| Business of the Image: A Photographers’ Bootcamp on Working with Galleries

Take the next steps towards becoming a career artist.

In this intensive five-day workshop held in August, participants will be provided with an invaluable overview of the business of the fine art photograph conducted by Debra Klomp Ching of the Klompching Gallery. It is specifically appropriate for those photographers who are seeking gallery representation and/or consigning photographs for exhibition/sale, and require the tools to seriously and professionally position themselves to fulfill such a significant step in their career. This workshop will be limited to a maximum of ten participants.

The workshop consists of formal presentations, informing and educating participants thoroughly on each topic that is relevant to taking the next step toward being a career artist. The workshop duration is five days, with each day broken up into a formal presentation, exercises and implementation, group and one-on-one critiques. Alongside the formal presentations and topic-related exercises, each participant will be assisted in determining a strong edit of their selected body of work. Workshop attendees will be required to bring a portfolio of a single body of work, a laptop, and drafted project statement, bio and resume.

 

DAY ONE: THE ANATOMY OF A GALLERY

An introductory session on how galleries function, the staff roles, personality of owners, types of sales, common forms of marketing and pr, clients.

DAY TWO: PRESENTING YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK

A presentation on the nuts and bolts of presenting yourself and your work in different contexts. specifically, the presentation will look at the physical portfolio, online profile (website), marketing materials and networking.

DAY THREE: WRITING ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WORK

The importance of writing about oneself and one’s artwork is examined by looking at the different contexts in which text is necessary: biography, artist statement, project statement.

DAY FOUR: PRICING AND EDITIONING YOUR WORK

The presentation will examine the varying pricing and editioning models that are common practice. It will introduce a methodology for calculating income/profit from sales, provide a market context and an overview of good practice regarding record keeping.

DAY FIVE: THE ART DEALER/PHOTOGRAPHER RELATIONSHIP

The presentation will cover the expectations and requirements of upholding a positive and professional working relationship with a gallery. It will look at contracts/agreements, sales, exhibitions, art fairs, general communication and other partnership responsibilities.

OUTCOMES:

By the end of the workshop each participant will leave with a good understanding of how the art dealer/ photographer relationship functions. They will be well equipped to confidently take the next step and seek representation and/or exhibition interest from a gallery.

Specifically, they will have developed the following assets:

• a well written artist statement, project statement and biography.
• an editioning/pricing plan for their chosen body of work.
• a strongly edited portfolio of images, with a clear plan for it’s construction/presentation.
• a strategy for navigating the fine art marketplace.

Header image credit ©Tiziana Rozzo