Today came a phone call I’ve actually been expecting for a while: my lease for the booth where I’m displaying my panorama photos (see HERE and HERE) is being cancelled early. Two months in, and less than $12 in sales, at more than $110/month to lease… it’s been a disaster for all involved. The Quilted Bear store is of course also losing money, since it’s taking up space that could be filled by somebody who is actually selling stuff (they take an 11% commission, so they of course want product to sell). I cut the prices by almost a half a month ago, to no avail. Of course, apparently everyone else in the store is doing well enough, including the other few sellers of nature photography. Only my stuff is sitting there, not selling.
Typical.
So, I’ve got till the end of the month to clear the shelves. After that… dunno. The “bonfire” idea is certainly looking better and better. Spending even more money on getting booth space at various art shows in the area really, really doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest anymore.
Since I paid for two years worth of it in advance, the website for my photos will stay up for a while. I doubt there’d be much point in updating that, either… even more months it’s been running, and not a single sale from there, either.
So, here’s a lesson, kids: it doesn’t matter HOW MANY people tell you “Wow, that’s a great picture, you could sell those,” assume that that person is flat-out lying to you unless they bust out with the checkbook and actually buy. This little rule of thumb applies across the board to all areas of human endeavor… the sign of true appreciation is not praise, it’s money (or the equivalent in barter or effort). Praise, like appologies, is cheap. That which is given freely has no value.
Additional lessons: stubbornness, dogged determination, sticktoitiveness… all fine concepts. But at some point, you’ve got to realize that some battles cannot be won, and that further efforts are just wasted sweat, time and money down a rathole. The time comes for you to realize that you’re a failure and to cut your losses.
And while I’ve just demonstrated Business Fail on a relatively small scale… leave it to the US Federal Government to demonstrate Government Fail on a truly massive scale. The “War on Drugs,” anyone? How about the “War on Poverty?” Both have been, by any rational and honest measure, massive failures. Making drugs illegal didn’t stop people from doing them… but it did lock up a whole hell of a lot of people, bloat the size and scope of governemnt, and drain the taxpayers wallets. The “Great Society” programs did no statistical good in helping people out of poverty… but it did lead to generations trapped in welfare dependancy.
Ah, but here’s the biggest difference: intent. I don’t know why my photo business has failed as spectacularly as it has. Could be the economy, could be that I just suck as a photographer (and yet virtually *everyone* who sees them is a blatant liar when they proclaim them Really Good? Seems unlikely, but who knows), could be competition. Could be a lot of things. I do know why the government programs failed: they’re frakkin’ stoooopid, and ignore basic human nature. When I reach the end of the finances and effort I’m willing to expend on a failing enterprise… I stop. But the governemnt… just keeps shovelling money at faield programs, year after year. Why? Can those in the government truly be so blind that they cannot see three generatiosn of fail staring them in the face? Sorry, I don’t buy the that. The reason why these failed efforts continue is because… they are not failures. Eliminating drug use and poverty are not the goals. Increasing the dominance of the government… that’s the goal. And in that regard, these “wars” have been spectacular success.
Sadly, I see no equivalent “stealth goal” for my photography business. It’s not like I can use photos that don’t sell to scam a decent living out of the government. Or can I? Hmmm… Anyone have any suggestions? Any way to turn this failed business venture into a successful source for “economic stimulus?”
12 Responses to “Admitting defeat and moving on”
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Or, you could jump the fence illegally, get hired onto a construction site and then sue the pants off someone to the tune of $3 million+
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/17/new.york.undocumented.workers.lawsuit/index.html
What comes to mind is “WTF?????” The money quote:
” all undocumented workers that they have the same rights once they’re on the job as any New York citizen.”
Reminds me of the burgler who busts into a house to cause trouble, trips over a roller skate, sues the people who own the house, and wins.
The potential customer is always asking, “What’s in it for me? What’s the benefit of buying/owning this _______ ?”
Sell the benefits (beauty, peace, memories, etc.), not the features (it’s a photo) nor the attributes (it’s a photo of __________ .)
People want 1/4-inch holes, not 1/4-inch drill bits.
http://www.danheller.com/biz-prints.html
http://www.dphotojournal.com/sell-photos-online/
You also need more exposure. Have you thought of selling your work as stock-images?
http://www.shutterpoint.com/Sell-Photos.cfm
> Sell the benefits …
“Salesmanship” has never been one of my virtues. I just don’t have the knack
> Have you thought of selling your work as stock-images?
I tried that before, about a year ago. Signed up for a few agencies, and *then* saw the “we have enough photos of cats, clouds and mountains, so don’t send us any” notice. I’ll try again with different agencies. Perhaps I’ll get lucky. Yeah.
You can do it!
“Never give in–never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Sir Winston Churchill,
Speech, 1941, Harrow School
British politician (1874 – 1965)
> “Never give in–never, never, never, never…”
Generally, that’s a sentiment I agree with. But there are times when that sentiment turns into insanity. Take, for instance, the best buggywhip manufacturer of the late 19th century, watchign as his business dwindles in the face of the automobidle. Or a major investor in Pets.com or Enron watching as the companioes collapse, debating on whether or not to invest *more* in hopes that the funds will help turn things around. Or vocal supporters of Obama, still trying to claim that their man is informed and wise and will fix the economy.
At some point, ya gotta say “to hell with this.”
I *have* signed up with a stock photo agency. Currently waiting to hear on whether my first ten submissiosn have been accepted. I suspect most if not all will not be. But at least it didn’t cost me any money.
>I *have* signed up with a stock photo agency. Currently waiting to hear on whether my first ten submissiosn have been accepted.
Ah, sweet, sweet rejection…
“In order for Shutterstock to maintain the high standard of our photography
collection, new submitters must receive approval on at least seven (7) of their
first ten (10) images to continue uploading. Unfortunately, while some of the
images you submitted may meet our guidelines, we are unable to approve the
requisite number and have temporarily disabled the uploading function on your
account. ”
I submitted 10… they rejected 10.
Thank you for trying. It will work out for you.
> It will work out for you.
What are you basing that on?
Not being sarcastic here, but maybe you could combine some aerospace renderings with dramatic nature photography?
> combine some aerospace renderings with dramatic nature photography
Dunno about that, but I’m looking into resuming the “APR Art Prints” thing. I want to produce a second edition of the Pluto poster at somewhat larger size (12X36 inches) with perhaps some changes and improvements. Some other art is also possible, including, perhaps, enlarged versions of some of the cover art produced for APR (let’s face it, most covers kinda suck, but a few were pretty good IMO).
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