The Magic of Craft Fairs
Sharing my photography artwork is extremely important to me, I see it as one of the latter parts of a complete end-to-end process from planning, capture, editing, sharing and selling. I can’t imagine taking hundreds of images only to leave them to languish on a miscellaneous hard drive somewhere in the attic. The end of the process for me is to advertise and sell my photography in whatever way I can. That’s not to say I think I take the most fantastic images in the world but more a validation of my progress (or not) as a photographer.
Although I ‘sell’ my artwork on this website, I really can’t say it is very successful given my lack of sales so far, I am guessing that people just don’t buy pictures off the internet, I think artwork is more touchy feely than that. I have also tried to drop my card in to local hotels, in the hope that perhaps they need artwork to decorate their communal walls or bedrooms, again no success yet.
On the much more positive side I have managed to sell multiple times at craft fairs, these are smaller intimate gatherings in village or town halls on Saturdays and Sundays, I think people turn up with a curious mind and are ready to part with their hard-earned cash if they see something they like.
I have found that local images sell best, people are not so interested in a picture of a beautiful scene in Scotland if the Craft Fair is located in Swindon! From my experience, I think people buy mainly on ‘association’. Do they know the location? Have they been there with their family or a dear friend? Did their husband propose to them at this place?
Another approach, which also works is abstract photography, see the lone tree photo, my best-seller, this image exudes tranquillity, serenity and a general sense of calm, it doesn’t really matter that it was taken in Llanberis near Snowdon in Wales, most people have no association with Llanberis.
Craft Fairs provide a great opportunity to chat to the public, whether they purchase one of my images or not, people often want to know how and when the picture was taken and what challenges I had in capturing the ‘perfect’ image.
I have a monthly Saturday stall at Cirencester in England and sell at many other more local events, Cirencester is not only good for local folks but also attracts international visitors on holidays which is fantastic.
I must say I feel a huge sense of pride and excitement when someone buys one of my images, the idea that someone thinks my photography is good enough to buy and hang in their home is immensely satisfying and very humbling.
Hope to see you at a craft fair in the future.