Sales & Services

Buy Fine Art Photography

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY OR POSTERS?

Why is fine art photography more expensive than posters? What's the difference between the two?

Fine art photography is a work of art.

Fine art photography is printed on real photographic archival paper that will last for decades.

Posters are printed on thin paper that tears easily and is not meant to last.

Fine art photography is special and unique because few copies are printed. You will be only one of a few people in the world displaying that piece of art in your home or office.

Posters are mass-produced.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESSING, PRINTING, AND ARCHIVAL QUALITY

Irene does all pre-print processing herself, adjusting color temperature, tonality, saturation, and other image qualities to perfection. The fine art photos are then printed using professional printers through one of two methods.

One technology uses lasers to expose real photographic paper, which is then developed using traditional wet chemical processing methods on Kodak professional photographic paper (called a "lightjet" or "digital photo print"). Irene uses lightjet printing for photos up to 24x36 in size. Irene offers a choice of luster, silk or metallic Kodak professional photographic papers for her fine art photography. Luster is a cross between matte and glossy, but is much nicer than either. Silk paper has a fibrous texture to it. Metallic paper gives a metallic sheen to the photograph, so that white appears silvery and colors are super vibrant. Metallic is Irene’s personal favorite and is what she usually uses when exhibiting in fine art galleries and fine art shows.

The second method of printing that Irene uses is inkjet printing. Inkjet prints are available up to 40x60 in size on Crane Museo Silver Rag paper.

All of these professional-grade archival papers boast state-of-the-art image stability properties, for example, up to 100 years or more in typical home display.

OPEN EDITIONS VS. LIMITED EDITIONS

Open editions may be printed an unlimited number of times in a certain size or on a certain paper, although they are still not mass-produced for sale. Irene’s open editions start at an 8x10 or 8x12 print size and larger.

Limited editions are editions of a photograph in a certain size and on a certain paper, where Irene has decided to limit the number of prints of that edition. Limited editions are therefore more valuable, because only a certain number will ever be printed and sold. Irene’s limited editions are usually in editions of 50 starting at a size of 11x14 and larger.

MATTING OF FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

Most people view the purpose of matting as one of aesthetics – the matting beautifully frames the photograph and draws attention to it, so that a matted photograph looks better than an unmated one. However, the practical purpose of matting is to protect the photograph by preventing it from touching the glass of the frame. The matting material is also critical. Less expensive mats contain acid and lignin, and over time, the acid eats away at both the matting and the photo, causing the colors to fade and the photograph and mat to turn yellow.

Irene’s fine art photographs are matted with acid-free archival mats (open editions) and museum quality, 100% rag mats (limited editions).

Irene typically signs the mat in the bottom right hand corner and writes the title of the image on the bottom left of the mat, unless otherwise requested.

PRICING

Prices for Irene’s open edition 8x10/8x12 fine art photographs matted to 11x14/12x16/16x20 range from $95 - $245, depending on the image, paper type, and mat size.

Prices for Irene’s limited edition 11x14 fine art photographs matted to 16x20 start at $500 (matted). Sizes range up to 40x60.

Gallery framing is available at additional cost.

PURCHASE THROUGH IRENE ABDOU PHOTOGRAPHY

You can purchase directly through the artist—please contact us for pricing information and/or to set up an appointment to view artwork.

E-mail: Irene Abdou Photography at photoswithsoul@gmail.com
Phone: 202-367-6071

You can also buy a gift certificate for friends and family to cover or contribute to the cost of a fine art photograph.

IN-STORE PURCHASE OF OPEN EDITIONS

A selection of open edition fine art photographs are available at Art Galaxy in Germantown, MD and VisArts Too in Rockville, MD:

Art Galaxy
19725-C Germantown Rd., Germantown, MD 21704
Tel. 301-540-9055
http://www.artgalaxyframing.com/

VisArts Too
155 Gibbs St, 1st Floor, Rockville, MD 20850
Tel. 301-315-8200
Website: http://www.visartscenter.org

CORPORATE ART CONSULTING

Are you a business, corporation, law firm, health facility, government agency, financial investment company, hotels, or non-profit organization? Irene’s landscape photography is available through several corporate art consulting firms. Contact them at:

ArtMatters
155 Gibbs St, #300, Rockville, MD 20850
Tel. 301-424-5565
Website: http://www.artmatters.us

Soho Myriad - Atlanta Office
1250 Menlo Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Tel. (404) 351-5656

Soho Myriad - Los Angeles Office
3737 Robertson Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
Tel. (310) 945-3310

Soho Myriad - West Palm Beach Office
2885 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 300
Jupiter, Florida 33458

Soho Myriad - London Office
46 Canal Building
135 Shepherdess Walk
London N1 7RR
Tel. 075 3837 6027

IN-GALLERY PURCHASE OF LIMITED EDITIONS

Irene's Africa travel photography is represented by the Parish Gallery in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., which has been open since 1991. Owner/director Norman Parish also serves as the President of the Art Dealers Association of Greater Washington. You may view a selection of Irene's limited edition work by visiting Parish Gallery at:

Parish Gallery
Canal Square
1054 31st St., NW, Washington, DC 20007
Tel. 202-944-2310
E-mail: parishgallery@bigplanet.com

There are many other opportunities to view and purchase Irene's work through fine art galleries and art spaces. Irene exhibits frequently. Consult the calendar of events to find an ongoing or upcoming exhibit.