Julia Veenstra is an accomplished Hamilton visual artist with plenty of experience working with photographers and other professionals to ensure her paintings are reflected in their best light - a tactic which has seen increased inquiries about her work, more studio visits, and more sales. This guest-authored blog post is essential reading for all participants in this coming Sunday's Etsy Me! And it's not too late to register for a spot: visit the Etsy Me! page for details.
As an artist, it is good to record the images that you create. For many reasons this is a good idea, even if you are only interested in having a reference for your own growth. However, having quality images will help you with applications to juried shows, as well as allow you to print and reproduce an image. Having photos professionally photographed is a step that serious artists must consider. Photos that do not show well are a detriment to your business. You want to put your best foot forward, and only present to the public the very best representation of your hard work. There is a cost to this, and it is daunting at the beginning to take this step.
I thought that I didn’t need professional photos for a long time. After all, I had a good camera, and I knew how to adjust things in Photoshop. I was afraid to invest and spend my money on something not proven to me to be worthwhile. As a result, my website had images that were not lit well and a little dull compared to the originals. Even if I tried shooting the picture outside on a sunny day, I could not get by myself, without the special gear a professional uses, a quality image. I was amazed at how different the professionally photographed work looked on my computer screen!
I found that though my site did generate interest, I rarely sold a piece that was available unless the person interested saw the original. After I jumped into the world of professional photography, I found that that changed. Almost within a month of loading up the first set of professionally done photos, I received an invitation from an agent who now represents me in seven new galleries. One of his comments was that my work had changed recently, and he loved that change. I had to admit that the work, although always evolving, had just been professionally photographed. That had made all the difference. Many friends and clients also mentioned how great the website looked, and that they loved my “latest” works. I now find that clients can trust that the image on my site accurately reflects the original, and my online sales have dramatically increased.
I have also gained entrance to coveted juried art shows because of the quality of my portfolio. Juries look for clear and quality representation. They also may use your image in their advertising if the piece is of reproduction quality. Recently, I was accepted into The Artist Project, and they used one of my paintings as the header for their online presence. That was a very exciting honour, and I was thrilled to send clients to their website where my work was featured! Again, credibility!
Recently, I had a project that I worked on photographed by Jeff Tessier (he does all my work), and it was used in the Christmas edition of Canadian Living Magazine, as well as on the website for that project, www.wildhope.ca. The photos were great and showed so well. My sales for that project were increased dramatically. My website has added credibility to my work. I now desire to only show my work at its best, either in person at my new studio/gallery at 167 James Street North, or online. Maybe someday a book!
The cost must be factored into the production of the piece. Count the cost. Spend the money. Include the price of having the piece photographed into your initial expenses for creating the piece. Include it in your pricing, and make back the money.
My journey as an artist has been one of many steps. For a long time, I worked from my home, working on my dining room table, cleaning up for dinner, etc. When I took the leap to renting a dedicated studio space where people could find me in a professional setting, it allowed my career to flourish. I have been ``found`` by individual clients and galleries on James Street North art crawls. Working hard and consistently allowed me to develop my style and brand, a brand I am proud of. Having my work photographed professionally was another step in this journey. When I work hard and am proud of what I produce, presenting it online on my website at its best is no longer just an option. It must factor in as a budget line for my creative business.
Take the risk. It is worth it! Your results will be tangible.
Thanks, Julia!
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