Signing Images,,, - DPChallenge Forums

06/02/2010 12:09:19 AM · #1

Hi, I sell my pictures on canvas... I ALWAYS sign the canvas in the corner (both when I sell them myself and when they are sold through the gallery I deal with...)

Someone wanted two of my pictures printed a particular way on photo paper in some special frame, ect... so I had them do it at a large printing house in Toronto (very well known so I can trust them with my file)

the guy said that he doesn't want me to sign the front of the images... I'm not sure what to say... so I emailed back and said to call me in the morning...

I kinda don't know what to say as I have always signed the pics... do I say ok and don't sign them? or do I say no, and that if he wants them, they will be signed?

I'd love any suggestions....

Many thanks from the guy who's business is getting annoyingly too big too fast... =)

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/02/2010 01:09:19 AM · #2

JustCaree

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

06/02/2010 01:12:05 AM · #3

Originally posted by Shutter-For-Hire:

I had a similar situation once... and I made an arragement it initial it in a like color... just enough were it was visible but didnt pop up. the client agreed with it. i advised that as an artist it was my right etc etc...

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/02/2010 01:14:36 AM · #4

Not really sure what to say. It sounds odd at best and suspicious at worst. A signed print is worth more than an unsigned one. If it were a simple matter of someone pirating your image they wouldn't request a frame or special paper so I am confused. I dunno. Maybe its just aesthetics...or something. I guess you could always politely ask them why they wouldn't want it signed. I just can't think of any rational reason why they wouldn't want it signed.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/02/2010 01:17:14 AM · #5

Originally posted by JustCaree:

Originally posted by Shutter-For-Hire:
?

I had a similar situation once... and I made an arragement it initial it in a like color... just enough were it was visible but didnt pop up. the client agreed with it. i advised that as an artist it was my right etc etc...

hmmm... he did say he was ok with my signing the back... but still not sure what to do here...

not to be full of myself here... but the image is slooooowwwlllyyy becoming kinda famous as it's one of the few images of this building taken before it was removed... well... there are millions of pics of it, but no good ones for sale I have seen in Toronto...

here's the pic for reference:

..

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

06/02/2010 08:48:19 AM · #6

just curious as to what size print he's looking for...

one thing i include with my delivery manifest is a 'personal use only' license that spells out PERSONAL USE.

another thing i do through my online ordering is have my customers fill out a questionnaire as to what they want to do with the print so that i can get them the best crop (are they framing it, putting it in a scrapbook, do they need it vertical or horizontal, etc). sure, they might have something else in mind, but at least i'm getting them thinking.

depending on the image and their intentions, i may make the print on a larger canvas with captioning and image information printed in the white space like this.