Lindsay Adler over at PopPhoto.com has a great article entitled, “26 Books Every Photographer Should Own.” If you’re looking for inspiration, a gift for a photographer, or a gift for yourself, this is a great list to start from.
 
 
 
 
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Eventually every professional photographer considers selling his or her work as fine art. I don’t blame them. I have seen prints in my customer’s studios that I would gladly display in the lab, or even in my home. And today the Internet makes it easy to sell fine art online.

However, selling online is the last step in the process. Think of any famous artist: they developed a unique style, created an exciting and desirable “body of work” (an art term), and presented it to influential buyers. The same rules apply to fine art prints.

To build your body of work, I believe you should start by making a commitment to yourself to become a Master Photographer. Becoming a Master is not about the title or the ribbons — it is about honing your craft as an artist. The skills you learn will both improve your fine art prints, and make your photography more valuable to your business.

Once you have a body of work, you need to show it to buyers. According to Nancy Markoe, faculty lecturer at the Art Business Institute, the only way is to exhibit at retail art shows and galleries. Although difficult and time-consuming, talking directly to buyers will teach you which colors and themes are desirable, and how much people will pay for your prints. One of the most exciting jobs at our lab is to make fine art prints for a photographer’s first competition or show.

While the Internet made it easy to put your photography in front of thousands of customers, the same old rules still apply: it takes years of work and effort to become a successful (and profitable) artist.