First time selling a print..help please!

[joeykttn]

Someone found my flickr account through another massage board I'm on, and has contacted me with interest in buying a print of one of my pictures. I am in no way a pro, and this would be the first print I've ever sold. (I'm so excited! lol)

This is the photo:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/...32474b3f_m.jpg

What I need help with is..
a) pricing? I'm thinking $15 for the print, plus shipping? Is that too much? Too little? I feel funny even charging..lol
b) Do I ask her for payment first, then send print? Does anyone have experience selling prints online to strangers? How do you go about it? Paypal? Money order?
c) the photo does not have a watermark on it now (can't figure out how to make one ). I'm guessing I should just print it as is? Perhaps sign the back? Although that wouldn't help "protect" it. This is more a "for future reference" question, I suppose.
d) I'm probably going to print it through MPix. Anyone have BAD experience with them? Or suggestion for a better place to use?
e) How do I ship it? I'm guessing with a piece of cardboard, so it doesn't bend, and put into a photo envelope from the post office. Does anyone know where you can get those frame type black cardboard photo holders (think buying a picture at the fair..)
f) Selling a print to her doesn't keep me from selling another print in the future, right?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer!

[parageneric]

First determine what size print she wants, then find a quality lab that will do the work. Always collect your money before shipping anything. Dont give any account info, dont accept checks unless you know the subject. The best bet would be to use an online payment system such as pay pal. Just be careful there are a lot of scam artists out there. They want yu bank account number, or they will send you a big check and then all of the sudden the money is gone. Good Luck and congrats on your first sale

[windrider86]

I hope you dont mind that I answered your questions within your text

Originally Posted by joeykttn

Someone found my flickr account through another massage board I'm on, and has contacted me with interest in buying a print of one of my pictures. I am in no way a pro, and this would be the first print I've ever sold. (I'm so excited! lol)

http://viljo.marrandi.ee/inspiration.html
This is the photo:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/...32474b3f_m.jpg

What I need help with is..
a) pricing? I'm thinking $15 for the print, plus shipping? Is that too much? Too little? I feel funny even charging..lol (this will all depend ont he size of the print, I was just reading an article the other day that a fair price is $15 an inch)b) Do I ask her for payment first, then send print? Does anyone have experience selling prints online to strangers? How do you go about it? Paypal? Money order? (If you cant take a credit card, I would be leary of checks)
c) the photo does not have a watermark on it now (can't figure out how to make one ). I'm guessing I should just print it as is? Perhaps sign the back? Although that wouldn't help "protect" it. This is more a "for future reference" question, I suppose. (my first question is why do you want to put a wtaermark on an image you are selling to someone? Watermarks are for keeping someone from duplicating your image. Are you going to matt it? If so, I always sign my matts on the front)
d) I'm probably going to print it through MPix. Anyone have BAD experience with them? Or suggestion for a better place to use?
e) How do I ship it? I'm guessing with a piece of cardboard, so it doesn't bend, and put into a photo envelope from the post office. Does anyone know where you can get those frame type black cardboard photo holders (think buying a picture at the fair..) (if you arent matting it, then the post office can sell you a tube to print the print in, very cheap)
f) Selling a print to her doesn't keep me from selling another print in the future, right? (absolutley not!)
Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer!

[joeykttn]

Thanks for the replies

The watermark thing..I guess I don't want to..lol..just call me a newbie! hehe I guess I "thought" that's what people did, to kind of get credit for their work.

Can you tell me..what do you mean by

Are you going to matt it?

Sorry..I'm new to this whole thing.

Thanks again!

[waffles]

If she just want a print, then Mpix will ship it right to her. Easier for you, and cheaper since you'd only have to pay shipping once. It wouldn't give you a chance to sign it, but you could go in with Photoshop or something simlar and put some text with your name on it. Small and in the corner or somewhere nonobtrusive like a painting.

Price depends on size. Bigger means more money for you.