So you’re at the stage where you are wanting to sell your work.  Perhaps like me you have a Facebook Page or website already, but as we know it takes a while to get known and drive traffic to your site and you may be thinking of selling prints through galleries.  First do a little research, visit different galleries to see what they sell, if they have any photographers already with them, or which photographers they already sell on behalf of.  Think about what sort of customers they have or market towards.  For example in my town we have two main galleries, one is very upmarket “Art” gallery the other a gallery & gift shop.  I decided to go for the Gallery / Gift store first, but rather than just turn up in an often busy shop I made sure I knew the name of the owner and rang to find out a time that suited her.  As well as taking some work in I made sure I had some business cards, laminated cards with the title of the work, what it was printed on, framed in, type of glass etc.  This makes it easier for them and also I have my website so we could look at other work rather than me having to print lots of things and risk them not taking them all.   I also made sure what I took in was different to the work of other photographers already in there.  Another really important aspect is when you are doing some research to find out what their commission is (many galleries are around 40%) so you make sure you have a clear idea of what they will need to sell it for so you make enough to cover your costs and then some profit.  This shows you are confident and makes you  easy to deal with.  Take your bank account details so they can transfer the money when pieces sell and make sure you get a receipt for each piece.  If they knock you back on some work, find out what they want and take something else in, or try another place.  Don’t give up easily.

Karen McLeod