Tips for selling photos at a booth in public. Need advice

net1994

I have my own website (http://www.paintbypixels.com) and have sold a good number of my photos there. Now I have the opportunity in a few weeks to sell my photos at a art gallery holding an art fair. I will need to bring a table (like lightweight card table); something to hold the photos (think big, big magazine rack so folks can thumb through photos); photos obviously (some framed, the rest matted and in plastic sleeves. I can bring max 40 photos, so it would really be maybe 15 photos with multiple copies of each.

Paying for all of the above will set me back at least $200 I’m thinking. I need to get the photos printed out, mattes, sleeves and then some kind of promo card with my website info. What else do I need to buy?

Has anyone done a setup like this before? Do you sell photos at fairs; at a public event or park? Got any advice, tips or things to watch out for? How to setup? Besides selling to your audience and ‘location, location, location’ what else should I know?

Hope to hear for you folks. Thanks!!

lfortier

I've done a few shows of this type. I use two print bins to display the photos. People just love to flip through print bins!

I put my less expensive prints in one bin and my 'ready to frame' in another.

You can get packages of a mat board, baker board and display bag from www.documounts.com. They have them in a number of sizes. I use them for the smaller sizes and I cut my own mats and do my own dry mounting for the 'ready to frame' prints.

I've also got a few gridwalls that I hang some of the prints on to attract attention. When space permits, I use a craft tent.

Good luck and have fun.

bob swanson

All good advice. Be prepared to sell. Have a state tax rate handy and plenty of change (in a change box). Mostly one's & fives. I price my stuff so that change is easy as in $10.00 (tax included). Or $ 5.00 tax included. You will probably pay for your both and expenses with the "flip file". A lot of people that do this for a living bring a variety of mat's as very few people are satisfied with the mat's you put on the images. That said, you can only carry so much. Have a lot of business cards with the info to get in touch with you. Depending on the space you have, display some larger framed images. Who knows? Or as said before, They might attract attention.
Good luck. bsvirginian

Snowgirl

I'm doing something similar in May. Luckily for me it's indoors - although the indoor aspect is a large horse barn

The stalls will be set up as 8' x 8' booths and I'm getting ready now. I have my banner (it was done for a show I just went to last week-end)


And I'm buying a folding table with storage underneath to use on-site. I'll be taking my laptop as well to do a running slide show plus prints - matted and not - for sale.

Should be fun.

Sam

I have done this once, and here are my thoughts.

1. make sure you have a resale license / documents, for your state.

2. I don't know how you can get 40 photos with a mixture of mats, frames, and bare prints for $200.00. My cost is way beyond that.

3. I would have more variety than depth. Your not wall mart restocking shelves.

4. It's your photography, decide how you want to display your work. PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING. While you might be on a budget, be creative with the funds you have.

5. You can rent panels, and tables.

6. Only bring your very best work.

Here are two shots of my set up at a Barnes & Noble book store.

Sam

Sam

Here is my firsts client / sale of the day.

Sam

Hikin' Mike

My booth...

wildviper

Not to hijack the thread, but for those who have done this before, how was the experience. Did you do well in sales to cover your costs at least?

Edit: oh, and what types of pictures have more interest? Landscapes, Flowers, People, Architecture and so on.

laughalot

frames or canvas
I'm also planning to try a few art shows this year and spent much of last year wandering through every show I could find talking to artists and noting different set ups.

The one thing I was noticing was how many photographers chose canvas over the more traditional mat and frame for their images. Obviously this is a more expensive way to go, but with the right image it seems to make that stretch between photograph (gee I coulda taken a pitcha of that) and the "serious" art world of painters. Painting with light as it were.

Has anyone experimented with this approach? Costs? Effectiveness? Sales?

www.ktsgonewalkaboutphoto.com

Hikin' Mike

wildviper wrote:

Not to hijack the thread, but for those who have done this before, how was the experience. Did you do well in sales to cover your costs at least?

Edit: oh, and what types of pictures have more interest? Landscapes, Flowers, People, Architecture and so on.

I'm not trying to make a living selling my photography, so as long as I make enough money to cover the entry fee (always do)....then I have a successful show! :ivar

Since I don't photograph people, just nature/landscape....I can't help you there.