LIVE AMA with Caroline Jensen

[CarolineJensen]

Question from the announcement thread from fiannabean: How long did it take to build a significant community around your work?

One more thing....starting a private community is a great thing too. I have my own, private, Facebook-style, group where there are no ads and people are all interested in similar things.

[avmil]

What gear do you use? I'm considering upgrading but I can't settle on which camera to get!!!

[CarolineJensen]

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What gear do you use? I'm considering upgrading but I can't settle on which camera to get!!!

My #1 suggesting is get all the resolution you can! I like to slice and dice my images into many vertical crops and then string them together for social reels. A very pretty and large arrangement is surprisingly boring as one shot on social. By cropping into multiple frames, I can get the viewer deeper into the image. I LOVE my a7R5. I used the IV version prior.

Now, if you want to shoot flowers and wildlife, the a9III may be a great choice, but I am more interested in resolution.

[avmil]

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What gear do you use? I'm considering upgrading but I can't settle on which camera to get!!!

That's one of the bodies I'm considering! But I was also thinking about the A1...

[CarolineJensen]

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What gear do you use? I'm considering upgrading but I can't settle on which camera to get!!!

Lenses....I LOVE my 50 1.2. Lately, I am loving the 24GM. It is a little lighter and a 24 gives a unique effect with close up flowers.

[CarolineJensen]

What gear do you use? I'm considering upgrading but I can't settle on which camera to get!!!

I am a minimalist though. I tend to shoot one camera and one lens for a year or more.

[etgar]

What's the coolest thing you've created from one of your photographs?

[alpha-jessica-a]

Question from @fiannabean1 Approximately what percentage of your income comes from print sales and how long did it take for sales to become consistent?

[CarolineJensen]

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What's the coolest thing you've created from one of your photographs?

A blanket! I had one of my still life images woven with 100% cotton thread by a weaver in North Carolina, USA. It looks so 3D! I love alternative ways to make practical things from my photography.

I am going to hang it on the wall as you would a tapestry.

[etgar]

What's the coolest thing you've created from one of your photographs?

That is so cool!

[CarolineJensen]

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Question from fiannabean: Approximately what percentage of your income comes from print sales and how long did it take for sales to become consistent?

I am still growing my print sales, but getting your finger on the pulse of what people buy and why, has been a huge factor! I get about half of my income from products I sell and the other half from education, teaching at stores, etc.

I love alternative products and I just started marketing blankets and wall tapestries. I have started adding the ability to personalize my work too, which helps find customers that aren't just looking for pretty wall art. I want my work to be giftable.

[alpha-jessica-a]

Question from @fiannabean1 What other income streams have you established around your art?

[CarolineJensen]

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Question from fiannabean: What other income streams have you established around your art?

I love to be diverse! I am working on an audio course (audio book) on my process right now as well as outlining in-person courses.

As far as products go, I have been surprised at the market for digital products! The only caveat is they tend to make me less money and people tend to print at places that are not professional, like Walmart or Walgreens. Some things will print fine at those places, but digital products leave me very little control after the sale.

There are so many income streams to explore, but only so many hours in the day. My focus now is on serving my customer with a product that fixes a problem for them, like creating a custom gift.

Flowers are UNIVERSAL. Everyone loves flowers and they are symbolic of so many things. There is not a holiday or event that wouldn't benefit from flowers.

I have sold quite a few wall gallery sets that customers print themselves. I tend to shoot for easy printing...limited color palette and lots of bokeh!

[miar]

Thanks Caroline!

[CarolineJensen]

Thank you for joining me! I love to share all things flowers, so be sure to follow me on Instagram where I share my daily flower farming journey in my stories as well as my shooting BTS.

You may join my free community here for daily conversation and image sharing!

[fiannabean1]

Thank you so much for your time and insights Caroline! 🌸❤️🌼