Hello Reader,

Somewhere on your computer, or on a hard drive tucked in a drawer, there’s a folder of photographs you’re proud of.

Maybe it’s years of landscapes. Wildlife you waited hours for. A city you walked at dawn and saw in a way no one else did. You’ve shared a few of your photographs with friends. You’ve posted some online, maybe entered a club competition or two. But most of those images are just sitting there - waiting for you to back to them.

I know that folder well, because I have one too.

I’ve been a professional photographer for nearly 40 years. For much of that time, my days were filled with portraits, headshots, and client sessions. The work I made for myself, the work I cared about most, kept quietly piling up in the background. I had sunrises at the beach, flowers in full bloom, and abstract images that always started conversations. So I put a collection of prints together and took them to a local arts and crafts marketplace to see if they would sell. I made $535 in five hours. More than the money, I loved watching strangers choose my work to take home. I was hooked, and I still am.

Over the years, I’ve also spent a lot of time in photo clubs, surrounded by photographers whose work is genuinely beautiful. And I hear the same thing again and again: “I’d love to sell some of my work. I just don’t know where to start.”

That’s why I started The Photographer’s Sketchbook.

Here’s what the next 12 weeks will look like:

• Weeks 1–3: Recognizing which of your images have real potential
• Weeks 4–6: Shaping your strongest work into a focused collection
• Weeks 7–9: Deciding what to offer and who is likely to buy it
• Weeks 10–12: Pricing your work with confidence and making your first sales

You won’t need to start over or buy new gear. You’ll start with the photographs you already have.

This week’s small step:

Think of one photograph you’ve always loved but never done anything with. You don’t need to open it or edit it. Just notice which image comes to mind first.

That image is probably telling you something about the kind of work you’re meant to share. We’ll come back to it.

And one question for you.

I read every reply personally, and your answer will help shape what I write over the coming weeks:

What would mean the most to you in the next 12 months?

1. A finished collection I’m proud of
2. My first sales
3. Recognition for my work
4. Steady income from my photography

Just hit reply and send me the number. If you’d like to add a sentence about why, I’d love to hear it.

Talk soon,

Doug Mattice

Mattice Art & Business

Create the Art. Build the Business.

​Mattice Art & Business Website​