[Early Riser]

I agree with Blaze, FC and Bill about tier pricing. To me the whole idea of limiting an edition is basically a way to artificially raise prices. The pressure that I have gotten to limit prints was from galleries and hard core collectors, and collectors can be the worst proponent of it. It seems like they're only happy if it's an edition of one and they own it. If you don't limit your edition, you don't need to use tier pricing to maximize your return on your effort. For me figuring out how big an edition to make, and what to charge and how to increase is a serious headache. If you commit too small to an edition you could end up with nothing to show. Or it's possible to sell so many at the opening of a show, that the other galleries that represent you, who may also may be in a softer market, may end up carrying work that is priced beyond their market. I started with a large edition, and I keep reducing it, and reducing it. And that's not by choice.

As for tooting one's own horn, we all do it to some extent. I don't see how Bill and I squaring off against each other toots the horn for either of us. I participate in these threads for 2 main reasons, the first is that for me it's a sort of self analysis of my own work and why I do things. It's sort of a therapy approach. If you go to a therapist they ask you questions. The purpose of the questions is to make you think about things in order to answer the question. Through that thinking, that introspection, you can come to realizations about things in your life. For me these threads, are the therapy that better enables me to understand my own work. They also have increased my typing speed tremendously.

The other reason is that for other people, reading someone else's self analysis can also lead to a better understanding of themselves or their own work. In addition there is often really valuable information that is freely exchanged in these discussions. When I was young I used to contact well known photographers and ask to speak with them about photography. Many were gracious enough to see me. This new technology allows for a similar free flow of advice.

Sometimes when you look in the mirror you learn who you are.