I’m a wildlife photographer and I figured I’d ask some people who know about business.

My idea is to make my garage just like a typical art gallery. All artwork by me.

The advantage for me would be that I get to keep 100% of the profit. No dealing with middle men at all. I’m also very much so in the correct area to sell art.

The advantage to the customer is they get a private appointment. I was thinking of rolling out the red carpet and giving them a free non alcoholic drink just for showing up. VIP treatment. Some people like to meet the artist as well, they would get the opportunity because I’d be a one man band.

My issue is I don’t exactly know how people are going to find me or how to advertise something like this. I can’t think past the point of handing a business card to people who talk to me while I’m taking pictures. Seems like an impossible thing to get the word out locally.

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  • Upstairs-Tourist-851@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I would say it’s going to be pretty difficult to get something like this off the ground, for a myriad of reasons. Nosy neighbors are going to report you for using a residence as a retail front. Lots of people are going to be leary of going to someone’s home.

    I’ve been pretty involved in a formal art gallery years ago. Most of the work is sold … what’s the word. Basically the artist pays nothing until the piece is sold. Once it’s sold, artist gets paid (minus the cut that the gallery takes). Brutally honest the trope about starving artists is VERY accurate and galleries know this. That’s why their business model is surrounded entirely by displaying art where the artist has $0 upfront cost.

    • ricky_storch@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Having people you find online come to your house to make a purchase vs running a retail store are two different things.

      I sell art from where I live. If there’s demand that you can tap into and get them come by… it works great. Don’t need to make things complicated.

      • Aware-Locksmith6757@alien.topOPBEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        I was thinking of tryiing to keep everything under $300 and have framed, wood, metal, and acrylic prints. Basically double what I pay to get it made. Does this sound like a good plan?

        • ricky_storch@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          I’d have to see what you’re offering and what your social media game is like.

          If it was me, I’d probably do the garage little by little and make it a gallery / home office / place to store your equipment as just a cool/nice part of your home - and then the social media is where the focus needs to be to make sales.

            • ricky_storch@alien.topBEnglish
              1·
              10 months ago

              Are you in a city like Denver etc? Usually there’s a pretty active online community among the wildlife photographers. Probably gotta find the people doing well and see what they are doing…

              I’d say the garage could be cool as a home office / nice place for your hobby but as far as making sales you’re going to have to put the work in online.