Marketing Fine Art Photography

After waiting several months for the release of this book, I was pleasantly surprised how readable, clear, concise and justified the approach was. The author clearly differentiates between fine art photography and other forms (ie, stock photography for example). If you are searching for ways to monetize your hobby...this is probably NOT the book for you. On the other hand, if you are searching for tried and true methods of turning a "hobby" into a full-time artistic pursuit while creating a stream of income from your fine art...this IS the book for you. The author takes the time to provide a strong foundation for fine art photography as compared to other forms - something the reader would be well advised to examine in brutal honesty. Does your photography really qualify as fine art? If not, can it or should you keep moving to find your own niche? From that foundation the author goes on to explore all of the nuts and bolts of selling, marketing, showing and networking including mention of recent technology ranging from payments to social media marketing. There is a superb balance between tried and tested methods and new approaches with an emphasis on realistic steps designed to help you begin at the basics and grow from there. Exceptionally clear, very readable. Highly targeted and delivers exactly what is promised.

Lots to say here. First, this is a great resource - just get it. This book has a great deal to offer aspiring fine art photographers in a very challenging business environment. Let's be frank, Briot has lots of opinions based on what has worked for him - and he sells many images at the Grand Canyon National Park Service store - great gig if you can get it! He has developed very specific ideas about what fine art is and isn't. While you may or may not agree with all of his ideas, he is smart, experienced and offers excellent insights that force you to explore your own ideas more critically - a needed activity for every serious fine art photographer. Perhaps the most controversial and polarizing part of his thinking is his argument between low cost and high cost sales. Regardless of your position on this topic, it's conversation we all have to have, but don't often get right. Briot brings up good points for each side despite being an obvious fan of the latter model. If you can keep the context of Briot's ideas in the back of your mind, this is an exceptional starting or check point title and a wonderful resource you should own and will undoubtedly grow with. It has many well thought out points to explore. It's also an easy read. A well done book.

I find the marketing plans and ideas presented in this book are very well thought out and inspiring. The book does bring up many very fine points that I had not ever considered before and there is learning here. I am glad I bought the book. While not surprising, his marketing attack is unlike any other book I have read in that the author is very specific toward only photography and the many avenues to pursue. His success speaks for itself and his approach will not mesh with everyone who reads this book but there is a wealth of knowledge within the covers. A bit of picking and choosing of the variety of marketing approaches will need to be done by every reader, including myself.

This book is brilliant. Extremely well done. It contains myriads of: 1) common-sense practices and observations that are often overlooked, and also 2) specific hints, tips and techniques honed by years of Alain's very successful experience at the highest level in his art and craft. This kind of detailed, practical guidance is something I just haven't seen anywhere else in one place, covering even which kinds of booth materials to buy for exhibiting in art shows and how to design your booth depending on where your booth is located in the show (corner booth, side booth, etc.). Last weekend we just opened a big 2-month exhibition at the State Theater of Kansas that's been very successful and have another exhibition coming up in October in California wine country. Alain's book is now our guidebook for maximizing the impact and success of these events. It couldn't have come at a more opportune time for us. Now that our exhibition has opened it will be useful to go through a number of the skill-building exercise sets in Alain's book, yet another unique contribution he's included at the end of each chapter.

This book is extremely well written. The information presented is extremely valuable and broad in its reach. Yet, it flows and reads very well. It teaches marketing principles and helps develop a way of thinking. It also gives very specific examples on steps to take immediately. Alain is a wonderful teacher. He tells it like it is, so you can either take that or go to the school of hard knocks. The humor sprinkled through the book was a welcomed bonus. Easily worth the money invested. Even if it was 10x more expensive, it would still be a steal considering what it provides in return and the time one will save by applying its content.

I hate to join in and give 5 stars to this book - like everyone else (to this point) has. As I started reading this, I wasn't immediately convinced that this was more than an ego book for the author (I had not read his other books). I soon found that this is a very thoughtful and insightful analysis of photographic art as a business. 5 stars it is... Make no mistake, this is a business book, not a book on how to be a fine art photographer. The discussion of the art and business of photography is well balanced and will help photographers of all artistic direction and focus. Mr. Briot is (primarily) a landscape photographer, but I am sure this book will help all fine-art photographers. The focus of this book is clearly selling quality as opposed to selling quantity. After reading this, you may still decide that quantity is the right choice for you, but you will be better prepared for that niche after reading this. This is a terrific book. Nice job. (I have subsequently ordered Mr. Briot's other books.)

I wish there was just a little bit more specific information instead of the generalalities.

It's one of the best books I've ever read on photography. Although, I had professionally trained to do photography and I knew many points which mentioned in the book, but having all them together was really great. It's not just a book for marketing, It describes all aspects of capturing fine art photograph and finally focuses on selling it. And I noticed it's a book for all photographer regardless they are beginners or professionals! there are very useful points for all of them and every one based on his level of knowledge may find many interesting things on it. So I really recommend it to everyone who has passion on photography.

Cuando lo encargué pensé que sería un libro más "al uso", con información técnica interesante. Ha sobrepasado mis expectativas, ya que que Alain Briot desgrana estupendamente cada uno de los elementos artísticos, técnicos, de marketing e incluso personales que influyen en la venta de las fotografías producidas por un fotógrafo, aunque podríamos extrapolarlo perfectamente a otros tipos de arte. A destacar la presentación, la organización de los temas y los puntos a tratar y, sobre todo, el enfoque absolutamente personal con el que Alain Briot decidió compartir sus conocimientos y experiencias vitales con todos nosotros. Como me ha sabido a poco, acabo de encargar su otro libro "How Photographs are Sold: Stories and Examples of How Fine Art Photographers Sell Their Work", que espero sea igual de bueno que este y que lo complemente.

Di Alain Briot si può criticare o meno la capacità fotografica, ma di sicuro ha doti affabulatorie notevoli. I suoi libri sono sempre interessanti da leggere e ricchi di spunti. Questo più di altri, per il soggetto trattato, evidenzia un po' troppo la personalità dell'autore, ma per arrivare a lavorare a certi livelli nella fotografia un carattere molto sicuro è necessario. Interessanti gli spunti tratti dal proprio vissuto da cui Alain parte per illustrare le varie proposte del libro.

The book is very easy to read and understand, overall a very good purchase that will keep giving me more tips each time I look at it.

I am more than three quarters way through this book, it is without doubt a well constucted book and must be built upon person experience. I am not a fast reader which is just a well because there is so much information in this book it does take time to absorb, my view is it is worth every penny.

Bonjour à tous, Livre en anglais, même si l'auteur est français. Contenu très instructif et excellente pédagogie. Je le recommande fortement ainsi que les autres livres de cet auteur. Bonne lecture