...I know many people, here ,probably get enough satisfaction from posting their work and sharing with friends and family -- which is great! ---- but it might be of benefit to some -- if those out there that have made some inroads on selling their work could share their experiences. I know it's a tough world out there when it comes to selling photos or artwork -- but with digital darkrooms - it is now possible to turn out high quality long lasting prints that should make buying photos more appealing to the masses ---- anyone done the art shows?? ---gallery shows?

Great question!

A few years back, I exhibited on the walls of a bunch of San Francisco cafes, corporate foyers, restaurants, etc. I framed some 20 of my favorite prints and displayed them at such locations (San Francisco, luckily, has many such venues, always looking for artists who want to display work). During that year I did sell quite a few pieces.

I've never done an art fair or tried to display in a gallery, but I'd like to.

As it happens, I'm currently at a sort of crossroads in my professional life and lately some have urged me to seriously consider photography as a career. I'm excited by the idea, but more than a little wary of the difficulties and insecurity that I imagine go along with being a professional photographer (especially a landscape photographer). So if I may take the liberty of tacking my own questions onto your thread... I'd love to hear about the experiences of those who've tried to make a career (or partial career) out of photography. What barriers and frustrations did you face? Was it easier or harder than you imagined? At what stage in your life did you move toward photography? What advice do you have for others looking to give it a go?

Many thanks for your time and responses. :)

Funny you should ask! I am hoping to be up and operational by the time the June show is here, July at the latest! Having a ball putting together images and mattes and frames at present! We have a lot of tourists here in Florida and I am joining an Art Club that shows once a month in a location right off of US #1 in a river front park. I am very curious as to how I will do at the first one. In the past week I have sold two sets of my framed and matted works and made out very well. I am also toying with the idea of renting a booth at the Flea Market just to see if there is a market there. The areas in which I am having problems is finding quality framing for my larger works (16 x 20), as I like to have a much larger frame in which to mount and matte in. Another area where I am having a bit of trouble comes with the displaying of my art work. Being in an outside area I have no idea how I am going to display 15 - 20 8 x 10's in 16 x 20 frames, and 4 to 5 larger works. I have been looking at the tents that are used for art shows and I have been frequenting art shows looking at how people display. It seems that everyone has something different that they do. In this area here they are starting a project in a not so great section of town where you will be able to live in your gallery. (The homes/store fronts are all fixer uppers) I am thinking on investing in one of these properties and doing this as I know that the return on this property will be great once the City sells all of the properties and it becomes an art community. So eventually I will have my own gallery and may even consider hosting other artists, but that is up and coming will let you know how this all develops. Now while I have all of this going on, it looks like I am going back to school to take classes to learn how to set up my business and incorporate. I just got all of the paperwork this past week. Keep in mind that I also work two separate jobs, I guess it is a good thing that I am a high energy type personality eh? And Funk? I personally know a woman that does landscapes and sunscapes such as mine (I didn't know her until after I started shooting) But she started with this art club and is now is being flown out of State for shoots, she is so busy that she is never home any longer and to listen to her tell it, she is making a very handsome living at it, but it took time and hard work to get there. She also displayed her works in small businesses, Doctors offices and Restraunts which is something else I am working on. **********

I have a portfolio of 22 images dry mounted on 16x20. These were exposed in the late 1970's through about 1984. I was using the downtown location of ModernAge on Vesey Street for processing. They were able to display about 20-30 works in the sales area. I asked about it, submitted about 50 images and was told I qualified to exhibit there and would exhibit the following month. Betwen selecting, printing, reprinting, cropping, mounting, etc. ... it took about a month ... and about $1000. The portfolio has been in 2 other non-juried shows, a local art show last year, and also lobby art at ADP hq. In all of those, I wasn't trying to sell anything. Within the past few weeks, I have located the negatives for that portfolio -- in my house, nothing is ever lost ... it just rests somewhere 'till I really need it. Now that I have those negatives in hand, I will try selling at shows and craft festivals. One thought ... people like to bargain for a lower price ... you like to make a profit ... set your prices so that both objectives are met. MGD

I really can't say.... I've only just begun my foray into juried shows, so far I've been accepted in 3 gallery exhibitions....and one unjuried show. I've not tried the arts & crafts festivals, which my husband is pushing for me to try..... thinking about joining one or two art groups, so that I have some sort of affiliation, and maybe get my name out there a bit more. I've talked to professors and other local artists that I know.... selling is a tough business, at least around here. Maybe NYC is a better place to be......? Nilla, be sure to keep us updated on how it's working out for you. Sounds like you're off to a good start!

