Been lurking for 4-6 months. Time to intro myself since I want to now ask questions!
I'll be hanging out I expect in the Photographers Darkroom (yep, did that B&W darkroom stuff. I can still smell the stop bath, acetic acid)
About me: Was a IT Director for an oil company that got bought out. Took golden parachute & retired very early. Besides other endeavors (consulting, web sites, beer brewing, ...), I decided to step up my photography passion I've had since high school (Chicago area).
In the film era, I did model portfolios, weddings (with an RB67-Pro!!), some product stuff, etc, etc.. I have 2 Canon F1's and an Mamiya RB67 medium format if anyone wants a deal!
Besides many years of advanced point & shoot digitals, I finally sprung for a full frame Canon 5D/II about 3 years ago. And off I went!! The passion returned big time.
So I have been doing portraits, interiors, architectural, food, events, etc... for real $ (not big, but real) and personal stuff. Most can be seen on my web site.
But now time to make the jump & try to sell at a small show (have a few online also & to friends). My plan is to do something local & simple. Get my feet on the ground with matting, framing, using the phone credit card scanner, putting up grid walls, etc. See if people like my stuff. There are some local trade days (big crowds!) ones that are a step or 2 above a garage sale. Got to start somewhere. I have had archival Giclee canvas & Giclee art paper prints made. A few metal. Mats & Frames stacked in my studio.
From reading discussion here I've found Frame Destination. Nice since they are about 3 miles from my wife's office! Very handy. Pick up, no shipping $!!
Enough rambling. Just here to say... hi all. I'll be asking questions to try to glean some experience from you show circuit pros.
Regards
Mike
Replies
Welcome to the business, Mike. I'll take that Mamiya off your hands :) Whoops -- there is already one in our darkroom.
I know you'll glean lots of info from this site and you're smart to start off at a small event but do put it on your calendar to attend one of the top Texas shows just to really get an education in the business, Fort Worth, Bayou City, The Woodlands -- traveling to and fro counts as a business expense and it will take your thinking to another level. Best wishes.
Welcome aboard, Mike. I was once a pro photog when we lived at Little Rock, AR, but now I handcraft and gild picture frames for my wife's paintings and we live at Kirby, Wyoming. We did a little western themed show way back in the late 1990's at Stamford, TX, and since we still drive through the area every now and then we love staying the night in that great new La Quinta at Dumas, TX. Those places close to you? We drive our goodies to Florida twice a year for shows there so sometimes we come through Texas. We've kinda sworn off of those Texas shows, even the big ones. They're a bit conservative for us, or that's what we think, anyway.
I look forward to seeing your posts in the forums. in the meantime, check us out on our website at merglennstudios dot com. And do you have a website? I'll check it out if you do. WOOHOO!
EDIT: I see you say you're from north Dallas, not north Texas. So heck, I woulda asked if you're about to do that Frisco show. We did it once and probably won't again.
website also in my profile. But here it is: http://goo.gl/1FtX3
Thanks for asking.
Hello MIke and welcome to our group. We are glad that you have joined us. Have you set up a show schedule yet? Have you applied to any shows yet? I look forward to seeing you around here with your questions.
Not ready for REAL shows yet. Going to try this local one (oldest trade days in Texas) first. 10 miles from my house, no judging, $70 covered booth fee (don't have a tent yet), monthly, BIG crowds, some nice stuff there, etc...
I have been to several real art shows last year as a consumer and paid attention to a lot of the detail in the photographer booths.
Thanks for the welcome....