Archives For Business

Yes indeed Amazon Art Marketplace to sell art online again and once again changes the game in online art sales…

New York Times Article Here

Survey which found Online art buying soars as almost three-quarters of collectors go online here

Here is why:

A survey of more than 200 collectors by the international insurance company Hiscox, released in April, found that almost two-thirds had bought art online, without first seeing it in person, and that one-quarter of the collectors surveyed had spent $75,000 or more on works from online sellers or those they had seen only in JPEGs sent by galleries.

“We’ve seen that the price point people are willing to pay is rising,” said Catherine Levene, a co-founder and the chief executive of Artspace, which began selling art online in 2011. The company does not disclose overall sales figures but says that more than 200,000 people are now registered as members. Artworks pushing past the $100,000 mark have been showing up increasingly on the site, which charges a commission from galleries like 303 and Luhring Augustine in New York and Sadie Coles in London. Artspace has sold pieces like an engraved granite bench by Jenny Holzer for $125,000.

via The New York Times

Good article at Peta Pixel on surviving in a world where everyone has a camera and thinks they are a photographer.

What’s a true aspiring professional photographer to do in the face of this onslaught of people? The answer is simple: specialize and focus.

‘Everyone Is A Photographer’: Specialize or Perish – http://pulse.me/s/l1ubuy8H6

Excellent overview at Spread Effect on Matt Cutts talk. If you have a web site and don’t know who Matt Cutts is, or what the heck SEO, or Link Building is, you better pay attention as when he speaks from his office at Google the entire web stops, looks and listens.

“This contest, which is targeted at students and emerging photographers, appears to be an effort to secure thousands of free images for unlimited use in publications and in advertising. For this reason, we believe this contest exploits photographers, and we strongly caution everyone to carefully review and understand all the terms and conditions along with the rights they are surrendering before entering any competition.”

via Photo Contest Warning! | Photo Attorney

Please email the panelist at links below and demand to know why they are involved in this mass rip-off of copyright!

PANELISTS INCLUDE:
Tomas Maier, Creative Director, Bottega Veneta; Ivan Shaw, Photography Director, Vogue; Linda Evangelista, Supermodel; Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele, Fashion Editor & Stylist; Collier Schorr, Photographer; Pat McGrath, Makeup Artist; Andrew Bolton, Curator, Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Craig McDean, Photographer; Doug Lloyd, Creative Director, Lloyd & Co; Guido Palau, Hair stylist; Yossi Milo, Gallerist and Jimmy Moffat, Founding Partner, Art & Commerce.

via Vogue

Want to do something about this?

2 judges have Facebook pages you can post to:

https://www.facebook.com/PatMcGrathFans
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Collier-Schorr/126548330645

Email links:

David_Stuckey@condenast.com

info@yossimilo.com
info@lloydandco.com
info@artandcommerce.com
info@303gallery.com

Message Example:

To All,

Regarding the Vogue Photo contest you or your representatives are judging or promoting . It might be a good idea to distance yourself from this kind of exploitation.

I am sure you did not go into this knowing how bad it is for the young photographers who loose all copyright to their images and for the working pro’s as well (who would of been hired).

In my opinion all judges should step down or force Vogue to change the rules of the contest and allow all rights to remain in the hands of the artists. Until then this is a very ugly contest that only rewards big business at the expense of the young and talented.  Here is your chance to do good!

Sincerely mad as hell,

Your name here…

Jim Pickerell article on the challenges for pro photographers today…

Of all the images used today, nothing is paid for the vast majority. PicScout searches the Internet for uses of professionally produced photos that are being licensed by many of the largest stock photography companies. Eighty-five percent are used in ways that are have never been authorized by the creator or his/her representatives.

via A Litany of Woes for Career Photographers | Black Star Rising.

See also Arne Svenson’s Photographs Create Privacy Uproar