+44 (0) 207 252 3900 info@shootfactory.co.uk
Monday - Friday 10:00 - 17:30
In a world where so much is has evolved, pictures have surely survived the test of time. Today, anyone can capture a gorgeous, vibrant image and share it with millions of people in an instant. The people who seem to have mastered the art of photography are finding themselves with an overflow of platforms to share their work. The best photography is striking and beautiful, and it should be shared in an effective way.
If you hope to be a very successful photographer, it is best to start by exhibiting your work on social media. Instagram, Pinterest for example, is like a virtual Mecca for photography. This site is a great tool for up and coming photographers who are looking to plan an exhibit. You have access to a wide pool of models, places to shoot, and galleries right at the touch of a button. Displaying your work on social media, especially under a business account, is a fast way to get your product in front of the people you may want to network with. Keep your content relevant, updated, and interesting. It is also important to pay attention to your audience; demographics, peak times, and scheduling is key. The more people follow, like, and re-post your photos, the bigger your pool of opportunity. Once you are ready to market your exhibit, you will already have an impressive following, which increases the turnout at your event. Audience engagement is key: without an audience, there is no exhibit.
Furthermore, advertising your event within based on your audience is foolproof. For instance, if your following is mainly composed of college students, putting posters in or around a campus is easy. Try to market anywhere your target audience tends to spend time. Places such as bookstores, cafes, and bars are all perfect places to put posters and leaflets. If you have or know anyone who has access to dorm halls and campus buildings, it is urgent that you put posters there as well. Be sure to include the date, time, location, dress code, and at least one fascinating cover art example of your work on all the posters. Your viewers should know everything they need to know within their first glance at the advertisement. Great marketing makes a great event.
Another great way to exhibit your work is to collaborate with a curator. Curators oversee and help to manage your work at a gallery or museum. Your curator can assist you in planning, marketing, and properly executing a successful exhibition. An exhibition is a event, usually lasting days, in which your work is displayed strategically in a museum or gallery. This arrangement should be eye catching, intriguing, and a reflection of your works true meaning and purpose. It is your curators job to oversee the exhibit even when you are not available. You can trust that your work is in good hands with these learned professionals.
When planning your exhibit, location is key if you are familiar with your audience. A great way to start is by studying the demographics of your social media following. If your target audience is mostly concentrated in a different city, you have two options: either boost your fan base in your surrounding area, or hold your exhibit in the area where your fans are. What makes it breaks an exhibition is how many people come out to witness it, so ensuring ease of access is imperative. However, you should never sacrifice quality. Your venue should still be well kept, inviting, and versatile.
As for the presentation of your work, your layout should;be a direct refection of what you wanted to portray with your work. The placement of a certain picture next to another can be highly symbolic or simply preferable, like having a particular picture stand alone while others are clustered together. Maybe you’d like to have a certain artistic accessory to your exhibit, such as having a specific colour border or frame style. You may as well choose to have black and white portraits only together or mixed in with more vibrant photos. You probably want to include a short bio-film or documentary about the collection. Several people will see your pictures everyday in this manner, and if you get the attention of a buyer you could sell some of your work for a great profit. When done correctly, photo galleries are a classic, timeless way of turning your work into something truly special.
Leading your guests in a walk-through of the exhibit is an efficient way to engage your audience. As the artist, you know the true depth and meaning behind each piece and can, impressively, convey your thoughts on every picture. As a professional in his or her field, your curator will be able to understand and interpret your work as well in a very befitting way. Giving your guests a chance to learn about each piece in the collection and ask questions will alleviate any confusion or subtle disinterest in the artwork. This is helpful because your participants will leave knowing more about you as a photographer, your work, and the meaning and beauty behind it, making for an all-around more rewarding experience.
Organisation and time management are extremely important when planning an exhibit, however keeping a level head is equally as mandatory. Usually, you will have to book a venue or gallery, keep in contact with your curator, prepare the work itself, plan your lay out, market the event, and any extra details you may need to attend to. Your smartphone or tablet can come in handy quite a lot: setting alarms, posting dates on your calendar, and creating a separate folder for important exhibit related emails are all great ways to organise and manage your responsibilities.
Executing a proper exhibit can get very hectic, so it is important that you find an effective way to reduce your stress. Remember to get a restful night of sleep as often as you can and a nutritious breakfast to give you a boost of energy for the day. Try to take time out everyday to wind down, preferably before bed. Meditation, listening to your favourite music, or taking a hot bath or shower are all pleasant distractions from your tight schedule. Chamomile and lavender tea are both very soothing and can be enjoyed while working on urgent emails or last minute planning. If you ever feel too overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and remember that everything will go just fine. This is your exhibit, it is your time to shine. Your curator is always there to lend a helping hand, so do not be afraid to reach out. He or she already knows that planning a successful exhibit is a lot of hard work, and they’re here to guide you along.
Keeping a strong social media presence after the event is also helpful if you would like to be a successful photographer. Engaging with your audience not long after they have participated in your show is a foolproof way to make sure you stay under their radar. A helpful tip for moving forward and learning from your exhibit is to provide your followers with a simple questionnaire. You could ask what they thought of the exhibit, what photograph or aspect of the event was their favourite, and whether or not they would come to another exhibit of yours. Using this feedback, you can better understand what your fan-base does and does not like. Producing new and better material is easier once you have an idea of what your audience expects of you. In this way, you can keep their interest, build on your strengths, and even surprise them with different and fresh ideas.
All in all, properly exhibiting your work as a photographer can be a rewarding, life changing experience. You can grow and shape your potential in so many ways with the help of an experienced curator, savvy social media and organisation skills, and a loyal and broad audience. Your photography is unique, original, and special, it should definitely be shared with the world in a creative and effective way.