In Over My Head
Okay, guys. I need your advice. To quote my buddy and inspiring photography lover Robin at Bird Tweets, I need a photography secretary.
I'm taking so many photos (and a lot of them that I love) that it's hard keeping them all straight. And even harder to pick my favorites, which is where you guys come in.
I've had several people ask me lately about how, where they can buy prints of my work (and inside my little girl photographer is jumping up and down and clapping her hands in delight). So I need to figure out a way to do that.
But before I even go there, I need to start picking images to put on my Etsy shop, website, whatever--and I have no idea where to even start! I look at all of my photos and I love them all. I'm sitting here in total indecisiveness because there are a lot of images and I can't choose.
***
So here's where I need your help and there's something in it for you, too, besides my undying love and thanks. I am going to have a contest and some of you will get a print of my work.
Here's how it works:
1. Take a gander at my photos and choose three to five images that, if you were me, you'd think would be important to have in my new "shop." I realize this is no easy task, and yes, I am asking you to do my work for me. But perhaps it will be easier for you to sort the wheat from the chaff.
(Feel free to chose more images if you want. You can pick as many as you like...I just said three to five to get the ball rolling. And if you have ideas about categories, etc., please tell me.)
2. Send me an email with the Subject header "tangobaby contest" and in the email list your picks (please identify the images from either flickr, my photoblog or jpg magazine) AND your mailing address. Also tell me which photo you would like to get, if I pick your name.
Email address is tangobaby2 at gmail dot com.
3. Yes, this is a contest. I won't be able to send each of you a print, but to encourage lots of entries, I will add additional winners if I get lots of emails. I don't know exactly how that will work yet, but the winners will be chosen at random so anyone can win. Maybe I'll enlist The Boy to be my comely assistant and pick the names out of a top hat.
4. Contest ends at end of day Sunday, August 17. Please invite your friends and family to give me their opinions, too. Spread the word! Yay!
***
Images can be selected from my spots on:
JPG Magazine
femme.fotographieThank you, friends! I can't wait to see what you guys pick!
18 comments:
Great idea! I was thinking of doing something similar (though hadn't thought of the contest aspect) and for the same reason. This is brilliant. Maybe I should try something similar too ... egads. I will go and revisit your Flickr account and see if I can help out. Super idea and good luck in creating that portfolio.
Diane
Thank you, Diane! I'm so glad to see you, my Shutter Sister/flickr pal here.
I'm just at a loss...everytime I sit down to do this, I get stymied. I promise to help you with the same project, too.
Perhaps it's easier when other people help you. It's kind of like a mother being asked to pick her favorite child. I just can't do it.
I look forward to seeing what you respond to.
checked out your flickr site, even wrote down which photos i liked but only from the slideshow which didn't show the numbers of the jpegs. You're quite the talented photographer and should really consider doing some commercial work because many of my favourites were closeups of things like the red and pink flowers, the tomatoes, the puppet man standing over a table of fabric, the closeups of the chinese lanterns. Beautiful colours which caught my eye. Then there are those haunting shots such as the sepia toned photo of the magician sitting on the stone bench next to the doll. I also liked some of the photos of antiques, the marionettes, just because they evoke such a timeless slightly off-beat quality.
I, too, am having a hard time choosing just five, there are too many good ones but when I have more time, I will pick them. Due to the nature of my work, I spend alot of time on commercial photo sites looking for good photos to download. You should really look into this sort of thing if you're looking to make a bit of extra cash.
Can I recommend www.redbubble.com as somewhere to host/sell your pictures?
good for you!! i don't know how you want me to let you know which photos i am most fond of ...but, the silver tea service, the curtain blowing from the window, card game in china town and some of the photos of yourself. interesting. i want to link you on our blog. i don't like to do this without asking so let me know, although i expect my sister the techie has already done the link. keep up the good work.
Finally! A fun item to add to my to do list. Fun, fun. I already have some favorites in mind. Also, I like Etsy versus website, for what it's worth.
oh i'm very excited for you! i am off to bed but will be back in the morning to look at your work...how fun is that?!! i just had to make a brief comment though before i get off line for the night :)
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
What a great idea! I shall take a wander over in the next few days to make my selections!
Cxx
Good morning, all of you wonderful people! I've been home sick for the past two days so your comments here are making me feel fantastic! Thank you...
And welcome to all of you new commenters (maybe via Shutter Sisters?). However you came to be here, I am very grateful.
