A Small Showing Of My Photographs...

[mtbbrian]

One of my photographic goals for this year was to show my photographs publically.
I have acheived this goal!
I am currently showing five of my photographs at a coffee shop in downtown Salt Lake City.
The first picture is an overall shot of four of my photographs.
The second is the fifth one that is displayed on the same wall, but away from the others.
The last picture is a detail of the cards I am using for information on the photographs.
They have only been up since last Sunday and should be up for another three weeks.
The shops "takes" 30% of any sales.
Today, Nostalgia, Tomorrow....
I have another photograph, a Holga one, on display elsewhere, but that's another post...
Brian

[Photo-John]

Congratulations, Brian. I know how that feels. It's a big deal. I hope you get a good response and make some money. I wish I could come check it out. Thanks for posting the photos.

[mtbbrian]

Thanks John!
Your advice from our conversation a few weeks ago helped with the pricing.
I hope I get a good response too!
As much as I want to show my conventional stuff, I really want to show my Holga stuff as well. I have been doing a lot of shooting with my Holga lately and have some great photographs.
Brian

[brianc]

wow, great news. I hope things only get better from here.

Congrats.

[Asylum Steve]

Ah, I hate people that are accomplishing some of their goals this early in the year...

Good luck with it!

[Chunk]

That's good news Brian. Congrats.

[mjs1973]

Congratulations Brian!!! Thanks for posting this. It is really inspiring to see someone set a goal and go after it. Good luck!

[Liz]

Congratulations Brian!

As John said, this is a BIG deal. It's also a goal accomplished early in the year. I give you a lot of credit for setting up a realistic goal - and going for it. And attaining it - I'm sure this is only the beginning.

Liz

One of my photographic goals for this year was to show my photographs publically.
I have acheived this goal!
I am currently showing five of my photographs at a coffee shop in downtown Salt Lake City.
The first picture is an overall shot of four of my photographs.
The second is the fifth one that is displayed on the same wall, but away from the others.
The last picture is a detail of the cards I am using for information on the photographs.
They have only been up since last Sunday and should be up for another three weeks.
The shops "takes" 30% of any sales.
Today, Nostalgia, Tomorrow....
I have another photograph, a Holga one, on display elsewhere, but that's another post...
Brian

[another view]

That's great, Brian! Good for setting a goal and making it happen - and so early in the year.

P.S. I'm going to see James McMurtry tonight in Madison.

[mtbbrian]

P.S. I'm going to see James McMurtry tonight in Madison.

Steve,
YEAH!!
Email me with your thoughts on his show.
Brian

[mtbbrian]

Thanks everyone!
I hope I have given back some of the inspiration I have gotten from many of you.
A small showing of 5-10 photographs is a very achievable goal, there are many coffee shops, restaurants , and local libraries that are always looking for good photography and art to hang on their walls.
So Get Out There Keep Shooting and Get Your Stuff Out There!
OK?
OK!
Brian

[Asylum Steve]

A small showing of 5-10 photographs is a very achievable goal, there are many coffee shops, restaurants , and local libraries that are always looking for good photography and art to hang on their walls.

Very true. It gets easier the more you do it. Took my stuff down yesterday. That's the part I like the least. Complete polar opposite to hanging a show. Now I gotta decide if I'm going to "deframe" all the work, or clear some shelf space off and store them as is.

And, yes, that's Stimpy and Thing 2 guarding the pieces for me until I find a place to put them...

[racingpinarello]

that is very cool and with or without sales, it's a great experience and a success. I do hope that you sell some of your photographs, but just the priviledge of showing your work is kudos to you.

That's great news!!!

Loren

[Lara]

Congratulations Brian!! I'm excited for you, and wish you all the best of luck. Looks like a nice spot to show off your talented photography!

[Asylum Steve]

How'd it go?!?!?!?

[tijean]

Congrats! It all looks like some really great work.

Now don't be afraid to put your Holga work out there too. I'm always a little uneasy about showing real like folks my more creative stuff (what if they don't get it and think that I'm some no talent hack!!!?!!!) but it has always worked out fine.

Of source, people always like my more postcardy stuff, but they don't put my head on a pike for the odd stuff.

Now, I have a very silly question. How do you get the coffee shop to sell your work? I mean, I understand the business of consignment, but do you just ask whoever is working if they'd be interested? Do you leave a card for the owner with your site on it? Sorry, but the people aspect seems harder to me than the whole taking the photo thing.

[Photo-John]

Now, I have a very silly question. How do you get the coffee shop to sell your work? I mean, I understand the business of consignment, but do you just ask whoever is working if they'd be interested? Do you leave a card for the owner with your site on it? Sorry, but the people aspect seems harder to me than the whole taking the photo thing.

Selling, marketing, and all that non-photographic crap is always harder than the actual photography. At least it is for me and most other serious photographers I know. Then there are those people who are more self-promoters than photographers. Generally, they sell more and get rich while the rest of create masterpieces that no one will ever see ;)

[mtbbrian]

Now, I have a very silly question. How do you get the coffee shop to sell your work? I mean, I understand the business of consignment, but do you just ask whoever is working if they'd be interested? Do you leave a card for the owner with your site on it? Sorry, but the people aspect seems harder to me than the whole taking the photo thing.

This particular coffee shop, is new and had an ad in a local entertainment guide looking for artist to display their works. I saw sevearl times and called. Two meetings later I had a showing arrainged. The way I see it, places like this are in this for two reasons and they vary in order of importance from place to place. They are either doing it for the desire to show local artists or the money it can bring with it. I think the place I have these photographs at is doing it for the money first. Which is fine. They take a 30% commission from any sales. It's part of the "contract" they have at this particular coffee shop, which I am sure is a common thing if the business is doing it for the money first.

To answer your other question; I was at another local cafe the other day and talked to the person who books artists, I gave her a card. They were busy, it was a Saturday. My plan is, to call back in a month or so. Like a lot of things you have to follow up.
I hope that answers some of your questions. Good Luck!
Brian

[schrackman]

Hey Brian, that's a really great accomplishment. I really haven't tried to "market" any of my photography seriously. I've had a few bites here and there, but I just never have made the real "effort" like you have. Perhaps if I did I would finally get to sell a print!

Good work, and I hope you get to sell a lot of photos.

Ray O'Canon

[megan]

So does that mean 2006 can come early?!
Congratulations! It's great that people will be seeing your work!

Megan

[Ryguyinlj]

Great job. It is not my goal as well to display some of my work.

[CaSousa]

Brian,

How did you decide on pricing structure?
Just curious as I am in the process of figuring out how to start showing/selling some of my work.

Thanks,
-chris

[megan]

I haven't won the lottery yet either.
Damn the universe! 2005 is my year though!



Megan

[megan]

Let's do it!



megan

[mtbbrian]

No Way Megan!
I have only just begun!
Thanks for your support!
Brian