A friend was approached by a gallery owner who wanted to carry his images, but wanted them to be in 'limited editions.' Discussing the subject, we realized we did not have a real understanding what it meant in relation to photographic prints. My friend does his own b&w, and a lab does his color. Specifically: Is there one definition, or a generally accepted one? Does it address whether the 'limited' speaks to the total number of prints made from a negative, or if it applies to the number of prints made during a particular printing session, etc... What about similar images from different negatives, etc.... Neither one of us is particularly taken with the idea of 'limited editions' when it comes to photographs, but sure would appreciate any info, guidance, references that speaks to the subject.

Thanks!

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), December 08, 1999

Answers

Christian, There are alot of things to consider when making limited edition prints, size of the edition, some feel that they can make 5X7,8X10,3X5 etc from the same neg, price of all the prints in the edition, does price go up as the edition sells, etc. This is common practice and Galleries expect it. Is it a marketing thing, of course it is. Are your images good enough to sell this way? Who are you and what background do you have. Published any books, teach at a well know schoool, what collections do you belong to, etc??????? When you get into this, your price goes up and again can you sell the whole edition. As a collector of B&W images, it amazes me when I see a fine photo, limited to 25, for $800 and I've never heard of or seen any work by this photographer. Yes, I might enjoy his work but for this kind of money I can buy alot of photography. I do enjoy myself making limited edition prints, but I make them for friends and give them away. I keep my print price affordable for the general public and will continue to do so, untill I can't keep up with it and then I might consider limiting prints for my customers. Thanks, Ernst

-- Ernst-Ulrich Schafer (zone88@olypen.com), December 08, 1999.

I always understood that limited edition means you make a number of prints from one negative and then destroy the negative. Any number or prints. In casual conversation about such things, limited edition generally means 10, 50, 100 prints of a particular size. It could also mean 100 8X10s and 50 5X7s or limited to only 11X14s. Whatever is agreed on between the artist and the gallery owner. However, limited edition could mean 10,000 prints if they were limited to that number. As far as "similar" images, that is also something that must be agreed on by the gallery owner and the artist. I know when I was under contract to a New York stock photo agency, in the contract it mentioned that I could not sell "similars" to competitors. It didn't explain what "similars" were, so I just used common sense and my judgment, but that could get touchy if it ever ended up in court.

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), December 08, 1999.

Thanks Joe and Earnst-Ulrich. I see that the reality and concept of limited editions is as complex and complicated as I had feared. I'll pass this on to my friend, and he and the gallery will just have to sort it out. Again, many thanks for your time and consideration!

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), December 08, 1999.

David Vestal had an interesting article in Photo Techniques a while back about limited editions. In a quick survey of a realitively large number of photographers, he found that most photographers only sell about six prints of an average image. Limited editions on the other hand were usually printed in numbers between 25 and 50. The conclusion is that unlimited edition prints are usually more rare than limited editions. You might mention that to the gallery owner.

-- Jeff White (zonie@computer-concepts.com), December 09, 1999.

Selling prints has become a complicated and involved issue in the medium. Limited editions not being the least of these issues.In most respected gallerys a limited edtion means that the size and number of prints being offered are it. Meaning that if an image is being offered at 16X20 in an addition of 50, then that image will not be offered at any other size in the future in any edition. This does not mean that the image may not be used or printed for other venues. (books, AP donations, etc.) A typical situation is that there will be a series of Artist Proofs up to 5-10 and then the edition. Each being designated as such. The size and scale of the edition being selected by the photographer. The edition will increase in value at set points during there sale - eg. in an edition of 25 - the first 10 might sell at $500, the next 10 at $750 and the final 5 at $1,000.therefore increasing the value of all the images in the edition.Typicaly the numbers 1 and 2 from the edition will always hold the greatest value if the edition sells out, which is why many photographers and gallerys hold on to these numbers.

-- jim megargee (mvjim@interport.net), December 11, 1999.