Ed Rooney Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I got this this morning: "Hi Ed,There is a $30 annual fee for your premium membership on Fine Art America. Our system attempted to charge your credit card on 11/09/2014 for the following account:Unfortunately, your credit card was declined." . . . and so on I'm not aware that there an annual fee from FAA. And at the moment none of my credit cards are in trouble. Is this a scam? Have any of you had this email? I must go. See you later. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokie Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 There is a fee for premium membership of FAA and as far as I can remember it is $30. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losdemas Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I got this this morning: "Hi Ed, There is a $30 annual fee for your premium membership on Fine Art America. Our system attempted to charge your credit card on 11/09/2014 for the following account: Unfortunately, your credit card was declined." . . . and so on I'm not aware that there an annual fee from FAA. And at the moment none of my credit cards are in trouble. Is this a scam? Have any of you had this email? I must go. See you later. Thanks ^^...and the credit card you have listed with them is probably out of date, rather than "in trouble". Always better to be safe than sorry though [/cliche]! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandyAppleRed Images Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I thought you could upload more than 25 images for free, but only 25 are eligible for print on demand - the rest say "contact photographer". $30 does sounds right for Premium though so whilst I doubt a scam if you have never signed up for it, it does sound a bit odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Endicott Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Yes - and if you cancel before the one year term is over, you don't get a refund for those unused months Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpics Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 $30 doesn't sound too bad. Btw, I signed up with FAA earlier today. Does anyone have any hints & tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyn Llun Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 $30 doesn't sound too bad. Btw, I signed up with FAA earlier today. Does anyone have any hints & tips? Yes, don't touch it. Any 'gallery' that charges a fee is a scam anyway. Proper galleries invite you to exhibit, (they don't offer to show your work unless they know sales will follow). Then do all the work of publicity, hanging, contacting possible clients, advice on editing and possible editioning, produce a calalogue etc., and don't charge fees but take the industry norm of 50% commission on sales. This has been absolutely standard ever since I started exhibiting way too many years ago! (90% of my income comes from print sales so I do know what I'm talking about). If you want a list of reputable photography galleries check out 'AIPAD'. 'The Association of International Photography and Art Dealers'. All the professional, best, reputable and honest galleries are members. They sell proper photographic prints (not inkjet) to proper, serious collectors. (For proper money). It's very demanding, serious collectors are picky. Not for those who think Alamy's QC is tough! Wait until you see a gallery director / owner and a collector contemplating spending a four-figure sum on a print looking at your work! At the same time, very rewarding and gratifying. I talk a little about exhibiting here: http://peteslandscape.blogspot.co.uk/ Entry for 11th. June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Vpics is referring to FAA, I think, not a high street gallery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 $30 doesn't sound too bad. Btw, I signed up with FAA earlier today. Does anyone have any hints & tips? You need to play the game over there, 'like' others images and get them to hopefully 'like' yours...it helps in ranking. Personally unless you see POD as a part of your future I wouldn't expect much from it without a lot of work. Pete, FAA doesn't claim to be a gallery, it's a POD site...no more, no less..... As you say, a proper gallery works solely off commission for any of the visual arts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dyn Llun Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I'm aware of what FAA is and does, or purports to do. I did some research a long time ago. Still wouldn't touch it. Real collectors like to look and handle the 'goods' close up and personal. Spend an hour in a New York gallery to get an idea. My advice still stands for anyone who truly values their work and wishes to explore and widen that side of their activity. Don't be tempted into the 'cheap and cheerful' online print sales sites if you believe your work deserves better. Although not online many years ago of course, there were still places that were the equivalent and I was advised to avoid them then. It was great, long-term advice. Do some research, visit proper galleries and really look at the prints etc. Take or send, portfolios of your work around to galleries that seem to sell similar work and discuss things with the owners / directors. Get to know the work any particular gallery leans towards. They tend to specialise a little. Unlike FAA which will take anything on their site, proper gallery people are tough and very discriminating but you will get such great advice about everything from sizing, pricing, editing, presentation, editioning, quality etc. You will also get many knockbacks (tell me about it!) Thanks be, those tough times are long gone for me), but that's the nature of it. If you believe in your work and can take good, professional advice it's a side of photography that is rewarding and allows a great measure of freedom. OK, sorry, no more lectures! Just well-meaning, honest advice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kuta Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 $30 doesn't sound too bad. Btw, I signed up with FAA earlier today. Does anyone have any hints & tips? You don't need to do all the "liking" and commenting games, as long as you have marketing means to drive buyers to your FAA "AW" site that shows only your images. ----------------------- Edo, you must have originally signed up for the $30 annual fee. In subsequent years, they cheerfully collect another $30 and don't send you any notification until your card expires. For what FAA is, $30 is a good deal for what they provide--as long as you can do your self-marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Yup, if you have your own FAA website, the annual fee is $30, which is a real bargain IMO considering all the features that you get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I'm aware of what FAA is and does, or purports to do. I did some research a long time ago. Still wouldn't touch it. Real collectors like to look and handle the 'goods' close up and personal. Spend an hour in a New York gallery to get an idea. My advice still stands for anyone who truly values their work and wishes to explore and widen that side of their activity. Don't be tempted into the 'cheap and cheerful' online print sales sites if you believe your work deserves