Hi Caroline,
Wow. Thank you so much for your hearthelt advice and compliment. I have to admit that I've never watched my photos as a slideshow (so now you've inspired me to do that). I just look at them on the page.
If it's not too much trouble, would you mind telling me which commercial sites you use? Then I would know where best to start submitting my work, since you know a lot more about this than I do. Thank you!
Hi anonymous,
I will certainly take a look at it. There are so many places to show your work. That's a little overwhelming too. But I will check out redbubbles.com.
Hi margie,
Why of course! Link away. I'm very honored and I'll be coming over to see you too. Thank you for the pics. Those are some that I like a lot too!
Hi relyn,
Of course you know I thought of you right away for this (also because you are so organized and I am not!) so you would have very good reasons and ideas for me.
Can you tell me why you prefer Etsy? Is it because it's well known, easy to navigate, familiar? I was also looking at smugmug, which is specifically for photography.
Hi robin-bird,
YAY! I look forward to your advice and encouragement! Thank you! And thank you for making me smile yesterday.
Hi Claire,
Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate it! And welcome to my photos.
What a great idea. Although I'm sure you will be selling out of photos in no time. I hope I am first in line to purchase.
So happy for you! Emailing now with my list! : )
Tangobaby,
Maybe it is just familiarity that makes me prefer Etsy. Etsyt is extremely easy to navigate and so very well known, as you mentioned. I've purchased from the site before and it was a piece of cake. I've also gone to other photography sites and found them to be a bit of a pain in the butt. I do think your photographs tend to be edgier than your average Etsy fare. I really love that about your work, but it may make a different site a better fit for you.
I guess all I was thinking was that you should choose a site with high exposure that is easy to navigate. One more plus for Etsy is that other sellers and buyers can mark your work as favorites which equals more exposure. ...just thinking. I'll email soon with a list of faves. I'm so excited that you are doing this.
Oh, one more thing. (Boy I have a lot to say this morning, don't I?) I would love, love, love to see you pursue portraiture as a paying gig. I think if you start freelance, you may end up with an amazing new career some day soon. All your photography is terrific and your stories really tell a picture. Your portraits also tell a picture and it makes you unique. I'd love to see you focus more on that as you more forward.
Exciting! I'll try to make a selection. It's always so hard to edit when one takes lots of pics - I should know...
OK, that was hard, and fun too, but how to decide: so here goes my top 4 faves (in no particular order)
Hydrangea
Ladles
Img 4278 The creepy and dreamy doll on a stone bench
Img 1548 the amazingly lit carousel horse (so so beautiful!)
You have some amazing images, can't wait to see what you do with a shop!
I'll have a go at this, browsing around your pictures. I'll get back to you tomorrow- this will be fun. Who wouldn't want to spend time looking at wonderful photographs :)
i did go and pick a list from flickr, but can totally see why you have trouble picking yourself! i think you should do several etsy stores with different themes, kind of along the lines of your collections on flickr.
listen to me, offering etsy advice like i have a clue! i've taken tons of pix of my creations, but have yet to list a single item. silly, silly.
let's hope you do better than me on that front! :-)
A little late in the game, I haven't perused them all but without a doubt, a must on your list are the yellow curtains in the wind.
Hi Christina,
I got your email and loved all of your advice! You have been such a wonderful influence on me...I wonder if you know that!
Hi Relyn,
You are awesome. You are so good at explaining things and I think Etsy is the way to go, based on your suggestions.
You were the very first person to suggest that I sell my photos, so I think a special print I make should go to you...with lots of love.
Hi mary-laure,
I would love to hear what photos you like and also what BENJY likes, too. Since I hold him in such very high esteem and I know he is the smartest dog in France!
;-)
Hi Liz,
Thank you for those selections. I agree with every one of them (but then you knew I would). Maybe someday I can choose a few images and ask you to make a beautiful collage for me.
Hi TheElementary,
Oh, I would love that...please do! I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Julochka,
You are making me laugh. More than one Etsy shop? You are much more ambitious than I am. But maybe that is a good idea. I'll think about it.
Let's make a deal and both do our Etsy stores. Heck, if I can do it, I know you can, too. And you have some great images to share.
Hi Johanna,
That one's definitely in the group, for sure. Everyone I show that to really loves it.
here are my two favorites:)
stealing a kiss on the ferris wheel,
IMG_4197
xox
Post a Comment