How imporant is the title?

How important is the photo title to fine art prints, and ultimately sales?  On Mike's shot the title seems a little long, although it certainly fits the subject.  Would something shorter like Bob's suggestion of Wisdom be better?

And I'm not asking specifically about Mike's image.  It's just a convenient example.  I'm wondering in a more general sense what characteristics make for a good title. 

We sell fine art prints in our gallery and just about every Average Joe who walks in will say, "oh thank God... no one has those stupid words on their prints here!" That made me start thinking about titles and prominent text artist names. I very seldom see fine art prints with titles in HOMES. I do see them all the time in OFFICES. Just something to think about.

The stupid title or a shortened version would appear on the back of the image for print comp, a sticker is applied with a #1 Title #2 Category #3 Your name.

In this case posted, I put it in the front for something to do.

Ryan, really, it's a matter of opinion. If you look in the archives of the past masters, some did it, some didn't.

I find it interesting that we all see this from very different perspectives. That's what makes this forum so great!

It's one thing, in my view, to title your work for a judging, and completely different when trying to sell your work for someone to hang in their homes. I can't imagine having 5 pieces of art hanging in my living room, all with titles and prominent artist names. Since Ryan's original question asked about "and ultimately sales," I think it's important to look at that aspect as well as the judging type environment.

When I sell prints, I sign them by hand.

painters sign theirs, we are no different, we are artists, we just use a different medium.

Why 8x10s or standard sizes, can anyone do work that's out of the norm. I hope photographers get out of the box of standard sizes, and produce sizes that suit the portrait.

Anyway, names, titles etc. are all opinions, do what you like, no one is stopping you. :=)

For once, I think Mike and I are in agreement! 

If you view your work as fine art, sign it!  Nearly every artist that has ever picked up a brush or a pencil left their name on their work somewhere, even if it was on the back.  There are artists, both past and present, that put the title of their work on each and every image.  Some in a border, some cut into a mat, some put it in as part of the image itself.  People that like an artists work (that has the title as part of the design) will often buy a series and hang them together.  This does not look tacky in my mind.  If they are buying art because of the pretty picture, and fail to realize the design content and how it affects the look of their room, well that's their problem.  The title in the image obviously doesn't work for every buyer, or every artist.  That's the beauty of art!  It's all different, and completely personal to both the creator and the viewer!

I feel very strongly about giving a title to anything I deem as an art print, only I usually will hand write it on the back of the finished piece.  Some day my great-great-grandchild will take a print to the Antique Roadshow and the curator/historian will look on the back to see if it's my handwriting and that the title is in the right place in order to evaluate the work's worth.  J/K.  Susie doesn't name or sign her work, but she also sells the rights, so the images aren't usually 'hers' for very long anyway (I do not mean this as a punch, just a point).  I put my name on every print I sell, because I want everyone who looks at it to know who did it.  I hand sign all of my fine art photographs, same as I do my drawings and paintings.  I spend more time on them and delve into a lot more detail with them.  People aren't usually as patient as the landscape, although many photographers can get fine art prints of people as well; as Mike has done.

Oh, and just for the record, I normally like Mike's name on his art prints/images, just for some reason it seems like too much on the image he posted the other day of the gentleman with 'stories to tell'.

Also, I do agree with Mike that you should do what you like, sell what you like, and buy what you like.  That's why art can be such a great part of everyone, because there is something that suits every taste, whether a viewer or creator.  As for crop sizes:  Oh, how I wish I could convince my portrait clients to see what I see in a composition, unfortunately all they see is the standard frames they can buy at the store.  Some day I plan to have a high enough rate that people will just be expecting to do a custom frame (which I also provide) to display their prints.  As for my fine art work; again, I do it differently.  Every art piece is unique and I sell them framed (but I've only ever sold a couple) and every image size is the best for the composition, or at least that's the goal.

Travis

I don't shoot "fine art" nor do I have the desire to (I do appreciate it though).  However, if I did, I don't think I would title it just because I probably couldn't come up with one.  In high school I competed in speech and debate.  My event was oratory.  I wrote and delivered speeches, which I found quite easy to do.  However, I could never title my speech.... I usually polled friends and family and picked one of their suggestions. 

Interesting info Marian