Have you tried getting your work displayed in coffee shops?

Just wondering if any/many of you all have tried getting your pictures put on display in local cafe's/restaurants?

If so, what has been your expierence with it?

Id like to do this, but im not really sure if my pics are of the right subject matter for this. I do mostly wildlife and sunsets, im thinking more "artistic" or city life pics would prob do better in the coffee shops/etc.

Hmm, I wonder if Tim Hortons would go with this, hehe, I some how doubt it. Perhaps pictures of coffee, hehe.

I've actually been on the other side of this... I used to co-own a small chain of high-end Juice & Smoothie shops (think Starbucks, but healthy), and in a couple of our shops in more trendy areas (downtown Vancouver, Toronto, etc), we frequently displayed local artists, including photographers, in the store...

All you really have to do is first, look for shops that already display work, and see if it's possible for you to "get in line" to do the same, or approach "potential" shops... you'd want to make up a good portfolio, as well as a complete and professional proposal for the store...

So a good portfolio, I dont suppose a photo album with a bunch of 4X6's of each print in it is good enough? :0)

And professional proposal, got any tips? From what I know you usually get an alloted period of time, say a month or 3 months, and you have to provide them with X number of prints at a certain size, im assuming 8X10. The ones you put up in the shop has to be framed and matted, but the ones the shop sells can just be prints and/or matted. Then the shop takes 50% or something of the sales? Im not sure if you give the shop an inventory or if they just pass the orders to you or something. At least this is how I think it works.

I've never created a professional portfolio myself for something like this, but I would make it "prettier" than just a photo album.

As for the proposal, when you're ready, maybe we can all work on one together here? I'd say 50% is too high... maybe 25%. As for sales, I probably wouldn't leave inventory at the store... probably just a business card with your contact info on it (and make sure you have a photograph # on each picture)...

Hehe, for a photograph #, would 2004-07-01-CPF-0001-m2004-07-03 be to long? :0) Right now thats how all my stuff is named. I could create a 2ndary id for the <24 or so images that the shop displays.

This could be a good article in the resource center. :0)

So who gets the business card? Is it just for the store to get ahold of me or for the store to give to the customers? If its for the customeres I assume its the honour system that you actually give the store thier cut.

And how do you mean to make the photo album prettier? More like a scrapbook or just adding extra pages to the album that may have info on each picture?

I would suggest having little business cards either at the cashier or next to the pictures, if possible... leave lots of copies, and the customers can take it... As for the honour system with the store, in the agreement, you might agree to pay them a flat fee or a % of the sales, so that way they don't feel ripped off... I probably wouldn't bring that up off the bat, though... I know for our stores, we didn't charge anything... it makes the store look nice, and makes it look like we support the local community... It's usually just as good for the store as it is for you... so I would start with them doing it for free... if they ask for a cut, then you can work that out on a case by case basis...

And how do you mean to make the photo album prettier? More like a scrapbook or just adding extra pages to the album that may have info on each picture?

Yeah, I'd say more like a scrapbook, but not too frilly... info on each picture, and pricing might be good too...

This is a great idea, I really haven't thought about it.
I might have to go to a bigger town, here everyone thinks that the town photographer is the only guy they can go to and aren't very open minded to anything new!

Don't let that keep you down... you'll never know until you try... and even if you don't sell 1 print, at the very least, it will give you a little exposure and recognition as a photographer. :D It's really a win-win situation.

Perhaps you shoudlnt aproach this as photography, but as art. A person would probably be willing to spend $40us on a picture if they consider it art, but maybe not so much if its considred just a photo. : 0)

So they may want to go to the town photographer for a photo but to someone else for art. :0) Just a thought.

I wasn't thinking of selling prints, just getting some exposure...but I'd rather get exposure somewhere else. It's not worth my time here!
I did go to the art association in my small town but they wanted me to join and pay some fee and I didn't have the money. It's more worth it to me in a place where my work would be more appreciated and I can make more of a profit off of it!!!

Theres this mall, which is kind of like an indoor stripmall here in smalltown Montana. Theres a coffee shop right across from the photo processing place. One of the guys that works at the photo lab has his work on display all over the coffee shop, and to tell you the truth its really not that great at all. Dont be discouraged or shy about approaching this kind of thing. The same photos in the shop have been up on the walls for the past year. I did ask, and nothings been sold. Also the prices on his "art work" are astronomical IMO, 85 for a 8x10! Thats not even framed.

Needless to say, if he can do it so can you :D

Ya, $85 is a bit expensive, prob why he hasnt sold any. Youd think hed clue in after a year of 0 sales. I think I heard $40us for an 8X10 that is matted is a fair price.

I know, personally I feel like its a bit of a rip off, but oh well best of luck to him on that adventure :lol:

It depends on how good you think you are (and others think you are... hehe). $85 isn't that crazy if it's a great shot... but you gotta work your way up to that... your first showing should be filled with fairly cheap photographs, then slowly increase your prices, the more you do (don't start TOO cheap, though)

How cheap is cheap tim?

I forget what site I was on, but some guy was talking about his photography business. At first he listed prints cheaply to encourage buyers. And he got alot of people emailing him and asking questions but not alot of buyers. He then increased his prices and he actually got alot more buyers, people took his work seriously then. And it got rid of those asking a bunch of questions that lead no where.

