Interior Designers, newspapers, competitions – there are many different avenues you can take to make a name for yourself. This really builds on last week’s show on building your brand. Rich Smukler gives several different ideas and options to build your reputation and get your name out there as a fine art photographer
*Please scroll to the bottom of the post for more images from our guest.*
Episode 155
Get Your Photography Noticed with Rich Smukler
First Things First
- Business Card - Quality, Eye-catching
- Professional Portfolio Book - Coffee-table size (12” x 16”)
- 20-30 of your BEST pieces (1 per page or 1 per spread)
- Wow the viewer
- Show who you are as an artist and tell your story
- Be prepared to leave the book with the gallerist - ASK if a week would give them enough time to look over your work and if you could come back for it then.
- Strong, professional website
- 3 main functions: Introduces you as an artist, used for e-commerce and helps give exposure for your work.
- Need a WOW factor - IMMEDIATELY
- Needs to be easy to navigate through
- Group your portfolio pieces into categories
- Link to a blog - ONLY if you can keep up with it and post regularly - even if it’s only once per month
*TIPS can be a more valuable tool than an article*
- Advertise for other services/classes
- Set up cross-links between your website, blog, and social media
“Understand that an artist needs to have a unique body of work that’s both recognizable and growing. It’s important for an artist to have the ability to develop beyond a successful area of work. Don’t be afraid to move forward!”
Getting Yourself “Out There”
- Enter competitions. Enter more competitions. Make more art.
- Google “Photography Competitions” or “Art Competitions”
- Don’t limit yourself
- Most cost $ and time to apply.
- Make sure you R E A D A L L T H E R U L E S !!! Sending in material in the wrong format or through the wrong channels will disqualify you.
- You WILL get rejected. A lot. Keep trying.
- Selected to participate but didn’t win anything? Wrong! You won by being chosen! Add your accomplishment to your website. “One of 25 selected out of 5,000 entries”
- Getting into competitions helps add value to your work and creates credibility.
- Go to local museums and galleries.
- Be wary of gallerists that show their own work alongside yours.
- Gallerists working on commission will work harder to sell YOUR work.
TIPS from Rich
For your art:
- Learn your camera inside-out.
- Know your computer platforms and programs inside-out.
- Learn how to be a good printer.
For talking with galleries:
- Look professional.
- Be confident.
- Have materials with you: business cards, portfolio book, website.
- Follow-up with an email.
Finding Rich
Mentioned on the show:
B&W Printing and Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop
by George DeWolfe
Creating an Artist Website with Carolyn Edlund - Episode #128
Listen to the Understand Photography Show on iTunes:
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General Notes
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Gear Recommendation of the Week
Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Coating
B+W’s F-Pro HTC Kaesemann Circular Polarizer MRC is a screw-mount filter available in 20 different sizes to fit mounts from 37-120 mm. The filter ring is brass. Polarizers are used in photography to eliminate reflections on glass or water and to saturate colors, particularly blue skies, also by eliminating reflections. Polarizers block certain orientations of polarized light. You need to rotate them in order to block the orientation that will eliminate glare.