I currently have about 5,000 image for sale on my Fine Art America store – https://edward-fielding.pixels.com/
Of course, they are not all masterpieces and some of my older image probably should be tossed, but sometimes you never know what will sell. Lots of the images were created with other markets in mind besides decor. Some like my popular stock image “Bagel Breakfast Sandwich” sells all the time for stock and has even sold a few times as fine art.
So the question comes down to this – which images should I take the most pride in? The ones I personally like the most? The ones buyers seem to like the most? Or the ones my boutique stock agency curates and accepts for their business? The options are as follows:
My self-selected photographs for my portfolio book:
My collector’s selected portfolio of recently sold images:
My professionally curated portfolio on Arcangel:
https://www.arcangel.com/CS.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=2U1HZOQPGU5LT&SMLS=1&RW=1280&RH=653
Usually the customer is always right but I think I would put the order of importance as Agency Selected, Artist Selected, Customer Selected.
Boutique Stock Agency Selected as the top in order of importance. This is the portfolio I’m most proud of because it has been hand selected among other professional photographers by industry professional image buyer with years of experience.
Second I’d put myself because I think I have more experience viewing, reviewing and self-curating fine art photography more than the average buyer. I’ve spent years not only creating fine art photography but looking at fine art photography by other photographers in books, museums and even took the History of Photographer course at Boston University.
Of course I love any purchase of my work by collectors and buyers, only they don’t always buy what I’d consider my best art. Often my best gets undiscovered while something more second rate becomes popular.
I guess this order reflects the way I work. I often think of the boutique stock market and book covers as a goal when I’m photographing, and I always shoot what I’m personally interested in. If buyers like what I’m offering then that is a bonus.