Art Gallery

What is the best way to go about getting your photographs into an art gallery?

Thanks. EM

Take exceptional well done artistic images that will sell for big money. Sorry, couldn't help that

lol- yeah but if no one has seen my photos yet how do they get in there? i live in a small town and the closest gallery is an hour and thirty min. away. I have contacted a few to set up appointments to review my portfolio. but i dont know if this is the best way to go about it.

First visit the gallery and make sure they don't represent anyone that does similar work. Then set up a appointment to show your (beautifully printed, matted and presented in a archival, museum quality display box) portfolio. Also, be very aware at the fact that the price of your work will need to double, maybe even triple in order for you to make any money. The gallery market has not been doing so well, especially for photographers. The only photographers that make good money through fine art photography galleries either have their own galleries in very well placed postions in the heart of a very popular destination or are one of the selected few that are represented by the elite galleries (they pick you, usually based on a art critic's advice). Of course, the best selling photographers are dead. Maybe faking your own death might help....I have considered it

Good Luck!

Emily,

If you can find a cooperative gallery they may be looking for new members. If so the artists in the coop will interview you and see your work. If they think you are a fit you will get in. However there will be an upfront charge you must pay and probably gallery sitting duties, so make sure the gallery is doing pretty well and gets enough traffic.

Cooperatives charge a lower commission and there is the possibility in sharing in profits. I'm in a coop and found it a good way to get started in a gallery.

Frank

thank you guys for your comments this really helps!

Me again...with some real advice this time You might try entering various photography organizations and maybe juried competitions. The idea is to get yourself known as being a photographer with wonderful images. A gallery will look much closer at someone that others already know...and perhaps some of these people might put in a good word for you to the galleries you have selected. Become a member of any local or non-local photography guilds or even art guilds that have photographers, too. Get your name out there. If your work is exceptional along some line, then a gallery might snap you up. Otherwise, you will have to "work" for it like most others! Good luck to you and much success!

Troup

If photography as fine art is something you are interested in pursuing seriously, I highly recommend Cay Lang: Taking the Leap: Building a Career As a Visual Artist.

This book covers everything you need to know about fine art galleries and the gallery world's expectations. Topics include: creating a portfolio, writing artist's statements, finding exhibition opportunities, etc. . .

I can not recommend the book too highly. It was not only informative, but easy to read and enjoyable even. It does not focus on photography -- it is written for all types of artists -- but, Cay Lang is a photographer herself so photography is not short-shifted or forgotten in her examples.

I've never done this but, you can try craft fairs. The prices may be lower but you can get your work out there.

thanks guys ! i really appreciate it!