How to Buy
There are myriad spots to source fine art photography and prices are hugely varied and cater to most budgets. However, making choices can be overwhelming for novice collectors.
Helen Armon-Jones, of the Art Buyer, a Surrey, U.K.-based gallery and art consultancy, said, to begin with, “consider whether you’re looking for contemporary, living photographer’s work, or whether you’re keen to invest in a notable photographer’s work on the secondary market, for example, at auction or through an art dealer.”
The price range can vary enormously, depending on the notoriety of the photographic artist and, for example, the edition size, Armon-Jones said. Most photographers will create a limited edition of a single print so that each print retains its value. Typically, the lower the number in an edition, the higher the cost.
For contemporary artists, Armon-Jones recommended exploring fairs like the London Art Fair, which runs in January, for its “wonderful selection” of photography from multiple galleries and dealers; Proud Galleries in London’s Charing Cross, a go-to spot for photography fans with its rich selection of 20th-century pop culture-centered works, including portraits of famous bands and musicians; and the Michael Hoppen Gallery, which specializes in photography and showcases new and interesting artists alongside masters from the 19th, 20th and 21st century. She also recommended Black Box Projects, which specializes in contemporary photography and contemporary art using photographic materials.
Claire McCaslin-Brown, director of the London-based McCaslin-Brown art advisory, recommended Photo London, an annual fair held in May at London’s Somerset House, which brings together 125 exhibitors from 56 countries; Paris Photo, an annual fair held in Paris; and Photofairs, a new contemporary art fair in New York dedicated to photo-based artworks.
ArtStar, a New York-based online platform, offers limited-edition fine art prints, curated around a particular style: bold colors, ice cream tones, and a vintage aesthetic. Wall vs Me is an online platform with exciting photography that can be printed onto both canvas and Fuji Crystal Archive paper and includes framing options. Lumas offers hand-signed limited editions, including high-priced unique pieces at galleries and less valuable high-circulation prints from museum stores in different size options. Partnership Editions is an online art selling platform which has a small range of limited-edition photographic prints that mainly focus on nature and travel themes.
