Market Research - Professional Practice

What to do with the final image is the hardest part of the Professional Practice assignment. The type of photography that both interests me and that I produce falls into the fine art category. This is arguably the hardest to break into. When researching the market for fine art photography the photographer has two main choices. To sell at a low cost but higher sales in small local galleries, or high cost but low sales in large city galleries. The smaller galleries offer a better chance of work being carried but also carry the stigma of labelling the photographer as a lower worth (not personally). Large galleries are nigh on impossible to carry your work unless you have a reputation.

Other avenues open for the fine art photographer are large establishments such as hospitals, hotels or office complexes. Target any new build, find out who the facilities buyer is and ask for an appointment. All new buildings will carry some form of pictures whether that paints or photography. Find out who is the decisions maker for purchase and make contact.

Agents are another way the photographer can get images carried in both galleries and large establishments. They will take a commission for every image sold but have an array of contacts. There are a number of good agents around the UK and for the really proactive photographer look at the USA.

Winning competitions is probably one of if not the best way into all that I have described above. Winning or being placed in one of the many national or international competitions opens all kinds of doors for you. This is why entry is so high and  quality is so good.

The other avenue is education. As photographers I feel we have a responsibility to part with our knowledge  to the next generation. Although there will be a small number who are interested in the alternative practices of yesteryear, we must  keep the candle burning before they become lost to us all. Arguably alternative practices still provide some of the best fine art photography produced, and definitely the accidental master piece!