@Michelle - > Maybe NYC is a better place to be......? In some ways ... yes. I'll see what I can find out about galleries in the Village, on Park Avenue, ... . And how to get shown. MGD

I am about to start the Flea Markets and Art shows. My first flea is the 16th, my first art show is June 6th. I am using the Fleas mostly as a test ground and I will be happy if I sell 2 pieces. The Art Shows are my goal. I have noticed that you have to present to your audience. What I mean by that is that at each show or flea I will be showing local images. For example, when showing in the Philadelphia area I will display mostly Philly type scenes, Independance Hall, the William Penn's statue on top of the courthouse, the LOVE statue at the opposite end of the blvd from the art museum. If I am showing near Chadds Ford PA, then I will show things like Brandywine River Museum or Longwood Gardens, or even Andrew Wyth's home. if in DC I will present things like the Vietnam Veterens memorial. This approach I hope will generate more sales of both local and not so local images. However by showing the local images at the front of my tent I hope to draw in more traffic and then generate more sales or at least more iterest in my work. Also remember to price to your Market. At fleas an image will bring a cetain price where at an art show the price may be higher for a similar image. Remember to talk to everyone that walks by and even slows down. By getting to know the people you will get to know what they want and what they will spend their money on! Code each brochure you hand out with something that will let you know where someone heard about or saw your work. This information will be valuable when deciding what events to attend next year or even later in the season. Just my two cents. Magick Michael

I've been thinking about it too ... but I don't know. Back as far as the 1st Trolloween I shot. A lot of people from Fremont wanted me to put together a showing of the shots. I just couldn't bring myself to accept that anyone else wanted to see the shots ... think I was kind of chicken. :) Now, I think one of the things that's holding me back is my "eyeball" calibrated monitor. So hard to get consistent quality output on my prints from printshops or even my printer that it bugs me. That's why I'll be picking up calibration hardware soon. There are some really good suggestions above. This is definitely an area I'll need guidance in if I ever get the nerve to put my stuff out there. :) -=>Donald

Donald, It is really hard "baring your soul" to the public, but I can guarantee if you ever get them to print out the way you want them, you will do well wherever you decide to show/sell your work. You just have to believe in yourself, and the rest will come. So just do it. Me thinks you won't regret it, because I for one believe in you. No problem Michelle will keep you all posted on my progress.

....thanks for all the great responses -- I got pulled away from the net after posting this question --- so I'm catching up. Brenda - you seem to be going at it with the right attitude -- takes a lot of work , enthusiasm, and perseverance......outdoor shows are like setting up a whole store - then tearing it down again each day. -- I had some experience with gallery shows and outdoor shows many years ago --- and I've been studying the outdoor art circuit today --- there are so many variables that role into this venture -- including manpower to set up and tear down -- type and quantity of buyers - weather - presentation ( booth - display etc ) --- you can have the right stuff -- but poor location and inadequate display can sink you ---- so I think selling this way is not for most people --- many just break even , or lose $ --- but love the intereaction of meeting new people and exchanging ideas ------and -of course --- a few can actually do quite well........

I am an ex business owner turned very amateur photographer who can hopefully offer something to this topic. I was in the computer software business for thirty years and enjoyed a fair level of success. If you will forgive the license, I might suggest the analogy of investing one's self in a software idea to creating a work of art. In both cases there is often the fear of rejection when attempting to market it. In both cases you are putting your creativity and expertise on the line. First, don't hide behind that crap about "selling yourself out" by trying to make money from your art. You're not. You are offering your creativity for just compensation and there's nothing wrong with that. Next, accept this: There will be rejection. Period. Accept it, live with it and go on. The best advice short of a B school course is TRY THINGS. Put the same CREATIVITY and QUALITY that's reflected in your work to selling it. Some, probably most, things you try won't work. Each failed effort contains a lesson, learn from it then try something else. Odds are you will find something that works. Yes it can be "work", but you are doing it for you, not someone else, and it can even be fun at times. You will be using your creativity, albeit in a different way, have the opportunity to meet people, receive feedback... all-in-all a worthwhile experience. The generally accepted method for selling is to use the popular models, i.e. that which other people have done successfully. Don't constrain yourself by that mentality. Think outside the box. Again, TRY THINGS. I found great success by finding niches either ignored or unthought of by others in my profession. This all might sound a trifle simplistic... but it does work. We tend to allow things of which we are unfamiliar to loom out of proportion, fueled by our ignorance and fears. Don't let that be an obstacle. JUST DO IT. b2amphot

