How to start collecting fine art photography prints
Whether you’re drawn to moody florals, street scenes, or minimalist abstractions, the journey of collecting fine art photography prints begins with curiosity. To see as much work as you can, learn the language that surrounds it, and discovering what stays with you long after you’ve left the gallery. The guidelines that follow are meant to slow the process down, demystify the terminology, and help you make thoughtful choices that feel as considered as the photographs themselves.
Visit Art Fairs and Galleries
Start by immersing yourself in the art world. Art fairs and galleries give you the chance to see a wide range of photography styles and techniques in person. Experiencing work up close can help you refine your taste and better understand what moves you.
Engage with Photographers
Speaking directly with photographers or their gallery representatives can offer valuable insights into their process, influences, and editioning practices. These conversations help build trust and ensure you're purchasing from a reputable source. Instagram or social media (follow us on instagram) is a great way to reach out to photographers and learn more about their creative journey.
Learn the Lingo
Understanding common terminology will help you make informed decisions. Here are a few important terms to know:
Vintage Print: A print made by the artist close to the time the photograph was originally taken. These are often more valuable than prints made years later or by someone else.
Limited Edition: A fixed number of prints will be produced at a specific size/crop. Once the edition sells out, no more will be made in that size. Smaller editions typically carry more value. Lower-numbered prints in an edition (e.g., 1/10) are often more sought after. For example, prints from an edition of 10 is more valuable than an edition of 100. And 1 of 10 is more valuable than 10 of 10. Keep in mind prints are sometimes not printed unless they are being sold. Therefore, it's good to ask how many of the edition have been printed. If your print ends up being the sole print of the edition, then it can be more valuable due to its rarity. Prints from our collections are limited editions.
Open Edition: Prints without numbered editions. These are less rare and generally less valuable, but still collectible. It’s a great way to own an original piece of art of an artist who’s editioned work is outside your price range. Our Flower of the Month Print Club prints are open edition.
Artist Proof (A.P.): Prints outside the numbered edition made for the artist. These are often more valuable due to their exclusivity. And usually sold after the edition is completely sold out.
Silver Gelatin: A traditional darkroom process using silver halide and gelatin-coated fiber paper. An image is formed when light sensitive paper is exposed to light through a negative and then developed in chemicals. While these are traditionally made in a darkroom by hand, they can now be digitally created, so it’s worth asking before purchasing. If properly developed, these prints can last over a century.
C-Prints (Chromogenic Prints): Color prints made from film or digital files using light-sensitive paper and chemical processes. To form an image light sensitive paper is exposed to light through a negative and developed with chemicals. Traditionally, these prints were made in the darkroom but now are almost exclusively done digitally. These typically have a lifespan of up to 60 years.
Giclée Prints: High end inkjet prints using archival pigment inks on fine art acid free paper. Not to be confused with typical every day inkjet prints, giclée prints are museum-quality. The quality and longevity of giclée prints far exceeds that of your at-home printer. These are some of the more environmentally friendly prints due to the use of ink spraying paper instead of using toxic chemicals to process images. Their lifespan can exceed 100–200 years under ideal conditions. All prints from Beth Chen Studio are giclées unless otherwise stated.
Follow Your Eye
Buy what you love. Art is deeply personal, and your collection should reflect your own sensibility—not someone else’s definition of “important” or “collectible.” Follow what resonates. The most meaningful collections grow from instinct, not investment trends.
Set a Budget
Art can be emotional, and pricing often reflects that. Set a budget before you begin and revisit it regularly. Start small, grow with confidence. You don’t need to spend a fortune to start collecting meaningful work.
Be Patient
There’s no rush. The right piece will find you. Take your time to discover artists, techniques, and stories that speak to you. The best collections are built slowly, thoughtfully, and with intention.
Building a collection is an ongoing conversation between taste, knowledge, and timing. Visit the fairs, ask the questions, learn the terms, set the budget—then trust your instincts and wait for the piece that feels inevitable. Stay patient, stay curious, and let your collection grow at the same deliberate pace in which great photographs are made frame by frame, print by print, moment by moment.