When deciding what photographs to print and sell, one has to imagine (or predict) what the general public is likely to want to hang over the couch. That's been harder than I thought.
Molly and I have been having a version of this deliberation discussing which of my images to make a print of to hang in the dining room. I tend to favor images which have more detail, as I think such images would continue to engage me as I observe it day after day, whereas Molly prefers images which are more abstract and simpler, as she finds too much detail distracting and feels she would more quickly grow tired of them.
So perhaps there is no one answer exactly? I tend to agree with the sample images you posted to make your point, but someone might have more whimsical tastes and like the wet stuffed animal?
I get what you’re saying about avoiding more iconic subjects, but personally I wouldn’t let that same rubric necessarily guide my own such selection exercise. But I do agree your offerings are more likely to seem to present a more personal vision if they’re not of things which people have already seen a million captures of. But there are always the exceptions…
For sure you're right that there's no single correct answer - there never is (except in math and some science). I should have spelled out that I'm thinking more in probabilities - what are most people more *likely* to want to hang on their walls? But of course I have no expertise in that department and am just going on my hunches at this point. It will be interesting to see what actually does sell over time.
Molly and I have been having a version of this deliberation discussing which of my images to make a print of to hang in the dining room. I tend to favor images which have more detail, as I think such images would continue to engage me as I observe it day after day, whereas Molly prefers images which are more abstract and simpler, as she finds too much detail distracting and feels she would more quickly grow tired of them.
So perhaps there is no one answer exactly? I tend to agree with the sample images you posted to make your point, but someone might have more whimsical tastes and like the wet stuffed animal?
I get what you’re saying about avoiding more iconic subjects, but personally I wouldn’t let that same rubric necessarily guide my own such selection exercise. But I do agree your offerings are more likely to seem to present a more personal vision if they’re not of things which people have already seen a million captures of. But there are always the exceptions…
For sure you're right that there's no single correct answer - there never is (except in math and some science). I should have spelled out that I'm thinking more in probabilities - what are most people more *likely* to want to hang on their walls? But of course I have no expertise in that department and am just going on my hunches at this point. It will be interesting to see what actually does sell over time.
Can't wait to see what you guys decide to print.