In the age of Instagram, mobile phones as cameras, and point-and-shoot convenience, we all fancy ourselves photographers. But the truth is, despite all the convenience of the treadmill of photography we have in our palms, nothing beats having the work of a true pro printed up, framed, and displayed on the wall.
Now, buying photography is easier than ever as art galleries are starting to enter the world of shopping online. Without a lot of experience buying art, however, it can be difficult to know what to look out for.
Follow these five tips for buying photography online:
1. Trust your gut
If you truly love something, it’s always an investment and you’ll never regret the purchase.
2. Editions and Prints
You might notice a price for ‘Print’ and ‘Edition’ on some seller’s websites. Editions are originals, and prints are re-prints. Obviously the former is more valuable and better if you’re looking at investments. There are also originals with a limited run – a reputable seller will be upfront about this.
3. Print types
There are various types of print – C-Type, Digital, Giclée and so many more. Don’t get overwhelmed, there’s no ‘best’ when it comes to print types. It’s more to do with personal preference.
4. Shop around
Take your time shopping around on the various galleries that have entered the online world, as well as on photography artist’s own shops to find a piece that fits you. One of the biggest advantages of shopping online is that you’ll find more photography artists from around the world than you otherwise ever could.
5. Look at size
It might sound obvious but all too often buyers get caught up with a piece they love, only to receive it and discover it’s 1/3 of the size they expected. Pay careful attention to the size of a work, and the size of the wall you want it to cover.
Image: saatchionline.com