Im not sure what I would want to charge in town. I would prob ask what hte last person charged and go by that. Im thinking $40 cdn for an 8X10 isnt to bad, american quivalent is $53 or something like that, im not sure if thats a bit to much, for a small town. It only costs $3 to print it and not sure about matting.

You got it the other way around... $40Cdn is about $30 US... and that's about the area I would probably start with... maybe $25US/$35Cdn...

Hehe, I blame not enough good sleep last night. Your right about the currency, but I didint type what I was thinking. I was thinking that $40us would be a good price, but in canada that would be something like $53 cdn which might be to much for canadian coffee shops unless your up to that level.

I wonder how much matting would cost, be cheaper to do it yourself but unless I can take a class this fall on it, I may have to hire a friend to do it. :0). That or buy ready made mattes. A $2 store has some mattes, but not sure if thier 8X10.

Yeah, you can get ready-made mattes for just a couple bucks...

I suggest putting together your portfolio in the most professional way possible. Mine consists of mounted 8x10 prints in a portfolio box, which I got from Light Impressions (http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping)

Another place to think about starting to show your work is in the lobby of local banks. They often hang artwork.

Don't undersell yourself. I started out at about $75 for a mounted print, and $150 for fully framed and matted prints. I now sell my stuff for around $300 a shot. It just depends on a) how good your work is and b)where you're selling it and c) the basic demographics of your area.

People will pay big money in my area for good artwork, photographic and the like. But honestly, I've probably sold more stuff from my website than anything else. A professional looking website is a must.

Which is why I redid mine recently. :lol:

Yeah, good point... demographics are important to remember as well... depending on where you live, you could chrge more or less...

Banks are a good idea, too... just hit the pavement with your portfolio for a couple hours, and I'm sure you'll pull in a contract... ;)

Ive looked up the folio boxes on the site, I wish this stuff was covered in my photography class, hehe.

I seen a folio folder, which looks nice, http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20200&PCR=30000:180000:184000&R=6756

And I found some cases,
Museum case http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20200&PCR=30000:180000:185000&R=5503
Black folio case with white lining http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20200&PCR=30000:180000:181000:181100:181110&R=7815
Black folio case with black lining http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20300&PCR=30000:180000:181000:181200:181210&R=9640
And finally, a limited edition portfolio, which seems to be a higher end folio case. http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20300&PCR=30000:180000:181000:181400&R=4693

Out of all of these I think the one I like is either the folio folder or the 2" black folio case with black lining, although 4" might be a better way to go so it can hold more.

I was just wondering if there is a difference between the folder and case, other than the case being harder. I think I would prefer the folder.

I assume you just place the photographs in it after its been matted? Or is there special things to put it in? I dont really konw much about this area since it was never covered in high school art class or in the college classes ive taken so far.

There was a nice easel for a case but it had no info on it including price. You put it on the one side of the case so you could display the work.

Soopah, what case do you have?

Tim, do you know of a Canadian version of these? Perhaps with a bit better on the price side. :0) Although $25us for the 9X12 or $30us for the 11X14 isnt to bad, although that would be much better if there was no exchange. I assume I would have to go with teh 9X12 if I was using 8X10's, due to the matte?

I wonder how many prints the black folio case can hold, the folder one says 6, so im assuming the 2 inch one is more, maybe double that #. It doesnt say in the description.

Also if it holds matted prints, what do you put on the back side of the matted print if hte matte is just on the front side of the photo?

Sorry for all these questions. :0)

Gerry, I have this one:

http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=20300&PCR=30000:180000:182000:182500&R=3736

I think I have like 12 prints in my case? I'll have to go look. Anyway, I prefer the briefcase look to the folder look. I've had mine for several years, and it's held up just like new. :D

Tim, do you know of a Canadian version of these? Perhaps with a bit better on the price side. :0) Although $25us for the 9X12 or $30us for the 11X14 isnt to bad, although that would be much better if there was no exchange. I assume I would have to go with teh 9X12 if I was using 8X10's, due to the matte?

I'm pretty sure I saw some @ Blacks a couple weeks ago... but I would guess probably a local camera or photography shop would have them or know where to get them from. I would go with 9x12 if you're going to use 8x10's...

Also if it holds matted prints, what do you put on the back side of the matted print if hte matte is just on the front side of the photo?
I would assume a piece of cardboard/paper with some info on the picture on the back... but I think Soopah is more knowledgable about this than I am :oops:

I wouldn't matte the prints. I would just mount them. But that's a matter of personal asethetics. You can do it however you want. I like mounting, but I think matting is acceptable too.

You can have any local frame shop that you trust mount the prints for you. Or, you can attempt to do it yourself. It's not hard to mount, but man, you can really slice yourself up with a matte knife, so I would leave the matting to someone who has a machine. Not that I've practically cut my finger off or anything..... :lol:

In your portfolio, pick maybe 10 or 12 of your best shots to show. Anything you have any doubt about, don't include. Only show your BEST work. Always. ;)

Oh, and as far as the back, I would just put a sticker (like an address lable) with perhaps the title and the date taken. ;)