All about image sizes and printing

One of the huge advantages of digital photography is how easy it is to make a picture "look right".  In the film days you had to go back into the photomart (or the darkroom) and show someone how you wanted the picture cropped to give that best look.  Today this is all done with computers and only takes seconds to complete.  But there is a problem with doing this, the images don't fit the standard size frames and mattes.

Another issue is that digital is now much wider.  Sort of like going from your old "square" television to todays wide screen TV's.  Unfortunately most stores still sell frames and matting for the old "square" pictures.   I refuse to give into what is sold on the shelf and modify my images to these insane formats.  Unless the image looks better that way of course.  

So it's cheap to go out and buy an 8x10 frame, but reality is that most digital cameras are now 8x12, for that there is not much out there for frames except getting them custom made.  We all know what custom made means = $$$$ .   The same is true for matting of the images.  Big money into the framing stores pockets.

Unfortunately in this day and age it's not the photo that will cost you much money, it's the framing and matting.   Finding frames in the new sizes on the shelf is difficult and then you get photographers (like myself) cropping to very unusual sizes to make the image look the most pleasing.

As I don't do photography for a living and I understand the high costs of getting a picture you love on the wall, I've kept my prices very low.  If you buy an image from me for $20.00 it will still probably cost you well over $100 to get it on the wall.  I don't want to scare anyone off (cause I want you to buy my images) but I want everyone to understand the problems of various size images.  I'm not out to make much money at this point, in fact I'd just be happy if the hobby/business paid for itself, so for now my prices are low.  When the day comes that I'm famous and ready to quit my day job my prices will go up.   So get these future famous prints while I'm unknown and they're cheap :)

So, when you select the images you wish to purchase, proceed to the shopping cart, select the size that you wish to have.  Now you have to figure out what to do.  The webpage will put a red square on the image showing the size you've selected, this will crop the image.  It pains me to think that someone would "chop" my images up to fit a cheap frame, but you have to do what you have to do :).   Or, you can turn off the crop feature.  This will make the image the size you've selected by adding white borders to the top/bottom or sides to make the image fit.  From there you will need a custom matte and frame.  But the image will be as it was meant to be displayed.

If there is an image that you like but you absolutely can't get it right on the purchase part of the site, please contact me direct and we'll be more then happy to help you out.  In other words I will take custom orders, within reason.  Give me a shout - on my personal email.



You can also purchase a personal download

So you don't want to print off a photo but you'd like to have a digital photo?  You can also download a copy of the image.  Now because I can't control how many times you might make copies of the image the prices are higher then the printed prices.  You must remember that if you purchase and download an image, I still retain the copyright to these images.  You are not to modify, publish or sell them without express permission from myself in witting.  

To purchase personal downloads: select the image you like,  click buy this photo.  A gui will be displayed, select the download tab and see the part regarding personal download.  Do not confuse it with the commercial download, be sure to select the right spot.



All about purchasing commercial downloads

This is all still new to me but there is a big market out there for people, magazines and companies to purchase commercial rights to images.  On my webpage there are prices listed but they are guide lines and are negotiable.  I typically use this image calculator to calculate what I should charge.  So if the price on my webpage is cheaper you might want to grab it before I change my mind :)  But I think you'll see, my commercial prices are also very cheap and reasonable.

My only caveat on the commercial rights is that I keep control of all copyrights of my images.  You are being granted a one time use of the image as we have both agreed to.   I can continue to sell the image and retain all rights to the image.

To purchase commercial downloads: select the image you like,  click buy this photo.  A gui will be displayed, select the download tab and see the part regarding commercial download.  Do not confuse it with the personal download, be sure to select the right spot.

Any questions regarding commercial sales of my images you are welcome to contact me direct.