I'm hanging out in this room listening to people talk about #nftphotography anf looking forward to seeing what people have to say. https://twitter.com/Ephimera_com/status/1384888932396113923

First question to the #CollectNFTphoto panel is "What drives you to collect photography?"

Says @__weesh__ "I love it" and goes on to say that as a photogrpher, supporting other photographers helps legitimize the artform in the eyes of some who might overlook it.

Next @virgendelcrypto notes that Photography was some of the first kind of digital art. @PapaBeardedNFTs explains that he was excited to get in on the ground floor of a chance to support artists and a format that inspires him and his own work.

Entire panel agrees that they are collecting work that speaks to them personally or moves them on an emotional level, as well as trying to support various people, projects and communities.

Now @roxannedarling is asking the #CollectNFTphoto panel - "Do you want prints of the NFTS" you collect? Or have other feelings about how images are used after you buy them?

Says @__weesh__ "I've always been in touch with the physical world" and explains that as a collector of many things, having a physical manifestation of the NFT means something and he always asks for prints from artists he collects.

Conversely @virgendelcrypto says he likes prints but doesn't feel the need to have them as he very much supports the idea that the NFT is the original work. @__weesh__ agrees, but just adds that he likes seeing things on his wall.

Adds @PapaBeardedNFTs "the NFT hold value, the print is just an added bonus" - akin to physical unlockable content.

Moderator @roxannedarling notes that depending on the print that can add a significant cost to the production, and wonders if that's considered in the pricing or not.

Important thought from @__weesh__ is that pricing should be decided by the artist, and that each person has different considerations and collectors shouldn't be getting asked by artists "what is my work worth" - Artists need to value their own work.
(Side note - I agree 1000%)

Echoed by @PapaBeardedNFTs on the #CollectNFTphoto is that pricing is a deeply personal decision and artists really need to take many things into consideration. It's not a subjective decision that can be made by others.

80% of work collected by @__weesh__ is photography, @virgendelcrypto says it's about 20-30%, and @PapaBeardedNFTs is easily 75%. All thee #CollectNFTphoto panel members note that they consider ETH prices, not USD price. Crypto art means Crypto pricing.

As an aside, that mirrors what I was saying when I wrote this blog post last week, so I'm really glad to hear others endorsing this thinking.
http://blog.seanbonner.com/2021/04/07/cryptoart-and-crypto-pricing/

Per the #CollectNFTphoto survey, more often than not collectors like to have relationships with the artist they collect. I don't think that's too surprising, coming from the gallery world collectors always wanted to meet and connect with artists.

Adds @PapaBeardedNFTs - he's been going back through his collection and highlighting one piece a day, which gives him a chance to revisit and reconnect with the artists that he's collected. Claudia from @Ephimera_com says they see this a lot with artists/collectors

. @roxannedarling adds that in the traditional art world many galleries try to keep collectors away from artists as they are afraid of getting cut out of the deal.

Also from the #CollectNFTphoto survey, most people were existing art collectors who added NFTs to their collections, and only one collector had no physical art.

Audience question about animation, @__weesh__ says he's entirely comfortable with still images and animation isn't a positive (or negative) addition, so the should be no need for photographers to feel like they need to add animation to something that shouldn't be animated.

Moderators and #CollectNFTphoto panel agree that a lot of photographers feel uncomfortable in the NFT space and some feel like they need to do "more" to fit in, but overwhelming consensus is that there should be no need to feel that way. Strong photography is strong.

Says @virgendelcrypto - he has animated and still works in his collection, but photos are almost always still.

Question from the audience about editions vs 1:1 - @__weesh__ says he personally likes 1:1 but also understands small editions and the draw to them for other collectors. @virgendelcrypto is also big on unique works rather than editions.

Adds @virgendelcrypto that editions are almost like fractionalization of artworks which feels uncomfortable, but with "collectables" small editions makes much more sense.

Question from Twitter - as you likely to collect from the same artists repeatedly? @__weesh__ says yes, of course if an artist keeps making things he likes then he'll keep paying attention. But also wants to help get upcoming artists going and motivated.

Another yes from @virgendelcrypto with artist, though less so with photographers as he's drawn more to the specific content and themes reappear more often with some kinds of artists and less often with photographers who have different subjects.

Unfortunately I have to jump off now due to a prior commitment, but hope this live notes from the #CollectNFTphoto panel was useful for people. Thanks for following along!