Discovering the Consumers of Photography

I recently asked a friend several questions. Such as, but not limited to: if she were in a place that sold photographic art and bought a piece, what type of atmosphere was it in that made her buy it, the lighting, the music, the customer service and how much she got and what turned her on and off about it and so on. What I got was a surprising answer.

My friend said she didn't own one piece of photographic art that someone else had taken. She said, she never shopped for pictures, though the things she liked were things that drew her into the piece. That made her feel part of the piece, not looking from the outside in.

This was interesting, because she enjoys taking photographs herself. Which, leads one to assume she likes art and would have purchased one piece from someone else. However, this was not the case. I did not follow up and ask her why she did not purchase others work, but it lead me to wonder a little about the aspect of vanity of ones own "talents" in creating what they need. Also, the aspect that a person could feel they were more a part of their own work, whether any good or not, than to someone else's.

Then, there is another question that comes to mind. Two actually. How does one overcome the hurdle of vanity to create a need? Also, how can we make photographic art that makes people feel part of the image? I think to do the latter one would have to put feeling into the picture. Some kind of emotional element. Still how can we do this and not alienate the feelings others might want to experience in the work?

How, also, do we overcome such a strong sense of vanity and turn it into need? Vanity is huge and a very strong feeling. In fact it makes the buyer even more picky, but at the same time, in my opinion, makes the buyer even less knowledgeable about actual art and what art actually is and whether they are in fact looking at it or just another non artistic piece.

Then you have two problems, a very picky buyer, but also a buyer who doesn't know what art is. Then you add that they want to be part of the image feeling wise. Thus, you add the element that feelings to the work are more important than whether the work is any good or not.

I am interested in trying to find ways and ideas to bridge this gap and create a more sell able item, but to not sacrifice quality of the image. How can this be done? Obviously, a person like that would not be able to tell me, because of the limitations in their own perspective. Also, the sales technique would have to be subtle. If my friend ever reads this, I hope they don't become offended. I am merely writing from my perception and trying to device marketing strategies.

Of course, maybe this is not a person I should market too, but she would be a "consumer". As in part of the "consumer" base that IS part of my marketing plan so maybe... I should narrow down the consumers type as well. Please note that consumers are different than art aficionados or art buyers. I learned that thanks to Dan Heller.

Anyway... this is part of the place I am at now. Trying to find a marketing stratigy. One thing I did do was to give my cards to the beautician of mine at the premier beauty shop in Ocala w/ the instructions to hand one to each customer as my webpage is on the back of each. She runs into way more people than I do and a higher class of people "financially" who are interested in fashion and art through her own business location and talents. She also is letting me do headshots of her clients in test shots to produce added genera to what I can do and a portfolio for her to showcase to her clients. Also, I would be able to net work and meet people.

I have also decided to run my business as a hobby while I build its foundation very slowly, have a gallery opening based on FL in the fall and open the doors to official business on Jan 1 2011. Now, I have to just fill in how to get to those points by working backwards, and sometimes forwards... depends on when ideas pop into my head and for which time period.

Anyway, part of this blog is to share my journey and to help others in theirs, which is why I am listing my ideas and plans here.