article below.

Best of luck to you!

Response to new FAA member looking for advice
Another Response To A New Member Seeking Help
A Few Reasons Why You May Not Be Selling
Work Smarter Not Harder To Beat The Big Guys
50 Effective Tips to Help You Sell You Art







 

Jim Hughes

8 Years Ago

You can pick up a lot by looking at the work of experienced photographers who manage to sell a lot - and just noting the overall brightness, contrast and color tone of their finished images. I say "finished" because they didn't come out of the camera looking that good.

In particular, to sell online, photos need to be a bit brighter than we might initially think.

 

Susan Maxwell Schmidt

8 Years Ago

I sell more abstracts than anything else, by far. I sell mostly off FAA tho.

 

LEANNE SEYMOUR

8 Years Ago

Welcome Christal! You have some lovely images in your collection I've noticed! I agree with others here and feel you need to follow your own passion whether it sells or not. I don't market my work either like others do on this site, but then again I'm just happy to have my talents out from under the bushes so to speak these days! I've sold one of my works only, but have donated some of my works as well to an organisation I'm part of so all's well as far as I'm concerned.

Living in Australia sometimes makes it a bit harder for me given the shipping costs from USA.......as I'm sure Aussie friends and family would buy some of my works if it wasn't for that.

Can relate to back problem! Must have the best possible seating with back support, not sit for too long and take frequent breaks......all par for the course of being human sometimes.....take care Christal! :-)

 

Valerie Beth

8 Years Ago

Hi Christal, I only do digital abstract art and have had a lot of success selling on my own first through FB and then by word of mouth. I joined FAA only about a month ago because I thought it would be easier to have them do the printing, framing, etc. I haven't sold any on here yet though, plus I haven't devoted a lot of time to this site as most others have. You do have to be involved in your advertising, though, that definitely helps. Best of luck to you!

I do want to add though that with all the improved cellphone cameras and editing apps out there now it seems a lot of people just want to have their own work framed. You have to offer images that most people can't take on their own, which is why I shy away from that venue.

 

Shawn Dall

8 Years Ago

I want to play the devils advocate here..

remember that everyones opinions here come from their own personal experiences in the art world - I was in a gallery, and I can actually attest the opposite - abstract pieces were looked at FIRST. It seems these days more and more people are more concerned with what colours fit their decor (and how big the piece is to fit in say, a loft) than they are how long it took or the detail that goes into it. Art is more about the feeling, the energy, the colours, the idea. Photography seems to sell well more when it's things like heritage things, like war planes, structures that no longer exist, or black and white architectural buildings with dramatic lighting.

People like to buy photography if it feels like they themselves couldn't have taken the shot. It you point and click at a mountain range.. well.. anyone can do that - they feel a little cheated - but say if you point it at a winding stream in a secret location only you know about - they are more inclined to be interested. Keep in mind your subject matter, and how it is presented!

---Shawn Dall
ShawnDall.com

 
 

Christal Randolph

8 Years Ago

Floyd, Thank you for the time and your response. It was very helpful and your images are beautiful. Take Care and I will heed to your advice. Christal

 

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