Is this good enough/worth pursuing? Please be honest!

[loveverona]

I've found my creative side in recent years and have really got into photography (mainly close up shots of plants, insects, natural world stuff) and I've also been making contemporary artworks with natural products (leaves, seedheads). I've set up a website - www.gardenflourish.co.uk - and would really love to take it further and try and make a little bit of money out of them. Nothing major, just a little sideline business, but I don't really know where to start.

I had two of my images chosen for a card website before Christmas - www.bosscards.com/art_cards.php?v=142 - so that was great and really spurred me on, but I've come to a bit of a halt. Don't know if anyone bought them as cards yet!

Firstly, do you think the artworks and photos are good enough to even bother with?

Secondly, what ideas would you have as to what I can do with each venture?

I'd love to hear your thoughts....

I will be honest and say that no...I don't think they are original enough. The photographs are very nice in a way but pictures like that are a bit two a penny...you can get a large print of natural looking subjects in cheap shops for very little. B&M bargains for instance...they sell close up prints of natural subjet for about a fiver.

The mounted leaves...again...not really specal enough imo. But it's only MY opinion. You could ask local cafes if they would hang your stuff and let you sell them through them. I know a few locally who do that.

Or look here http:www.folksy.com it's a handcraft site where people sel their work.

I think you could use the photos to make little packs of postcards or notelets with envelopes, like these

They are lovely but agree with notwell - similar pictures are available in most shops. The photos are really good though - maybe a different subject that is more original?

See, I like the mounted leaves but what would make it stand out for me would be if the botanical names (and common names....) were typed beside each leaf?

The photos are lovely though, but again these images are everywhere. What could you do that would make them unusual? Enlarge them and make them into triptych style for hanging on the wall? Canvas shopping bags? Cushions?

The ladybug picture stood out for me.....it was the perfect photo really for a wall hanging.......

Thanks everyone, really useful info and TBH pretty much what I was thinking too. Eddie: I like the idea of botanical/common names added to the leaves. I think I need to have more confidence and approach a few people - nothing ventured, nothing gained. I've sold a few at private friends' events so far, so they are of interest to some for gifts etc.

The ladybird pic is the one that got me started - it was a bit of a surprise how well it came out!

I guess what I don't want to do is spend a lot on initial outlay and not make anything out of it. Also need to become a bit thick-skinned...

Any other ideas out there??

Well I've seen less good selling at craft fairs. I think you should persist as you are very close to becoming really really good. You definately have the eye. Have you considered entering for the Kew Gardens photographer of the year competition 2012? I'm planning to enter this year myself with my better bloody win rather amateur photos of flowers and insects I've taken. Looking at professional entries will give you an idea of what works/sells in terms of photographic nature.

Also have you thought about/or do you use an image manipulation software such as Adobe Photoshop? Quite a lot of nature photographers use it to add quirky details to their photos and make them different. Worth getting the software if you haven't already.

Hey thanks very much fabulousdarling. That's really encouraging. I'll definitely look at the Kew competition details. There's also a Gardeners World one at some point I think.

Just set this up, in an attempt to do things seriously with the leaf art:

www.gardenflourish.etsy.com

Nothing ventured, nothing gained....!

I don't know anything about photography but to my non initiated mind, your pictures are lovely. I think you should persist!

I love the leaf art, and would definitely have something like that on my wall.

As for the photos, they are lovely, but as a previous poster said, there are plenty like that about. That said, I have seen similar at B&Q, and a chain that big won't stock something if it doesn't sell, so perhaps there is a market for it.

You could make cross-stitch charts from your pictures, particularly flowers and butterflies - you'd have to buy a decent program but after doing that, your outlay would be very, very small indeed. The program would calculate how much fabric and thread was needed, so you could either purchase materials and make up kits, or sell the chart only. If selling as chart only, you probably wouldn't even need to print it out, if you could save it as a PDF or similar.

I deal with a professional photographer (ex-newspaper mags) and he struggles to earn these days. He sells some of his stuff on those library sites but its very little £££.

The leaf art picture in frame doest do anything for me and looks like something you see in a high street dept store or Ikea - its flat and uninspiring and would hate it on my walls. As for the cards I bought similar packs in WH Smith at Christmas but they had glitter on them.

I agree its not original enough there are amazing pictures on library sites and you can buy these for a few pounds. You could upload yours and see if you get any purchasers.

I agree that you need to uplift these but you have to consider the cost, and wonder if you'll cover your costs as many artists/crafters dont cover a wage or overheads.

Well, I set up my shop for the leaf art and have had my first sale! Check out Etsy.

Onwards and upwards! Thanks again for your advice and support.

Cute pictures, I've added you to my circle on Etsy

Congratulations on your first sale loveverona! Hip hip hooray