Working in the art world in the year 2017 is an interesting place to be. Did I say interesting? I believe I meant a sweaty mosh pit with the majority of people in it not really knowing how to describe what they do, whether it be to family or friends, or more importantly to potential buyers of their work.

The problem I see it can be best set up by a short but very popular conversation that I hear while out and about. Sadly this is as far as many get.

Me meeting someone at an art event or networking event: “ So what is it that you do?
Other person: “I’m a fine art photographer”
Me: “OK cool. What is your subject matter?”
OP: “Nature predominantly, but I’ll shoot architecture and the occasional portrait too”
Me: “…………” The dots in my reply are there because that conversation is fairly much over. The reason it’s over is because there was nothing tantalising, or passionate or energised about the response. The person may have just said they dabbled in this and that for what that answer is worth.

BUT…..If I did know them better….

Let’s dig in a bit and see how we can improve that result for them. If I did know them better I’d give the following advice.
Firstly, everyone who has the ability to go onto Amazon or go into a store and buy a camera can technically call themselves a photographer. Anyone who can go into a craft shop, and buy paint and a canvas can call themselves a painter or an artist too.and if they have created a couple of minimal, or creative pieces in the first month or two and a friend or family member bought one…. sure they can call themselves a professional artist I guess. But that should NOT be how you introduce yourself in a networking situation. The terms “artist” and “photographer” and “fine art photographer” are basic building blocks that do nothing for you more than stick you in a category in my opinion. Stick those descriptions on your website? Sure! Put it on your business card? Absolutely, but do NOT answer the eternal networking event question “so what is it that you do” with the most generic non descriptive version of what it is that you do.

The entire REASON for going to networking events for me is not because I’m lonely. Hell, I’m Australian, I talk a lot, and can talk to a tree if it will listen and I’ve got a beer in my hand. No, I go to networking or art events to network and see other artist's work and also to connect with potential new collectors for MY work.

So what do I call you?

Good question. If you don’t use photographer or fine art photographer, what can you say?

This is where thinking hard about what brought you into this line of work comes into play.

Why did you pick up a camera in the first place? Was it for the love of nature? An emotional connection with the ocean? You were maybe looking for an avenue to communicate with the world by sharing your pictures.

Think hard on why you first got into the photography art world. And then turn it into a one line elevator pitch.

This picture is me with Robert Kennedy Jr at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York and yup that is one of my limited edition pieces behind us that we were auctioning off that night for charity. If I’d walked around that room that night and just answered the “what is it that you do” question by saying I was a fine art photographer, I’d have been one of a 100 probably saying the same thing. Which gets me no where. What did I work out for myself then I hear you ask.

I’m going to answer it using the same exercise I suggested that you put yourself through a couple of paragraphs back. The “why did I get into this in the first place” question. I spent 20 years or so as a professional recording engineer before I picked up a camera. I got into the visual arts for the same reason I got into music. Creativity is something I’m good at and helps me feel complete. As Gary Vaynerchuk so wisely says in more than a few of his videos, talks and articles. Find what you’re good at and then go all in.

I know without a doubt that being creative is my main strength so I concentrated on it. Moving from mixing a record for Creed to shooting landscapes was not a big jump. The process remains the same. Compose the song, compose the shot. Edit the song, do post editing on the shot. Master the song, print the shot. Boom. Same process. If you really want to know about why I picked up a camera though, it was because there is amazing power in a well composed shot. And even more so when you have passion behind the reason you’re taking that shot in the first place. And the same applies to painting. Passion gives it power. You now have to find the reasons you started in the first place so you can communicate them. Anyway…back at Sotheby's….

I’d nudged myself into the present of Robert Kennedy Jr and John Mcenroe to introduce myself. They are now standing in front of me. I have their attention but only just. They meet a lot of people for sure. Mr Kennedy said “So Michael, what is it that brings you here? What is it that you do?”

I replied “After over 20 years as a professional recording engineer working with everyone from Led Zeppelin to The Cure, I picked up a camera a few years ago and now I put my energy into capturing the magic of the ocean and waters of the world, and capturing it in print.”

I told him a 9 second story of the adventures and loves of my life. If I’d had said “I’m a fine art photographer” I don’t think the response I got would have been the same. Especially as the art piece I’d let them auction for the charity was of a desert. (That’s another story)

Try it one day. Try not saying you’re an artist, or a photographer or a painter. Try describing what it is you feel you do. To me saying I’m a photographer just tells someone that I use a camera. It doesn’t say anything more about me, and in that ten seconds that you sometimes have in small or large group to connect with them, giving them passion over a general description will move you forward in the conversation every time.

Using the method above gives you more chance for curiosity to take hold of the person in front of you. Take that opening when it comes and share a bit more on you. Still not with me? Let me use me as an example. You’ve seen my one line explanation above of what I do. When invited by words or body language to go on I usually say something like this:

I am in love with the look and energy of water. I chose water as my main subject. Water speaks to me, it calms me and I feel energized in its presence. And I try to capture that so I can share it. Hearing an art collector or art lover say “Wow” when they are in my Miami gallery never gets old for me. Sends a tingle down my spine every time, and that’s my reward.

I don’t say that because I want to impress them. I say it because that’s my story. It’s my life. I come across very few artists in the world without a passion for their subject.

People do NOT buy art as soon as they hit your site or gallery. They want to click with you AND your work! They want to relate! Share a moment or passion.
Put simply, they buy art because they fall in love with YOU the ARTIST, and that combined with your art IS ALL AMAZING. You have to sell YOU first. Share your passion.

All I’m saying, is FIND the essence of why you do what you do, and use that as your explanation when asked. Trust me when i say that the reactions are so much more positive and as already said, a collector loves you before they love your work. Good luck, and much love.

Oh and here’s the desert shot. This is Requiem. I shot this in the Valley of Fire State Park. The reason I chose to hand this first edition print to the Waterkeepers Alliance is simply because the waters of the world are dwindling. This is the result when there is no water. Beautiful? Absolutely. Able to sustain life? Not so much.

Cheers

Michael

Thanks for taking the time to read this! If you enjoyed this article, please hit that heart button below ❤ It means a lot to me and it helps other people see the story. Feel free to share it with your artist friends too!

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Requiem — A Michael Pearson-Adams Limited Edition Release shot in the Valley of Fire State Park
Michael Pearson-Adams

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Gallery owner, obsessed with creativity, occasional public speaker and OCD entrepreneur. michaelpa.com is my home away from home.

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