Fine Art Photography
I love exhibiting my work. I love having a project or a theme and building a body of work within that theme with the end result of a show! The first time I exhibited my work was in 1993 and I’ve been passionate to continue with exhibitions since.
I’ve done 5 exhibitions total. My first was a solo show in Los Angeles with the then unknown 16 year old Monet Mazur. Monet has gone on to become an accomplished actress. But back then, she was a teenage model with Ford and testing and working her way up the ranks. We hit it off and I shot with her many times. But I had this idea with her and she was game and we got together and pulled off the 16 images that ended up in the show in one day! I had this idea of Monet being somewhat “Lolita-esque”. She was very sensual, even at her young age and she just oozed personality. Looking back I can see why she has become the success she is. The show had some nudes of her which deemed it “risque”. And The Hollywood Elite loved it! I had a signed model release from her mother, who attended the show and bought one of the photographs, so I covered myself on the legal end. The show was a success because it drew a lot of attention. There are two ways you can judge if a show is successful or not: money or press. Or both. This show didn’t reap in the dollars but it got a lot of press and I was able to show it in Sydney, Australia where I moved to shortly after this first show in LA.
My second and third show were both in Sydney. I did a series of street people in Sydney, black and white and very photo-documentary style. The third show was an expose of my commercial fashion work. These two shows were highly unsuccessful, earning no money and getting zero press!
In 2005, I had my fourth show. Living back in my home town of Los Angeles, I exhibited a series of young, hot rock and roll boys, the show aptly naming itself “The Boys Collection”. The gallery was gorgeous and I had a turn out of over 700 people. I sold 5 pieces on the opening night and was filmed by Fashion TV. Wire image was there photographing the mass celebrity turn out and I was extremely happy with the end results from this show. The recognition led to private showings in elite showrooms and private lounge parties across LA for several months afterwards and the framed pieces continued to sell. My last two shows were in Miami this past February and March. While it earned a significant amount of press, I only had one sale from it. It was a huge disappointment for me because the gallery owner actually took the images, reprinted them large and remounted them in plexiglass. The “Boys” looked amazing!! What continues to baffle me is the amount of abuse I (still) get from this show. Which goes to show you that sexism still exists. While my photographs of a naked young women get hardly a bat of an eye, my “Boys” were deemed border line pornographic (there were no nudes) and I was accused of all sorts of wonderful things! I’ll let you use your imagination on this one! It was marketed largely to the gay community which I am in total support of, but even some of my gay viewers had issues with some of it because the boys were youngish looking and not beefcake super heroes. However, they say there’s no such thing as bad press and I totally agree! While the Miami New Times devoted an entire full page to bashing me, it still devoted that entire page to me and that led to getting all kinds of great press in other cities’ newspapers. The show continues to sell privately and I look back with fondness on the years it took to shoot and the months it took to prepare. I met some incredible young men in NYC and LA while casting for the shoot. The experience was nothing short of absolutely incredible.
“The Boy’s Collection” Miami Opening at the In-Dependent Gallery
“The Boy’s Collection” Los Angeles, at the 626 Gallery
I choose to have a side project going on now because my fine art often times “saves” me from the day to day struggles that accompany commercial fashion photography. I don’t choose a subject or a theme that I hope will be accepted by the norm out there. I don’t care how the work is going to be perceived. In other words, I shoot what I want with my fine art. I mean, isn’t that the point? Yes, I grow tired of being told what or how to shoot. When the client is paying me, though, I am happy to do as I’m told. But indeed I have a side that needs to be expressed too and my fine art photography allows me to do this!
If you think you’d like to exhibit your photography, you might want to stick to this strategy:
- Find a subject matter that you want to shoot and stick to that theme. Whether it’s Wildlife or Art Nudes, pick a theme and stick with it.
- Figure out how many pieces you want to show in your exhibit and start shooting to build a body of work.
- Give yourself a “due date”. When do you want to be exhibiting by? Give yourself a schedule and try to complete your work within that time frame.
- Start looking at galleries that you’d like to exhibit in. Or maybe you’d rather do a one night launch party at a local club or coffeehouse. Find your market and your niche and start researching the venues you think would be appropriate to show your work.