better. Although not online many years ago of course, there were still places that were the equivalent and I was advised to avoid them then. It was great, long-term advice. Do some research, visit proper galleries and really look at the prints etc. Take or send, portfolios of your work around to galleries that seem to sell similar work and discuss things with the owners / directors. Get to know the work any particular gallery leans towards. They tend to specialise a little. Unlike FAA which will take anything on their site, proper gallery people are tough and very discriminating but you will get such great advice about everything from sizing, pricing, editing, presentation, editioning, quality etc. You will also get many knockbacks (tell me about it!) Thanks be, those tough times are long gone for me), but that's the nature of it. If you believe in your work and can take good, professional advice it's a side of photography that is rewarding and allows a great measure of freedom. OK, sorry, no more lectures! Just well-meaning, honest advice! Sounds like wise advice for dedicated fine art photographers. However, most of us (think it's fair to say) see "cheap and cheerful" (very apt description) POD websites as just another iron in the fire -- i.e. as a complement to stock photo agencies. Lovely images on your website BTW. P.S. In defense of FAA, if you set up your own website with them, you are to a great extent master of your own ship. You can create galleries (thereby offering a degree of specialization), set your own prices, upload whatever you wish, and market your images any way you like. It's not really a matter of them (FAA) being in charge. You don't even have to be cheap and cheerful if you don't like the idea (I don't). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Palmer Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I've been on FAA for nearly 3 years. You used to be able to post as many images as you wanted without paying for the premium membership but I think that has changed to a 25 image limit. However for $30/year it's a bargain. You get a clean, organized portfolio, an artist website that can be linked to your own URL, and excellent POD services. Pricing is not percentage based so you can set your prices as high or low as you like. They are honest and tell you they don't market your art so you do need to promote your own work if you want to succeed. I never market, I don't do groups or enter contests but I still sell more than enough each year to pay for my FAA membership and put some money in my pocket. Artists with a unique style that stands out and is popular can do very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 $30 doesn't sound too bad. Btw, I signed up with FAA earlier today. Does anyone have any hints & tips? You don't need to do all the "liking" and commenting games, as long as you have marketing means to drive buyers to your FAA "AW" site that shows only your images. ----------------------- Edo, you must have originally signed up for the $30 annual fee. In subsequent years, they cheerfully collect another $30 and don't send you any notification until your card expires. For what FAA is, $30 is a good deal for what they provide--as long as you can do your self-marketing. Thank you, people for pointing out my ongoing stupidity. Boy, do I not like people dipping into my credit cards without my noticing. Who's at blame here? Me, of course. If it were not for that security problem that caused the bank to cancel and reissue me a new card, this would have continued on. I can't say if FAA is a good deal or not; it's good for some. I no longer have access to the kind of subjects that probably sell regularly on FAA. I made some sales early on, but none for a long time. Also, I'm just not going to play with people who want a double bite out of me: they want a fee and they take a cut of sales. No you don't. I will close down my account. I wonder if I'm in the same situation with the Berlin agency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Palmer Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Edo, they charge for the physical print, the frame or other accessories and shipping. They don't touch your markup and they actually give you a small percentage of their earnings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 Edo, they charge for the physical print, the frame or other accessories and shipping. They don't touch your markup and they actually give you a small percentage of their earnings. Oh, thanks, Lynn. Sounds good. I'll sit on this for a day; I'm weary from my birthday activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I don't begrudge FAA the $30. Some outfits charge that much per month for a website. I too got a message from FAA this year saying that my credit card was declined. Apparently, I hadn't updated my info since my old card expired. My sales on FAA haven't been stellar this year, but profits have paid for the annual fee several times over. Still one of the best deals in town IME. I think that it is possible to opt out of automatic payment of the annual fee if you would rather do it yourself. The Berlin agency (AF) doesn't charge anything, but for that price you get a very clunky interface, no real personal website, and few sales (none in my case). Plus, all that ever sells there by the sounds of it are posters, which pay very little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Palmer Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Ed, if you aren't selling at least one or two prints a year, you don't participate in their forum and you don't want or need a portfolio website, then you probably don't need to spend the $30 per year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 Lynn, maybe I should pay you $30 a year to do all my important thinking for me. What it comes down to is that, if I don't have some solid plans and reasons to make use of FAA, I should just get out. I think I'll go into my FAA collection and delete all but 25 images, then I'll write them and tell them I've done that. Edo PS: I think for lots of you FAA makes sense. Stockimo and News and Videos can make sense for some too. But I don't plan on putting in a lot more time and effort following several other paths. I'll keep shooting stock and writing. I had an assignment career that lasted 35 years. Basta! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Edo, don't forget that Christmas is one of the best times to sell prints on FAA. Santa always likes to pack a few in his sleigh. You might want to think about waiting until January before deleting. Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Palmer Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Hah!! Now you're in trouble Edo! I'm the poster child for how not to market your POD site. Just send your $30 to my PayPal account and let's get started.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christian58 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 FAA is OK! 30/moth is a good deal. I have on average 5-6 sales per month there, large prints sales $.98 per print and its basically all pofit, so its not too bad, well worth the yearly premium fee. Some say the more you participate in their forum, the more sales, well not sure about that one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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