TheLocalFocal.com - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

08/20/2009 01:03:17 PM · #1

Hello all DPC members! I am in the process of developing a new website and invite you all to join in the exciting new launch of the site on 09/09/09! TheLocalFocal.com is destined to be a collection of hometown-scapes from professionals and amateurs alike. Our mission is to link people with photos of the towns they grew up in, visited or have a special connection to.

We are currently seeking photo submissions. Our present structure is no obligation and you receive 25% of the profits. For a $25 membership (or $5 monthly), you are upgraded to a 50% commission and will be eligible to be a featured artist on our homepage. You can click here to read all of the Terms and Conditions.

As a welcome to my friends at DPC, I will upgrade you all to the Exclusive Artist for the first six (6) months, a $30 value! Please submit your photos via CD to: The Local Focal, PO Box 424, Collingswood, NJ 08108, or send individual images via email to mike@thelocalfocal.com. Make sure you indicate the city and state, or town and country of each image and your DPC ID. Please also include a brief bio (250 words or less) for use on our featured artist page.

If you have any questions, please email help@thelocalfocal.com. I hope you will participate...what have you got to lose!

Mike

BeeCee

Nikon D40

08/20/2009 04:56:26 PM · #2

Sounds like it could be a neat idea.

ericwoo

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/20/2009 04:58:00 PM · #3

So, I send you MY photos, YOU sell them and YOU keep 50-75% of the profit, even if I pay you fees? Hmmm? No thanks. Why would we not just get our own smugmug account and sell photos?

Message edited by author 2009-08-20 16:58:49.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/20/2009 09:53:51 PM · #4

Originally posted by ericwoo:

So, I send you MY photos, YOU sell them and YOU keep 50-75% of the profit, even if I pay you fees? Hmmm? No thanks. Why would we not just get our own smugmug account and sell photos?

Well this is better then my response but I do like it. Heck I reported it as a spam post. As that is how I see it. :D

Matt

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

08/21/2009 09:01:19 AM · #5

You are always welcome to get your own account and sell your photos, but I think this is a unique way to present the collection of many artists around a central theme. If you get your own site, you have to market it, promote it, pay for it, and you may not sell an image. With this site there is no risk and no loss if none of your photos sell. Plus it allows people who may have a photo or two they want to see if they can sell do it without having to do anything. If it's not to your liking, so be it, but it is hardly something to dismiss.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

08/21/2009 10:00:13 AM · #6

Originally posted by drwranger7:

Actually, there is something to lose. If I venture and pay you $25, I very easily could lose $25.

It does sound like it could be a neat idea, and possibly successful. But, seriously, look at it from the photographer's viewpoint -- after this initial "gift," I will need to pay you to market my shots and you get 50 - 75% of what my picture brings in. That's a pretty substantial chunk, IMO, and may be why some (here) are hesitant to join you.

Sioux

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/21/2009 10:22:15 AM · #7

Originally posted by drwranger7:

As a welcome to my friends at DPC, I will upgrade you all to the Exclusive Artist for the first six (6) months, a $30 value!

What is the Exclusive Artist?

How is pricing determined? Assume you fulfill the orders? Can people search for photos by state, city and/or photographer? What exactly is the plan for protecting the images on the web?

Yes, I'd like to see a higher % for the photographer, but I'm still interested. I take photos for my own enjoyment as I travel. Heck, sometimes I just go out and shoot 'cuz I want to :) Point being...I have photos of various locations that I doubt I would ever post somewhere and try to sell. If LocalFocal is actively promoting their site and people happen to like and buy something I wouldn't have sold otherwise - woot!

Could people who like my work contact me for future work? That would be a big plus.

As for losing $25, if I've got 6 months to try it as "Exclusive" (which I'm assuming is a better deal than the 50% for $25/year), then I would be doing it risk-free, yes? If one decides to no longer affiliate with LocalFocal, how quickly are images taken down?

Sioux

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/21/2009 10:52:44 AM · #8

Originally posted by drwranger7:

Our present structure is no obligation and you receive 25% of the profits. For a $25 membership (or $5 monthly), you are upgraded to a 50% commission and will be eligible to be a featured artist on our homepage.