- As you build your body of work, start showing the pieces to your friends. Get feedback. Start editing the body of work down so your best pieces are the only ones left.
- Figure out how you’re going to print and frame your photographs. I researched paper stock for a month before settling on a brand of paper. And then start talking to framers and getting estimates on how much it is going to cost you to frame your photographs. Of course, this task includes figuring out what size you want to enlarge your photographs.
- Look into getting a small PR firm to help you market your show. It costs a few bucks, but it is so worth it. Your PR firm can get you interviewed by local papers, get email blasts out, get influential people invited to your show. They can even help get sponsors who will put a little money into the event.
- Keep your expectations of fame and fortune tuned low and try to enjoy the process of building the body of work. When I look back over the exhibits I’ve done, it wasn’t the opening night or the actual show that I remember most. It was the experiences I had shooting for it. The attention and money you can potentially receive from doing a show should be the icing on the cake.
Hi
thanks for these tips. I’ve a question (if possible): how did you manage the legal aspects of your second show (the one about street people in Sydney)? Did you need a release from people you take picture of?
Thanks a lot.
Ciao
PS: Most of the photos of “The Boy’s collection” is fantastic and innovative. Probably I won’t buy them (well, probably I simply cannot afford them!) but the photo of the boy with the fur coat is simply gorgeous.
Ciao
WOW! I am absolutely mesmerized by The Boys Collection – in particular the image above that you’ve included, the boy with the cigarette – I LOVE that piece! And the one of the boy on the couch with the flare. FANTASTIC! I would love to watch you work in studio as in studio lighting seems to be my weakness right now.
I have my first show on Thanksgiving Eve in Detroit – the show is at a club, female artists and bands only. And my whole collection is based on the mysteries/appeal of a woman. I’m super excited about it! Michelle and I have talked about all of the wonderful shows we can hold in our studio once its finished!
Once again, a truly interesting and informative read! I look forward to your posts! Thanks for sharing!
This is a very inspiring article to me. Thanks so much for sharing!
KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU LOVE!
Well, Melissa, yet another wonderful and inspiring post – thank you. You well know my toughts on the Boys Collection – it is both aesthetically brialliant and intellectually stimulating – I love the edginess and complexity of your vision. For anyone who hasn’t followed the link on the Blog to this collection, I HIGHLY recommend you do. I totally agree with your continung statements about finding and developing one’s own unique EYE and VISION … it is this task that distinguishes the artist, and you are indeed an ARTIST.
I very much look forward to your development of the new project!
Melissa,
I just love to read your good advise for every photographers that we are (or try to be…). I love your work. I have to admit that The Boys Collection is not the way I like to see other men. They seems to be androgynes … The quality of those pictures is, as usual, stunning, but I prefer to see men with moore testosterone …
xxx
Jean
Great article. I’ve exhibited once in Phoenix, AZ just by accident, and have been wanting to do it again. Your blog was exactly what I needed to point me in the right direction.
Thanx,
Daniel
Melisa, great article and inspiration for me.
I very appreciate you share your experience with other people – priceless.
Regards Jan
great article. you answered some question i have had for a long time. I have been thinking of booking a book and very small show of images along with the poetry of a bright young lady i have been working with.
Keep going and PLEASE keep blogging. All these post are so inspiring. I could read a new one everyday.
Thank you.
Big fan of the blog. This article inspired me to look into putting some of my work out for gallery.
WOW congratulations
Hope to see you soon in Sri Lanka
Hi Melissa,
My first comment on this blog so I will start by sincere congratulations for your highly informative posts.
One question on this last post on photo exhibition: from your personnal experience, how efficient is the agent / “PR firm” in the organization of the event? And also, how do you approach galleries? How do you do it to get your work on their walls?
Keep up good work!
I like very much your work! Congratulations
Cassio
(from Brazil)
Let’s see if I can answer some of the questions here:
Giovanni it’s always best to try to get model releases from anyone you’re going to shoot that you think you may use in the future. Even if it’s just for your book or for a show. I know it’s hard to get random stranger’s to sign releases. And for the most part, you’re probably okay if you don’t. But there’s always the chance they can come back to you and say that they didn’t give you permission to shoot them. This only happens, of course, if the picture becomes known and/or you make money from the image. So “try” to get releases.
