 Cindy Sj |
Exhibiting Photos for First Time ... Help! I've been asked to present some of my photos to a local coffee shop to be considered for a small exhibit. But I know nothing about framing, matting, pricing, and most importantly, presenting them to the owners of the coffee shop for consideration! Can I take my laptop in and let them view the photos that way? Do they choose the photos or do I? They have several different colored walls ... do I match anything to their walls? Is there a standard-sized print that I should be using? How do you get prints matted and bagged for sale? (If I even get that far!!) As you can see, I need guidance...and a lot of it! Thanks in advance!!
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Debbie Del Tejo |
Cindy, don't get your hopes too high, as people like to see the photos on the wall and enjoy good conversation and a good cup of coffee. They don't come to buy photos, per se. Now, having said that, go big and let the owners have an input and you choose some of your favorites as well. Warning: I would frame professionally. There's nothing worse then seeing amateur framing done on some nice photos. Check different Web sites for pricing, but don't be too cheap as then they really don't see them as works of art. Good luck!
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John Rhodes |
Cindy, First, I would avoid matching mats to anyone's walls. You will display there for a while and pick your prints up to be hung elsewhere. Use white, or neutral, mats. I frame with profile 115 black metal frames. By doing this, when I hang an exhibit, all the images are coordinated - same mat, same frame. By using the metal frames (www.decorframes.com), I can do the framing myself. Debbie is right. I have sold well in galleries and at art festivals. However, I have had images hung at a local coffee shop and a restaurant. Neither have produced sales. I'll likely pick them up soon. Coffee shops have the same group of customers that drop by regularly. They aren't likely to have someone come in looking for art - just a good cup of coffee (or that other strange stuff that coffee shops brew). About the only advantage I can see is that having my art in several places gets my work and name out there, which may result in business down the road. Bottom line: Don't tailor your framing to fit a place. Choose matting and framing that will work in many different venues. John
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Cindy Sj |
thank you so very much for your responses. I didn't expect to sell anything...it was the owner of the business that stated that they'd had previous people put prices on the wee tag that goes next to the photo. (how do I do those?? do I need them?). I'd just like to walk in and see them somewhere other than on my computer! I'll go big and with basic matting...for me, the simpler the better. thanks so much for your time in responding to the question. John, that means you twice!! [= cindy
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Jeremy Joan Hewes |
Cindy, You've had good advice from Debbie and especially from John. I also advise that you choose simple frames, all alike, in flat black metal or a handsome natural wood, with off-white (sometimes called "gallery white") mats. You can have mats made by an excellent company Documounts.com; they ship mats in very good packaging and have good prices. I use a double 4-play mats (archival) with a half-inch offset and mount the image on archival foam board (3/16-inch thick). Important: be sure to have business cards or (better yet) postcards with an image of yours and your contact information available for customers to take away from the coffee shop. You can get free postcards (shipping cost only for 100) at Vistaprint.com. Good quality, too. You can use their templates and upload your own image for the postcard and for excellent business cards. Or you can print a nicely designed handout yourself to leave at the coffee shop while your images are hanging. Hope this helps! - Jeremy Joan Hewes (www.jeremyjoanhewes.com)
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Suzanne Kish |
Wow, Thanks to the folks that responded to Ciny's question, I now know why I have not been sucessful in coffee shops...no one has!! I have tried for almost two years to sell anything in a Deli, a coffee shop and two resturants to no avail. I am scheduled in another coffe shop in an artsie section in town where they have art crawls the first Friday of the month. Maybe I should just give up now. -Suzanne Kish
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Jeremy Joan Hewes |
Cindy, Yes, make a small card for each photo to display with it. I use inkjet business cards, which come in a perforated sheet of 10 that's easy to prepare and print. I use the title, location of the image, year, a copyright notice, and my website address. Also a note that the image is available in other sizes, and I give the price for the framed piece and the matter version of the same size. You never know what might come of showing your work, so go for it! - Jeremy
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Amy L. Buckenmayer |
