The perception of a starving artist is no longer applicable in modern life. Creatives don’t need to worry about ending up as penniless actors in LA or struggling painters in New York. There are more opportunities than ever to succeed. This especially applies to photographers, who have the ability to reach far beyond self-imposed limits to something far greater.
In any business, you need people, and you’ll find yourself in situations where you have to meet clients. One of the best examples of this is at the art fair. What’s the best way to sell your photography at a fair? How do you stand out from the crowd? Read below to find out more.
Work on Your Soft Skills
When you’re trying to sell your wares, you need someone to sell them to. While it’s easy to stay in your room and work on editing, selling at fairs forces you to break out, make eye contact, and start shaking hands. The better you learn to work with other humans, the more you’ll sell. Become interested in people and watch their body language carefully. Also, match what you sell to their needs; both of you will be happier as a result.
Get the Right Supplies
You want to sell your products in as many formats as possible, so make sure you have a good printer that can print high-quality photos. Get a few picture frames and a nailer for that picture frame that can help you affix photos to them. Of course, you’ll also need high-quality hardware, like cameras, lenses, and SD cards. You may even need a canopy to keep your prints dry in case it rains.
Do Your Homework
Try to attend shows at other art fairs to get a feel for what the artists are doing and how the hosts accommodate them. Check out the popular booths. What are they doing right? What does fair etiquette look like? What pieces do they sell on average? Does the fair have a theme? Try to answer these questions before you leave.
Price Your Work Right
This is pretty self-explanatory, but you need to figure out how much you’ll sell your work for. You don’t want to lowball yourself, but you need to make a profit. Furthermore, there’s a stigma around something being too cheap. We rarely equate cheapness to “value.” Instead, we perceive it to be of lesser value than something sold for a high price. Reasonably price your work and put it on display.
Consider Limited Editions
If you’ve begun to make a name for yourself, perhaps it’s time to autograph some of your photos and sell them for a higher price. People can see the value in good photography, so why not sell limited edition and numbered prints for a higher price? This is a great way to sell your photography at a fair.
Overall, selling your photography can be daunting, but you can succeed. We hope you’ve enjoyed the tips we’ve provided you!