Open for Business!
Paul Knightly Photography is officially open for business!
As those who know me are well aware, this has been a long work in progress and after several months, I’m finally in a position to take the plunge and offer my photographs for sale. With that, I’d also like to offer some insight into my business philosophy and my vision as things go forward.
Commitment to Quality
I’m committed to delivering quality photographic products to my customers. I believe that purchasing a photograph to hang on the wall of your home or business is not something to be taken lightly. Photographs are a key element of room or space which may tie it together for years – so ensuring that the photograph you’ve ordered is delivered to meet your expectations is my highest concern. Therefore, I take the time to oversee every part of the order process. From forwarding your order to a local print shop, reviewing the quality of the photographic print, getting the photograph matted as applicable, and then packing and shipping the order myself. It’s really quite a process!
So that signature on the corner is more than me laying claim to a piece of art I created – it is my stamp of approval that what I’m providing to you is the highest quality of a product that I can present to you. As I fill more orders, and figure out what works best in terms of photographic reproduction, this is a standard which will only increase with time.
Pricing
In a world where photographs are available as quick as a Google search, it’s easy to forget that the images we see everyday online or hanging on a wall came at a price to the photographer. So the price I’m offering my photographs at is a reflection of the factors which went into producing the photo – namely the time and materials.
As a landscape and weather photographer, I must travel to capture the images that I offer for sale, oftentimes great distances. Most of it is from traveling that I would have done on my own otherwise, but I have traveled on a few occasions with the sole purpose of creating some of the images you see here. Traveling is not cheap, nor is the equipment I use to capture photos. From the camera and lens, to editing software and website fees, this is not an operation without cost. While I have a day job which could support much of this on its own, I aim to make this a self-profiting enterprise, that my photographs can soon finance themselves, even if the amount of money I’m making at the end of the day for myself is minimal.
The prices that I’ve set reflect what I feel is a good balance between the material cost of the photograph (nearly half of the price of each photograph goes towards the medium it is printed on) and the time, energy, and resources expended in making it, thus generating revenue for me to produce more images for you to enjoy. Whether you are viewing it online for free or paying for a print to hang on your wall, I want to continue creating new images. Photography is as much a therapeutic creative exercise for me as it is a means for me to stir emotions in other people; the prices I’ve set allow me to continue in this work.
Growth
This website, and indeed my business as a whole, is a fledgling enterprise. In the future (even before year’s end) I suspect I will end up adjusting prices, potentially exploring a website redesign along with a serious branding initiative, and even shift some of my workload as I adjust to whatever economy of scale I find myself working with. I encourage feedback from my customers to not only help ensure the success of this business, but to also ensure I’m providing the highest quality of service possible and to make improvements as time goes on.
I’m excited to be taking this leap and am grateful to have you along for the ride! Thank you all for your support.
-Paul