Hi Cindy, I work in a cafe in Northwest Philadelphia and we show art work frequently. Some have sold, some do not. Here is what we recommend: 1) All of our artists are required to show their work to the "curator" involved in accepting or denying work. He simply asks artists email him digital images of the work they've done in the past (it doesn't even necessarily have to be the show they will present - he just wants to make sure it works in the space and is relatively pleasing to all). 2) If your show is selected, use a professionally cut neutral-family matte and a basic black or silver frame. They are the most unassuming and will not draw away from your art. I would seriously research archival matting if you're unfamiliar with it. You and the person purchasing your art want the image to last as long as possible. With a store-bought matte and frame, you can purchase archival matting tape at an art supply store and put your framing together. There is a trick to archival tape matting. DON'T tape your work directly to the matte!! Sometimes people buy prints and reframe them. You don't want to have your print ruined if they choose a new matte and frame. 3) Decide the flow and title of your show. Your images should blend effortlessly into each other as if telling a story with impact shots at the beginning and end. 4) The sizing of images is entirely up to you. Currently we have a Holga/Pinhole show and some of the prints are barely larger than a 2x2 contact print. It's all about your visualization. 5) We do not have the artist display a title and price card below each photo. Instead each print is numbered with a sticker on the frame and another frame is displayed in the shop with the artist's name, print number, title and price. You can also choose to include a resume or artist statement (most of ours have in the past). Also, our cafe does not take a cut of sales and we ask folks to contact the artist directly to make a purchase. Include your contact information, or leave contact post cards. 6) The back of your print should always be signed, titled and catalogued backwards (for example if there are 5 prints, the first print you sell is 5/5. That way when you get to the print catalogued 1/5, you may be able to up your price as it is the last print remaining (although the first one made). 7) We use little red dots to indicate a print has sold. Sometimes we suggest an artist put a feeder dot out under a print. People are strange and want to follow a flock. They don't want to be the first to do something. Sometimes when they see something has sold, it validates their opinion. And one final thing: Hope this helps! Best wishes,
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Cindy Sj |
thanks everyone for all the critical information! I obviously have loads to think about....I'll be sure to post a few of the chosen photos here, just for fun...and friendly feedback, of course! And again, thanks to all of you....your information is exactly what I was looking for! [= cindy
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Barbara V. Hinton |
Here are my self published books...they took me a few hours to make online and you can get them mailed to you imediately for a very small price -I hope this helps! Order one of mine...I have yet to sell any...please! My ebook are only like 5 BUCKS!!! Wow right! If my info helped you especialy. I'll be your best friend....giggles. ....................................
A book of 24 of my best photomanipulations todate. -10$ hardcopy; 5$ for download ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... And Nikas Print Art Volume 1 (88 of my digital art pieces)
A compilation of 88 of the best visual print art work that I've created digitaly over the last couple of years. Landscapes, photomanipulations and photos. -28$ hardcopy and 10$ for a download Nikas Landscapes Book Nikas Landscapes 17 Landscape Photomanipulation Digital Art pieces by Nika -10$ hardcopy and 5$ for a download .............................................................................................. Nikas Fractal Art Vol 1 Published June 17 2007 .............................................................................................. Nikas Fractal Art 2008 Calendar Published June 20 2007 Please note you can also download these picture books straight to your computer for half the price of a lulu printed,bound and shipped copy. So what chu waiting for! I'll be your best friend? Giggles. Also note that I hardly make anything off of selling these hard copy picture books.(only like 15% about on hard copies and 80% off of downloads) I just think its awsome that I can do it thou....online all by myself (meaning no preveiwer middle man/editor) and so quickly too. And so can YOU. If you've ever wanted to publish a book but thought it too involved you should give lulu a try. ~Nika A messege from Lulu.Com: Lulu.Com provides the creators and owners of digital content with control over how they use and share their work. Individuals, companies, and groups can use Lulu to publish and sell a variety of digital content, including books, photos, images, and music.
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