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As an artist and a show director I know the importance of a good booth photo. Each year I-the show director, am amazed at the wide range of booth photos that people jury with. Many frankly are dreadful.

Since booth photos are such a point of concern might I suggest something I wish all the artists who apply to my show would do.

Take booth shots all during the summer so you will have a good one. Shoot enough and one will turn out stellar.

As an artist to combat the dreadful booth photo and to keep mine fresh, I take photos of my booth at every show I can, each year. I clean up the coffee cups, remove my cc sign, booth sign, name sign. make my husband pull my chair outta there and snap away with a REAL CAMERA. Once I tidy up my booth I can shoot some photos very quickly even with people in the aisle...(tho I skip it, if its crowded) People and fellow artists don't mind 30 secs of interrupted traffic flow if you are polite and well-mannered about it. But don't take longer, imo. Use common sense here and your very best manners.

My recommendations based on what I see in jury images and from the recent NAIA conference from listening to other directors:

1. Take a booth image at every show, so you have several to pick from.

2. First day of a show....watch the ebb and flow of the crowd and how the light is hitting your booth. Try to pick a time when your booth is lit beautifully and the crowds are down. Often early morn or late afternoon works well.

3. Use a REAL camera. Park your cell phone camera's in your pocket.

4. A tripod will help....but not necessary

5. Don't shoot into the sun

6. Clean up your booth of names, small children, friends, booth #"s, your name and/or biz name (or plan on blurring them in photoshop), yourself (yup it happens), ribbons you've won, coffee cups...ie make it all neat and tidy and spiff it up, like you do your home when company comes. 

7. Snap from a variety of angles.

8. KEEP IT REAL. 

9. Do some with the browse bins in place and some without.

10. Try to show all 3 sides of your booth.

11. Shoot it with different set ups.

12. I personally find oriental rugs VERY distractive to a booth image. They jump out and grab all the attention from the art you are trying to showcase. Leave em at home.

13. Keep your booth as the focal point. No need to get the street, the neighbors booths, the lovely tree behind you...(or the porta potties....)

Others....any hints I have forgotton?

Main thing. Keep shooting your booth...so next winter you will have one to jury with.

I hope this is helpful.

Carla