Sounds like a reasonable solution.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Whitmire" <bwhitmire@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Olympus Camera Discussion" <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2012 7:02 PM
Subject: [OM] Really (OT) Question, But Photography Related
> So, today was Opening Day at Whitmire Gallery. No fanfare. No ads. Just an
> OPEN flag flapping in the breeze.
>
> As I'm hanging out the flag, a vehicle turns into the drive. Nice couple,
> roughly my age. They wait for me to finish with the flags and we all go
> inside. (The gallery is air conditioned, unlike Maine today, which most
> assuredly wasn't, unless you were right beside the water. Or better yet,
> out on it.)
>
> They gush about seeing my prints at another venue, and bring up several
> specific images. I show them those images in the larger sizes I stock in
> the gallery. They comment on clarity and sharpness and composition and
> such. Don't wish to sound conceited, but I hear this a lot from visitors
> to the gallery. I mean they must like my stuff or they wouldn't come,
> right?
>
> So, anyway, they give off a buyer vibe. The specificity of their likes and
> dislikes surprises me. I'm not used to that. I have the prints they
> profess to adore. But first, we must talk about photography. I am grilled,
> as sometimes happens, about how I do all of this. Equipment, software,
> etc. The male half of the duo is a professed "rank amateur." He wants
> recommendations about specific equipment, etc. Software, too. Even
> computer system.
>
> Then they decide they must think about actually buying the prints. They
> aren't quite sure about placement, etc. They promise to stop in next year.
>
> Next year?
>
> So, maybe it's ego, but this scenario has played out enough that I'm
> beginning to think I'm being used. They left with no prints but a good
> couple hundred dollars worth of information. I don't mind sharing, but I'm
> beginning to think I'm not sharing, I'm being drained. I'm not getting
> anything back. I've had a few real pros visit, people with recognizable
> names, and they aren't like that at all. We talk shooter stuff, and it's
> give and take. With folks such as those in the shop today, it was all take
> and no give.
>
> I'm thinking about adding the 4 C's to my resume and rack card:
> Consultation, Coaching, Critique and Commiseration. Maybe it's just part
> of the price you pay to get pumped like that, but I know my friend John
> Paul Caponigro charges $250 an hour for that kind of talk. I would not
> dream to charge that much, but I'm thinking that a few general answers
> plus a gentle reminder that I have other services than just prints might
> be in order. If nothing else, it might clear the deadwood out of the
> gallery.
>
> What thinks the group?
>
> --Bob
>
> --
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>
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