How does one sell photographs through galleries?
Casual Clicker
hundreds of commercial street front art galleries around New England, where
I live. I'm an amateur photographer, and a rather good one, I'm told. How
would I go about selling my photos through those galleries?
Would I take my works around to the galleries as prints in a big portfolio
case? Would they need to be full sized, or could I show 8x10s and then send
larger prints later? Do galleries sell on commission, or would I set my own
fixed price for each print? Can I still sell my photos on my website if
they're available in galleries? Would galleries insist on exclusivity of
some sort?
Well you can see that I have a lot of questions. Will somebody who knows
about these things please post a brief explanation of how gallery art sales
of photographs generally work. Thanks in advance.
BG250
each one. Expect a lot of rejections up front. I find many galleries who did
commissions 15 years ago are not accepting them anymore because of the tough
market and space. Most of them deal with publishers who have groups of
popular artists and have no room for "outsiders". Beware of scams that want
YOU to pay to display your work. Don't expect to get rich. The art market is
one tough nut to crack.
You may want to have some of the work professionally framed so it will look
more pleasing to potential customers. That can be expensive so learning to
frame yourself can save $$.
bg
"Casual Clicker" <bwe...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Tony Spadaro
look at what they sell, and for how much. Then decide if your stuff is up to
the level of their stuff. If you think so and you have the prints to prove
it, make an appointment to show your stuff - do not walk into the place with
it and expect them to drop what they are doing for you. From there the
pictures they accept will go on display --- someday and if they sell them
you will get part of the price - having worked out the commissions in
advance. Expect many to be completely uninterested in seeing your work -
they have their clients and only accept submissions through agents. Expect
those that look to be critical and sometimes very nasty in thier
criticism -- it's their gallery, and their opinion - don't argue, but don't
try to then make photographs that live up to their expectations either. An
artist who does things the way some non-artist wants them is a whore.
--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html
"Casual Clicker" <bwe...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Don Stauffer
big part of this. I second one other suggestion to maybe consider
having commercial framing.
It is a little disheartening sometimes for photographers to realize that
the image isn't everything, but that is part of the business. Selling
through galleries takes a lot of hard work, mostly marketing. Yes, most
galleries sell on commission. Some galleries insist on exclusivity,
others don't.
--
Don Stauffer in Minnesota
stau...@usfamily.net
webpage- http://www.usfamily.net/web/stauffer
PQ
<tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote:
> I would suggest you do a little study first - like go to a gallery and
>look at what they sell, and for how much. Then decide if your stuff is up to
>the level of their stuff. If you think so and you have the prints to prove
>it, make an appointment to show your stuff - do not walk into the place with
>it and expect them to drop what they are doing for you. From there the
>pictures they accept will go on display --- someday and if they sell them
>you will get part of the price - having worked out the commissions in
>advance. Expect many to be completely uninterested in seeing your work -
>they have their clients and only accept submissions through agents. Expect
>those that look to be critical and sometimes very nasty in thier
>criticism -- it's their gallery, and their opinion - don't argue, but don't
>try to then make photographs that live up to their expectations either. An
>artist who does things the way some non-artist wants them is a whore.
...a whore, perhaps--but a well-fed one. I'm always receptive to what
a gallery is looking for, sometimes they can offer valuable opinions &
suggestions, it's simply a matter of being judicious.
Tony Spadaro
artist - get a job in a restaurant. If you are willing to prostitute your
work for money - you would be better off working in a restaurant.
--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html
"PQ" <Pie...@anywhere.net> wrote in message
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jean
annual show, in your case for photography. Send them an email. Tell them
that you like their gallery and you would like to be considered for their
show. Ask them to please take a look at your web page, include the link and
thank them. Then, wait. This has worked for me every time I've tried it.
Keep the email short and to the point. If they are interested, they will
reply and you're in the show. Once you are accepted into a show, if your
work sales and gets good response, they will ask you for more work.
They will Only want exclusivity if you are so good that they can't keep your
work, if that is the case, you have no problems.
If you show in galleries and on your website, you must get your prices the
same. You can't sell one painting for 50% less than a similar one that is
in the gallery even though you will get all the money instead of half.
Clients need to see the same price in both places, so does the gallery.
Galleries wouldn't sell your work if you are selling for half price.
If you go to a gallery, take two small framed and ready to hang works. Get
there about 30 minutes after they open on a week day. Print your name and
contact information, the title, size and retail price of each work all on
one sheet of paper. If they can't look at your work, ask if you can leave
it until they have time to see it.
Good luck
jean
RSD99
If you want to "sell your artwork through a *Gallery*" ... plan on receiving payment of
somewhere between 01% and 10% of the sale price ... *maximum*.
In most cases ... You really would be better off working in a restaurant!
"Tony Spadaro" <tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
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jean
want to do and getting paid for it seems better than hauling your miserable
butt off to a job that makes you wish you were dead.........every day of
your life, which might be a long time.
Prostituting? Selling is selling, your work, someone elses
food........either way, you're dishing it out.
jean
"RSD99" <rsdwla...@gte.net> wrote in message
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Tony Spadaro
the sale. I find that most places would not be interested in my work without
even showing it - If a place has picture postcard nature shots or pictures
of skinny naked chicks on heroin - I know that I ain't gonna show there.
I've only had a couple shows and they haven't amounted to any sales --
except for a show where they put up whatever the artist brought in - I sold
3 prints through that one - over two shows, but three prints. I'm not much
of a believer in galleries except for those with a reputation that proceeds
them. Most of my friends showing in NYC had been at it for 20 years or more
before they started selling - and most of them support hemselves by working
in restaurants - or driving cab, or teaching art in grade schools etc.
--
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com
home of The Camera-ist's Manifesto
The Improved Links Pages are at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/links/mlinks00.html
A sample chapter from my novel "Haight-Ashbury" is at
http://www.chapelhillnoir.com/writ/hait/hatitl.html
"jean" <je...@nowhere.com> wrote in message
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