Sorry another question. The no obligation is 25% of profits? Not the sales price? If you are including all costs like site development, promotion, etc. there could be no profit :(. With the membership its 50% commission - so thats a straight % of the sales price?

08/21/2009 12:24:41 PM · #9

25% of the profits is only reduced by the cost of the print. We absorb the commission taken out by the company we partnered with for web development. The structure for pricing the images is that a uniform purchase price will be applied to all works. As your individual images sell more prints, the cost of that image will increase, so as to help raise the profit take home.

We fulfill the orders, ship the product, handle customer service, the only thing you have to do is send us the images. If you decide to cancel, your images will be removed from the website within 72 hours.

As for protecting images on the web, each artist is responsible for certifying the copyright and ownership of the photos. If any copyright is infringed, the artist need only contact us and the image will be removed and any profits from those sales donated to our charity (currently being formed).

Lastly, all photographers will be identified as the copyright holder and artist of the works. People would be free to contact you for future work. The only limitation would be on reselling images posted with TheLocalFocal.

08/21/2009 12:27:19 PM · #10

The Exclusive Artist

For a monthly or discounted yearly fee, the commission structure is increased from 25% to 50%. Additionally, the homepage will have a featured artist, complete with a bio and links to their image gallery. Exclusive Artists are the only members we display as featured artists. With the web traffic we are hopeful to anticipate this could mean increased sales and commission for the artist. The featured artist is not available to registered users.

Message edited by author 2009-08-21 12:28:20.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/21/2009 12:31:21 PM · #11

Karmat,

You can only lose if you choose to upgrade to the Exclusive Artist membership. I think this will be a venture more suited for those who do not consider themselves "professionals" or earn their bread and butter with photos. I think those at that level will bark at the idea and would be better off on their own.

ericwoo

Nikon D800

08/21/2009 02:32:47 PM · #12

Originally posted by drwranger7:

Yeah, I think you're right. The whole idea still sounds off kilter to me. You keeping my profits in addition to my fees to even be featured is a shaky business plan at best.

Sioux

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/21/2009 04:08:26 PM · #13

Alrighty, final (I hope) questions:

1) If I'm "registered" I only get 25% and out of that I have to pay for the cost of the print? Who is paying postage? At 50%, are there no hidden charges - just a flat 50%?

2) The $25 fee is not yearly then, but for a six month period?

3) Will some copyright mark be put on the images?

4) How will the internal search be set up? Key words, country, state, yada yada?

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

08/21/2009 05:06:08 PM · #14

Originally posted by ericwoo:

Yeah, I think you're right. The whole idea still sounds off kilter to me. You keeping my profits in addition to my fees to even be featured is a shaky business plan at best.

Look at it like a $25 fee for website space. you can't beat that, that's for sure.

MattO

Nikon D4

08/21/2009 05:15:27 PM · #15

Originally posted by drwranger7:

Originally posted by ericwoo:

Yeah, I think you're right. The whole idea still sounds off kilter to me. You keeping my profits in addition to my fees to even be featured is a shaky business plan at best.

Look at it like a $25 fee for website space. you can't beat that, that's for sure.

We get that here a year as DPC members with a store to sell them from and we get to keep a whole lot more of the $$$ from each print. Now tell me again why yours is better? Unless you are making me a custom website for JUST my photos all you are giving is a portfolio that can be had here for the same price.

Matt

08/21/2009 05:15:56 PM · #16

Originally posted by Sioux:

Here are your answers:
1. 25% of profit...if print selld for $30, less cost of print = profit. 50% is 50% of profit. We cover web expense, shipping, credit card fees, marketing out of the remaining profit.
2. $25 for a year if paid in advance or $5 on a monthly basis.
3. Images will be watermarked and copyright will appear below the image with artist.
4. artist, city, state, and country.

Keep firing away if you need to!

08/21/2009 05:21:24 PM · #17

Originally posted by MattO:

Difference is the focused subject matter. Combining the theme of the website and the initiative of our charity, your "portfolio" here will get more exposure than DPC Prints. We can go back and forth. If you are having success elsewhere, stay with it. I'm just trying to open an avenue to something new.