PHOT-349: Marketing Photography

What is required to succeed in the fast changing marketplace for commercial and fine art photography? It is no secret that good luck needs good preparation. You need to know the business and how to research your audience. Hard work combined with your talent and education will take you to where you want to be in five years. But there are no shortcuts, a career does not happen without focus and commitment. The class helps you articulate and actualize your five-year plan. We research financial resources to fund personal projects including grants, awards and competitions. We discuss strategies to build your reputation in the fine art and the commercial world by committing to portfolio reviews. We discuss if, why, when and how to publish a book, and how to develop a revenue in print sales and commercial licenses. Most importantly everyone needs a focused marketing strategy thru social media, print and email. Finding your audience is your primary goal and we review commercially available lists and research your own dream client list. We will practice Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) using pictures, photographs and our own work. These exercises help us understand how others read and interpret our work and form the basis of conversation with a wider community of photographers and curators. Guest speakers will talk about developing personal projects, portfolio reviews, and career options. Course work will include two shooting assignments, grant writing, editing and research projects. The syllabus will be reflective of the needs and specific trajectories of individual students.