Thank you. You guys who are going out there, putting it on the line (so to speak) are giving me the courage to move forward. I'll probably be ready in late summer or fall to show my work. I am already commited in my mind to shooting the Trolloween this year and doing a show. Really liked the over-tone treatment I gave them this year and there were a lot of people who seemed to really like them. Still scary for an introvert like me. :) supportive hugz all around

You an introvert? You must be kidding. Well I guess we need to draw you out of your shell Donald! Your work rocks! And I wouldn't say that if I didn't mean it! Brenda :)

Oh yea. But I'm much better than I use to be. I was painfully shy. I still don't talk a lot until I get to know people. Actually, it's one of the main reasons I went to street photography. It forced me out of my comfort zone. Then switched to event photography. That REALLY forced me to approach people more and talk to them. There is also a slightly different part of my personality that takes over when I have a camera in my hands. An extremely confident one. Don't know why, but the shy guy in me could never walk up to a dozen women and ask them to pose for a shot; the guy with the camera in his hands doesn't hesitate a bit. You can probably even see that in my posts. That side of me that worries about shoots and stuff before the fact and then that part of me when I get to the event or into the studio. shrug I can live with it. It's almost like being a superhero with a secret identity. :) hehehe POW!

Well Donald, I see that shy part of you worrying about calibrated monitors and colors etc. Look at it this way, if you print the images, everyone will be forced to view them the same way you are! Food for thought my dear! ;)

unstrung, here is my two cents on your question. I have been trying to display and sell my photgraphs for a little over a year here in the Nashville area. I have sold a few pieces in that time. While I find it frustrating that I haven't sold more pieces in that time, I also realise that for the little effort that I'm actually putting into it, that is probably still a good return. But enough about me... How serious are you about selling your work? I look at my photography as one of my hobbies. I (at the moment am actually on long term disability leave) have a full time job, so I do not depend on selling pictures as a means of supporting myself. Thus I am able to do the 9 different exhibitions over the past 15 months (7 shows, 2 framing shops with my stuff there long term)and not starve. Now on the other hand, if I were depending on my pictures to make a living, it would be necessary to go pounding on doors everyday to get my stuff in more places (restaraunts, galleries, frame shops, coffie shops) as possible to get not only my work in view, but name recognition as well. I as somebody has mentioned before, would suggest getting involved with any art groups in your area. Not only could this possibly open up more venues to show your work, but you can learn a lot about the business of art, selling and marketing your work. My experiences with the untitled group and the Plowhaus Gallery here in Nashville has been a great learning experience. I also owe a great deal to the folks here on the photography forum, as even though there is a lot of nonsence going on here, every once in a while I find a nugget of advice mixed in. Plus the feedback I get about my images, has helped me to improve my modest skills, and gain confidence in my "artistic" vision. It all boils down to how dedicated you are, and what your goals are in regards to selling your work. Ok, I'll shut up now... Jack

....thanks jacoggins...and everybody else --- I was just curious as to where others were at on selling their work --- I certainly realize it's a rough road to try to make a living with..... lots of ingredients pour into making it work ----- as to myself - currently I'm just having fun exploring different avenues and taking notes -- print longevity has long been an inhibiting factor in selling photos as art --- but that is changing -- currently the Epson 2200 printer seems to be able give one permanent prints in many different sizes... ( don't have one yet! )...........so, for me it helps to have a good sized body of work ( quantity and quality ) - before attempting to go out there and sell.....anyway - thanks for listening.

unstrung, the Epson 220 is a good investment. I have been using one for almost a year and am quite pleased with it. I think Michelle has one also. Good luck! Jack