Are you a photographer who feels like there's more to life than just Instagram? If you're anything like me, you might be getting a bit tired of the same old routine of posting pictures online, to the point where you're just stockpiling them in your Lightroom catalog. Well, this blog is here to shake things up. So, if you're looking for a fresh way to connect and share, you've found your spot. Let's embark on this adventure together.

Why to Submit Your Photographic Work to Galleries

Having your photography selected in a juried exhibition is a great way to establish yourself as a photographer and can even kick-start a career in the industry. Having your work accepted in galleries helps you gain exposure through the gallery's community engagement and promotion of the exhibition. Not to mention, having work in galleries helps you build your curriculum vitae (CV) – a comprehensive document that details an individual’s educational background, professional experience, achievements, skills, and other qualifications.

How to Find a Gallery

If the thought of submitting your photographic work excites you, you're probably eager to know where to start. The first step is to get a clear understanding on what you're looking for in a gallery. Consider what type of medium does gallery represent the most, if their artists are at a similar career stage to yours, and if the artwork displayed sells for prices you are conferrable with. Essentially, do your homework. Start by researching online and networking with galleries in your area, compiling a list of potential galleries along with their contact info.

Next, focus on building relationships. Make a point of visiting galleries that made your list, and introduce yourself without any immediate expectations. Beginning with smaller, local or regional public and commercial galleries can be a smart move. Engaging with them during events like opening receptions or artist talks is an excellent opportunity to build connections. If attending in person isn't possible, don't worry. You can still make meaningful connections by interacting with the gallery's social media, joining their mailing list, and engaging with their content. Authentic interactions can make a memorable impression.

Remember, there are primarily two types of galleries: public galleries, which are operated for the public's benefit, and commercial (or private) galleries, which focus on selling art. It's important to understand that a commercial gallery will assess the marketability of your work.

After identifying and connecting with galleries, the next step is to look out for Calls for Entry and select your best work to submit.

Selecting Artwork for a Call for Entry

So a gallery that you have established a connection with has Call for Entry that aligns with your work. Nows the time to thoughtfully select the images you would like submit. First start by checking if the call has a specific theme or concept it's focusing on, and make sure your photographs align with the theme. At the same time, try to bring a fresh perspective to the theme to help your work stand out.

Galleries often look for cohesive themes in an artist's work. Reflect on whether your selected images convey a unified artistic voice. It's crucial that each photograph showcases your unique style and vision. Mixing vastly different types of photography, like vibrant landscapes alongside monochrome still lifes or portraits, might not present the unified portfolio that galleries appreciate.

Most Calls for Entry permit submitting between 3 to 5 photographs, and it's common for jurors to select only one or two pieces from any single artist. This selection process emphasizes the importance of curating your submissions carefully to ensure they represent the best and most cohesive aspects of your work.

Breaking Down Submission Guidelines

Most if not all exhibition applications are completed online through a galleries website or through a third party. Every application has submission guidelines. Make sure to read them thoroughly in order to know their desired details about each piece you are submitting (file format, file format title, medium, year, etc). It's important not to skim through the guidelines, missing information can result in an automatic disqualification.

File preparation and filling out the application can take a significant amount of time so it is critical that you do not wait until the last day to submit your work. For this reason, many artists create a professional dossier – a separate document that contains all the commonly asked information required for submissions. If this is completed in advance then all the heavy lifting (writing) is done. So on that note, here are a few common things galleries ask for that you can prepare in advance:

Artist Biography

An artist biography is not much different than a typical biography. It should explore your life with a specific focus on your career as an artist. Including topics like your artistic history, education, work experience and so forth. Focusing primarily on your personal background.

Ideally the biography length would be 120 words, roughly one to two paragraphs. Less is more here so make sure each sentence is jam packed with juicy information. Artist bio’s are traditionally written in the third person. Make sure to state your full name at the top and then follow by your first or last name further in your writing - using pronouns like “he/she” and “they/them”.

If you have trouble getting started writing your bio, try answering the following questions to help you get started:

Where were you born and where are you currently living?
What inspires you as an artist? Explain why?
What is your favorite medium or mix medium? Do you have any unique technical approaches?
Are you self-taught or do you have a degree?
Is your work displayed anywhere?
Do you belong to an art organization?

Artist Statement

An artist statement is different from a biography in that it doesn't focus on your personal background. Rather it is a narrative that explores your creative process, influences, and intentions. It is traditionally written in the first person using statements like “I” and “me” to maintain a casual yet professional tone.

If you have trouble getting started writing your statement, try answering the following questions to help you get started.

How would you introduce and describe your body of work?
Why did you create this type of artwork?
What was your artistic process like?
What special techniques did you employ with creating this work?
Does your work have a specific meaning or message to it?

Image Titles

Create an image title spreadsheet or master document. Create a spreadsheet to track your artwork information. Include columns for the image title, year, medium, dimensions, and file name. Use a consistent naming format that is convention for your digital images. This might look like “YearOfCreation_ImageName_PaperType_ImageSize.jpg”. This helps you and others to identify the artwork easily from the file name alone.

Additional columns can be added to the spreadsheet to include the location of the artwork (e.g., in a gallery, sold, in studio), price, and any other relevant details. Update this regularly. Keep this spreadsheet updated as you create new works or when the status of an artwork changes (e.g., when a piece is sold or goes on exhibition). Besides the technical details, you can also add a column for a short description or statement for each photographic work that can add depth to each image.

By having your work clearly documented helps saves the headache of having to dig through all your work each time you're ready to submit to a gallery.

Photography Outlets: Submitting to Galleries