Art Festivals

[BryanPanting]

So I was just let go at my job of twelve years, and now I am trying to figure out what to do. Right now I have a part-time pet photography business, that I work at with my wife as my assistant. It was basically just something we did on the side to help support my hobby. I will now be pushing that job a little harder to see if it can help pay the bills more once I need it.
I have also been trying to come up with other photography ideas and I started thinking about maybe trying to work some of the local art festivals in the Fall and Spring. This would not be as a pet photographer, but I would be showing more landscape and fine art type things. So just looking for some info from people who do work those kinds of events. Do people that go to those kinds of events buy a lot? Or is it more just get your work seen in the hopes someone takes your card and later down the road buys a print form you.
I don't think it would be something I could be ready for this fall but maybe by spring I could be. Any info on the subject would be helpful right now, as this is the first place I came to begin researching it.

[PamEli]

Bryan, I had a peek at your website and you're pet portraits are awesome! I think you could certainly push for more business there...I've thought of trying to sell some Fine Art Photographs at Art and Craft Fairs, and I'm not sure what it would take to make that successful. I believe you'd have to have something that stands out....I would def make sure people who come to your booth know about your work with animals

good luck and I'd love to know how things work for you.

[karen_s]

First, sorry you were let go. It's tough out there right now.

Second, I agree with PamEli. You have some very nice images on your site and if you have a good business sense, I would think you could do pretty well. Heres a blog I found (came across it here on DPS) about marketing for small business. One of the ladies is a photographer so there are several tips specific to that kind of work. I've been following it just in case ...

Sarah Petty's Joy Blog

And, this blog is from a rather successful pet photographer. She gives some good tips every now and then and I have learned much about what goes into this kind of photography. Her main business appears to be pet portraits but I believe she has done some commercial work on assignment too ...

scruffy dog photography | best professional pet photographer blog serving Toronto and Ontario contemporary, lifestyle, on-location pet photography, capturing the spirit of your pet

Third, festivals. I would research your local festivals and see what sells. Every festival has it's own character. (A local artist I know doesn't sell much at the local festival but does very well at a festival just 40 miles away.) I toyed with doing it myself but just decided it was too much investment with no guarantee of return.

To sell landscape prints and the like, you might consider going to the local shops in your area and see if any would be interested in hanging your work. We have several local restaurants and a few local shops that love to hang art. It's free wall coverings for them and free advertising for you. If you had some artsy pet photos, it might be a great way to advertise your pet photography too.

Personally though, I'd pick one avenue and put me efforts into that. I'd shoot the other things for fun, but put my investment of energies and money into the business that pays the bills.

[BryanPanting]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Karen - I follow your work on flickr, and really like the work you do. Thanks for the links I will be checking those out right now for sure. I am still looking into the festivals, but I think I kind of agree with what you were saying especially right now that its just to much gamble right now.
I do have some of my pet prints hanging at a few local vet offices and that does help. Maybe I will look at some other local business and see if they would be interested in hanging more stuff as well.

Again thanks for the help so far

Bryan

[digirebelva]

Art festivals are hit or miss type things...remember that art is not a need..and it's bought with disposable income. Meaning that your best chances are the higher end art fairs...no guarantees, just better chances. And it's a decent upfront investment on something that may or may not pay you back...You need a tent, display racks, inventory, the fee for the show etc...adds up quick...
I wish you luck on that route...and here's hoping your pet photo business picks up enough to help you keep the wolf from the door..

[AnneWynne]

Check out the ArtShowPhoto group on Yahoo Groups. Lots of helpful people there.

Some of my observations (for what it is worth) on doing art festivals and from talking to photographers who do art festivals:

They are expensive, some require a specific type of set-up from type of shelter to type of display walls. They can be very expensive to get into, and many are juried. You need a large enough body of work in a variety of sizes available for sale. What sells is a crap shoot. If you are in a touristy area, people like local scenes and, from one photograper, smaller size prints sell better in tourist areas because they are easy to pack. Look for local arts/crafts shows that are not as difficult to start with as the juried shows. Church bazaars, neighborhood festivals, etc, can be good spring boards.

IMHO, you need to have examples of your prints hanging in frames. I have always thought the prices of the framed pieces offered at fairs where way overpriced until I started to add in the hassle factor of purchasing and then framing your prints. I always price my framed work in such a way I can go out and buy a new frame at the full retail price, cover the cost of the print and mat, and still make a decent profit.

You need to have your prints matted and bagged. Bagging in proper photo bags protects them and the mats from people flipping through them. It also looks more professional to present your product matted and bagged.

Try printing your prints using different types of papers. One photographer I spoke with introduced me to metallic papers and they make a huge difference in the presentation of some of my work. He told me he always uses metallic paper for his prints that have water in them. I have printed some of my prints that are more "painterly" (I do a lot of post processing to get a painted effect) on matte paper (archival quality).

I ALWAYS have a netbook (wish I had a laptop) running an animoto clip of my portrait work. I try to put it up at eye level for adults as it is a way of connecting and marketing my portrait work. Always have info on your studio work available in enough quantity you will not run out before the end of the show.

I sell mainly at a local gypsey art market....low cost/low stress and I have a lot of fun... as well as through a booth in a local antiques market and a couple of local galleries. You trade out the initial start-up cost of art fairs (as well as the risk of rain, high winds, and no attendance) for the cost of the commission you pay at the art galleries (usually 50%).

I feel your pain....I just got laid off from my day job, so I am going back to photography as a way of bringing in a little money until I find the next day job. At least now I have time for photography as opposed to working all the time.

Good luck,
Anne

[BryanPanting]

Anne

Those are some great tips, and helps out a lot.

Thanks