Mathieu: the PR firms help with getting you press. And they can help with the organization but the more they do for you, the more they charge. If they help with the opening party and help with getting you the venue, the price is steep. If you just want them to get the word out and try to get published in newspapers and magazines, then they can just target that area of PR. I have a love/hate of PR firms. They charge a lot of money and I get a little put off by that. BUT, they have connections to media that I simply just don’t. They have inside relationships with critics and reporters, editors and writers that I don’t have which can make or break a show.
Quentin: I love your presence on my blog and could hear from you all the time! I hope you get the poetry/photography show up! Let me know if you do. And everyone else, thanks for such sweet and encouraging comments!
really am loving your blog, its very warm and friendly too.
x
I am so excited about discovering your blog! I have already learned a lot and your work is very inspiring. Great write up. Thank you
Thank you very much for this great post! (and all others
)
It really is very informative to read your blog.
I will write down a lot of your tips, because I am sure they are helpful in the future!
Cheers Jeroen
Congratulations on your work
besos
[...] into landing your first exhibition? Here’s some great guidelines on exhibiting [...]
Love the insight you give to the world of exhibiting your work. I am in the process of doing exactlly that. Thanks Melissa.
first off wow! wish I could have attended! I would like to know what were these pieces printed on, I’ve always wanted to do something like that for shows or even displays here at home. It’s really funny how society is about male models in photography, a female nude draws attention yea but try that with a nude male and you’ll have everyone on your case
Great post Melissa. I think we all need a side project to be able to creatively express and explore our craft. Your insight and tips are a great inspiration to take the idea and body of work out to the public eye.
[...] way to go if you’re considering exhibiting your work, like I talked about in my post about Exhibiting your Photography. It’s also a great idea to offer clients that want to go the extra step and have a nice sized [...]
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Hallo,
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Vielleicht gibt es ja auch evtl. die Möglichkeit einer Mit/ bzw. Zusammenarbeit…
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[...] you liked this post you may also like: Genlux Editorial Art Issue – Video Exhibiting Your Photography Styling and Fashion Photography [...]
Congratulations, must be a great exhibition keep up the good work
Terrific article, wish I had read it sooner! I am currently exhibiting 13 pieces just for viewing at a small local gallery and after reading your article I realized I had made a huge ‘mistake’ by mixing and matching themes! I have both Architectural and Nature images intermixed, worse, I have both color and B+W as well!! that should teach me, I have another exhibit scheduled for this summer and I won’t repeat this mistake. Its funny because this is my third solo exhibit (4th if one counts a group effort for a benefit sale of which two of my images sold rather well). I am also heeding your advice and contacting a PR firm that’s a great idea in these times.
Wishing you continued success.
Peter.
Really beautiful.
God has presented you a special talent.
Have only found your blog very recently, and have been sat reading it for the last few hours.
This article is so very inspiring, and just gave me the push I needed to contact a local club about exhibiting a body of work i’ve been shooting over the last year and a half.
Thanks, I can see this was a great site to stumble upon!!
Really cool!
Melissa…that first shot of you by the model smoking…is that a 24 inch tall print? Did you get the print form your D2X?
Thanks.
AMAZING.
I just discovered your blog today I really needed that!!
MANY THANKS!!
The Black and Whites are my favorite.
Great post! Men’s fashion is really taking off lately.
I like the black and white photo of girl.
It’s beautiful and elegant.
congratulations on ur success… seems all the hard work and detail you put in has really paid off…
Hi,
This is random but I noticed you’re using Aweber’s blog broadcast…have you seen http://feedmailpro.com? You might like it.
Hope it helps,
Brian
EXCELLENT tips and article Melissa. I’m doing an exhibit in NYC this Friday and this solidified some of the feelings that I’m having! I have no expectations, only that I enjoy it and take away a good energy from it!
Thanks – and LOVE your work!!!
G
very very good.
congratulation.
kazem greed >>> IRAN
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