Interesting. Here are some of my own experiences, from selling prints are street art markets in town centres in Leeds, Manchester and Cheshire:
- Photographers don't buy prints. They only want to talk about photography.
- I put a lot of time and expense into the quality of my printing, mounting and framing. Customers don't care. They'll happily buy quite shoddy stuff from other people.
- Pictures are like pop songs. The prints that sell are like hit singles. You might have an album full of great album tracks but only one song that will make a single.
- Customers commonly buy because of a personal connection with the place.
- Black and white is just as popular as colour
- Size matters (for my work). I sell most in my small size (30x40cm), and far less in my largest size (50x60).
- Price matters - see above about size but remember your venue. I'm selling to people who are mostly buying on impulse. It's a street market not a London gallery. My price has to match.
- If you want to sell prints yourself you can make your life easier by standardising your aspect ratios. It makes it easier to buy or make mounts and frames. If I could start again I'd choose square format for everything. Have to balance this with your comment about how panoramic sells so well.
- If you are repeatedly transporting your framed work around the place (i.e. for street markets) choose frames in a distressed style - then small knocks won't show and you won't have to throw as many away.
- Framed prints sell better than unframed. The customer can see what they're getting and it's a finished product. I wish I had more space to show more framed prints.
- Real customers (mine, at least) don't care how you took it. Technical details don't matter.
- My customers don't care about limited edition or "it's just a print".
- People who look at my work and make a loud fuss about how beautiful it is won't buy. Real buying customers browse and look in silence.
Nice pictures, by the way! I've been to your gallery, it's really nice.

Excellent points Stuart.  I think you are in a unique position to have that fly on the wall observation which is valuable.

As someone who's looking into starting a business with photography prints, I think this video bursts the bubble straight away with hard true facts, which for me is good because I can learn from it and adjust my plan from the start. Thank you for the input Stuart. You have a great way of explaining it.

I'm glad you've started this channel Stuart. I think your content fits a gap because of the fact that you actually run a gallery. I have visited your gallery many times since you opened and talked with you a few times. I think your images are definitely  better than the other galleries in the area. I haven't bought from you only because I print and frame my own work (I print A1 images for my own personal use only). However, that doesn't stop me appreciating how fantastic  your images are and how much work, time and effort goes into scouting locations and producing these images. Please keep the vlogs coming. They're great.

That's so true about the picture having to match the aesthetics of the room. I've suggested to the missus about hanging certain shots of mine I like and she rightly dismisses it as 'it won't go'. I now consciously think about certain shots and tones if they will fit a room. Nice video Stuart

Very interesting to hear your insights on what sells and what doesn't.  You are spot on about other's perception of landscape photography and the 'I can take that on my phone' comment.

I know this is a few years old now, but a very informative and realistic look at the market landscape photographers deal with.  A few years ago I sold at a pretty high end and well regarded street/art fair. Several K's people coming through every day.  I saw every reaction you've mentioned, from wealthy people sneering at "just a photograph" to people who bought big prints because "we've been there!" Also interesting, I sold ZERO on day 1 and day 2, sold a ton of stuff day 3, and ZERO day 4 of this show.  Wierd.

Thanks for offering this perspective and insight. I really have not heard anyone else talking so clearly about selling printed, your obvious experience gives the commentary gravitas. Brilliant

Great video Stuart. Because digital photography is easily accessible for everyone people in general probably don't see it as the art form that it really is. As in your last point there is an element of ignorance and a lack of understanding in what it takes to create something special. Getting to the stage of printing and selling your work takes time and knowledge. Thanks

Great video Stu! Can't believe I've only just found you channel. Love your work.

Hi Stuart, i've just come across your channel and work – very impressive !
I had a gallery in Cape Town for 8 years and can relate to all your comments and observations about selling prints. I particularly like the punter comments you highlighted and could add a few of my favourites I overheard, or even said to my face about my work.
When I first opened I used to get really indigent, but then as my gallery and work grew I got "thick-skinned" and developed some special replies to the worst – in the end it became highly amusing and supplied me with fodder for social conversation.
Keep up the work you have great vision. ;-)

Thank you for sharing what you've learned in the gallery.

Good stuff, found this really helpful and  insightful, more so coming from someone with a gallery which adds huge weight. Good work.

Really enjoyed this one - being up in the mountains is much better than in freaking office, lol. Good job, Stuart, as always. Keep 'em coming!

Another belter Stuart. Cannot beat hearing about experience like that from someone "living it".  Having worked for the man for a number of decades, yours is the detail the public wouldn't get to hear from a marketing campaign - the team actually doing all the heavy lifting in the background, and that's where the real expertise behind the delivery sits.(hope that makes sense).  Very insightful. Keep em coming. Ta.

Very helpful and held my attention to the end. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Another great video Stuart, very informative.

I was a press photographer for 18 years and always shot horizontal and vertical so the sub editors could fit a page. So have carried on that tradition into landscape photography. Must admit I've had the same experience of people not rating photography as highly as art. Even the camera crews were better thought of than press on photo assignments! I can remember in the last few years in the press business, lots of mobile phones would be used at events. People would take the same shot I set up with their phone, posting it straight to social media. Everyone is a Photographer now! 🤣

So many useful tips that I’ve never heard anyone else mention, especially around the aesthetics of the prints and their aspect ratios.
It was really insightful to get the perspective of a gallery owner on how the general public view landscape photography.
A great video, I loved it 👌👏👍

Finally got a chance to sit down and watch it properly. Great video, very useful information. Thanks Stuart!

Nice video - packed with down-to-earth, real-world common sense. Can't finish without saying just how good your pictures are - lovely composition. Thanks for going to the trouble of making this video.