A great way to make money as a photographer and get noticed is to have a gallery show. But getting your first art show can be extremely difficult. Galleries spend a lot of money putting a show together. They are less willing to put on a show for a new, unestablished artist. But do not lose hope. It is possible to get a gallery show with persistence and passion. Through hard work and enough patience, you can land your first gallery show and get plenty more in the future.

Get Established

Before you go after a gallery, it would be best to do a bunch of small jobs or even a few big photography jobs. If you have proof that your work has already been bought, the gallery is more likely to show your work. An artist who already has a name for themselves (however small) is less of a risk to the gallery. Also, an artist that has already sold their work will have a higher chance of selling work at an art show. You don’t necessarily need previous work to get a gallery, but having a past list of jobs will certainly help.

Find the Right Gallery

Finding the right gallery is difficult. Most cities will have at least one gallery somewhere, but if you live close enough to the major cities (especially New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago), you’ll have more luck. The more galleries there are, the more room there will be for new artists, and the better chance you’ll have.

When picking out the gallery you want, start small. It is not wise to go after the biggest and best galleries when you have little to no professional work. However, some major galleries do a new-artist spotlight, so it can be useful to keep an eye on them. To start, make a list of the smaller galleries that show work similar to your own. This means visiting the galleries to see what they’re selling.

Meet in Person

It’s not enough to simply call a gallery and hope for the best. Most galleries receive several calls a day and you’re likely to get lost in the shuffle. The best thing to do is to go to the galleries in person and make appointments to meet with the art directors. A lot of galleries will say they don’t accept new artists, but keep trying. The most important thing to do is be polite. Be persistent, but don’t be rude. Most places just want you to prove you’re committed. After you show them a great portfolio that proves you are passionate about your work, you’ll get an interview with an art director about your work.

On a Budget

Some galleries will pay to print and frame your work. However, when you’re starting out, you’ll have to pay for that work yourself. It’s a good idea to get a professional relationship with printers and framers in your area.

Most businesses offer deals on bulk work and by building an artist relationship with them you can sometimes get discounts on supplies. The more work you do with a business the stronger your relationship and the better work they will do for you.

Inventory Versus Show

A lot of times, getting in with a gallery does not guarantee a show. Especially if you’re a new artist and don’t have a lot of stellar pictures to sell. Often your work will sit in the back room as part of the galleries inventory. This work won’t be showcased to the public but will be available for potential buyers.

You won’t make a lot of money and won’t get any critical attention. However, starting out in a small gallery, even just being in the background, will help get you into bigger and better galleries. After some time you might be able to break into a show, or team up with other artists to do a combined show that is less of a risk for the gallery.

Gallery Policy

Before approaching a gallery, check their policies. You can either ask on the phone or check if they have a website with the information. Some galleries only accept new submissions at certain times of the year. It is also important to know whether the gallery has an open or closed policy. With a closed policy, you won’t be able to sell your work through other galleries. With an open policy, you can work with other galleries but your original one will get a cut of the payment. Keep these in mind as you move forward.

Getting a gallery show is an important step in the career of a professional photographer. You won’t always get a spot-light show right away, but starting small is a good step. Make sure to check the policy of the galleries you look at and always try to get an in-person meeting. With enough passion and commitment, you can get a good gallery to show off your work.