It’s been nearly five years now since I started seriously pursuing photography as a passion. Not surprisingly, I’ve learned a lot about the craft in that time. But, I’ve also learned a lot about the photography business as well. One thing I have noticed in particular, is that fine art photography is dismissed by a lot of so-called professional photographers. In five years time, I have read many articles and blogs about being in the photography business. Yet, nearly every article I read is about how to be a stock photographer, wedding photographer, portrait photographer, or some other form of photography for hire. And, almost universally, fine art photography is dismissed as something less than a serious business. One article I saw recently even went so far as to mention fine art photography followed by “good luck with that.”

Even fellow photographers sometimes dismiss the idea that photographic prints are a product anyone will buy. Yet, people do buy them. So why is it that so many people don’t see a value in the “art” of photography?

Everywhere we photographers look, someone is telling us our work has little value. So much so, that we start to believe it ourselves. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard a photographer justify selling their work for a few dollars, or even a few cents, by saying “well, at least it’s something, and something is better than nothing.” Is it? Is it really better to devalue your work down to pocket change than to not sell it at all? What if every business operated on that premise? How would anyone survive? If I don’t value myself and my work, how can anyone else?

The manufacturer I bought my camera from made a fair profit. The companies I bought my lenses, filters and accessories from made a fair profit. The printers, framers and shippers who produce and deliver my prints make a fair profit. When I go on a photo shoot, the oil companies make a fair profit on the gas I put in my car. For that matter, the company that made my car made a profit on it, too.

Great photos don’t just “happen.” Okay, once in a while, maybe. But, more often than not, the final work you see in my portfolio is a result of a whole bunch of planning, effort, and execution. My latest trip to the coast cost over $400. Then, there’s the “developing,” which is done these days on a computer instead of in a darkroom. Which reminds me, the software manufacturers and the computer company also made a fair profit. So why is it so wrong for me to ask for a fair profit?

Other photographers scoff at me because I refuse to sell my work for pennies. Over the years, I’ve been called such things as greedy, ridiculous, and unrealistic because I ask for a fair profit on my photos. What they don’t understand is that I would rather sell a few photos each month for a fair price, than try to sell thousands for pennies. I never expected to get rich doing this, and I’m thrilled when someone likes an image enough to pay a few hundred dollars for it. I don’t offer my photos for sale in every venue and market that will give me a couple of bucks on the premise of volume sales. So who is the greedy one?

I love it when people share my photos. It’s very gratifying to get nice comments and likes. And, if you do share, please give me credit, because the next person who sees it might just be the one who loves it enough to buy it and hang it in their home. As it turns out, value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It’s because of those few people who see value in my work that I can afford to continue doing what I love, and for them I am very, very grateful.