Do you enjoy photography and are you ready for a real challenge? Perhaps organizing a photo exhibition is something for you. Not only is it great fun to do, it will also get you a lot of exposure. Want to know how to get started? Then read this article. Spoiler alert: it really is a lot of work!
Photo exhibitions are actually found in just about every community. In museums, libraries, parks, train stations, art galleries, cafes, restaurants and much more. You name it, there are works by photographers on display.
Still, a tremendous amount of preparation creeps into it, but it is worth the investment. There is a good chance that a new audience will get to know your work and that afterwards you will be asked more often for commissions, be able to sell your works or be asked to exhibit elsewhere.
What do you need to do to organize a photo exhibition?
I cannot give you an exact step-by-step plan, because how you do it is entirely up to you! But here are a dozen tips to help you make your photo exhibition a success.
Tip 1: Why are you going to exhibit?
Is your goal to sell work, expand your reach or just show off your works to your wide circle of acquaintances? That’s totally fine. You can organize an exhibition as professionally or non-professionally as you like.
Do you have a commercial goal? If so, include that in the next steps. It can greatly influence the choice of works, materials and location.
Tip 2: Are you exhibiting alone or in a group?
I speak from experience: organizing an exhibition in a group is so much easier than going it alone! If you choose to do everything yourself, take a few weeks or months to prepare everything properly.
If you do it in a group, you can divide the tasks among yourselves. It’s convenient to spread the work out over weeks or months, that way you have less stress as a group and it can stay fun. My experience is that group exhibitions are very good for the team building and team spirit of a group of photographers!
Tip 3: What are you going to show?
Of course, of course, you show only your best works. This can be a combination of singles, works that stand alone and can convey something very powerful as an image. You can also choose to show a series of photographs. These can be a few, but also dozens, or even hundreds.
If you go for a series, try to make sure that there is a clear coherence visible. You can sometimes find this in the mood of the photos, in the finish, in the style or simply in the theme.
Are you going to exhibit street photos? Find out here whether you may publish photos of anyone and everyone.
Tip 4: Where will you exhibit?
Earlier in this article, I wrote about where you can exhibit like this. If you go for a gallery, museum or cultural center, then you might have the space and a lot of light. If you go for a school, for example, then you’re going to have a lot less space because school buildings are often full of equipment.
The choice of location also affects the material: if you exhibit outdoors, you need stronger material than indoors. Or if you are hanging works in a building where soccer games are also watched, try to take into account that fragile works can fall. Again, I unfortunately speak from experience and I would be only too happy to spare you that!
Tip 5: What will your exhibition look like?
Once you know which works you are going to show and where you are going to exhibit, you can start to examine how you want the whole thing to come across. You can easily create a simulation in Photoshop: where do you hang which work and how much spacing do you leave between photos?
As for spacing, if the works hang too close together the whole thing can appear quite crowded. That’s a choice you can make. You can also opt to leave more space between the pictures. That way you create a more peaceful atmosphere.
Tip 6: What material will you use?
Of course, this has mainly to do with the choice of works, the location, your budget and your personal preference. For example, I prefer not to exhibit in frames (or “kaders” as they say in Belgium), because that usually involves reflective glass which prevents me from seeing a photograph properly.
If you exhibit outside, then really choose a strong material that can last for a while. If you choose indoors, then you can choose simpler materials, such as on aluminum(dibond) or just on Capafix, a sturdier material like foam board. And should you want to sell photos: think about how you want to display the prices. Via QR codes or rather via signs?
Do you need to crop your photos because of frames or frames? Read here how to crop photos.
Tip 7: How do you get your photos printed?
You can choose to print your photos yourself, but you will need professional printing equipment. If you outsource this, find a good photo lab in your area that can help you really well. Be sure to make an appointment to discuss your options, get a quote and ask for proofs.
If you don’t print yourself, find a printer in good time. Even in big cities like Brussels, despite the relatively large supply, it is difficult to ask a photo lab last minute to make a series of prints for your expo. Furthermore, laboratories operate online and there I notice that the quality can vary from one provider to another.
Tip 8: How do you submit photos?
If you outsource printing to a lab, ask for upload requirements. This is often expressed in file type, number of pixels and color profile. In terms of color profile, they often work with (s)RGB, the type of file depends on the printer and the number of pixels on the size of your work. So discuss this clearly with your printer.
Should you want to do the printing yourself, make sure you have sufficient knowledge. If you don’t have it, look for a specialist. For example, I outsource the printing of my photos and always ask a printer about the minimum and maximum upload requirements.
Tip 9: How do you advertise your photo exhibit?
For starters, make use of social media. Herein lies the power of repetition: the more often people see it, the better they know you are organizing something.
In addition, you can create a press release and forward it to local actors, such as cultural institutions and regional press. Who knows, you might even land an interview with a local magazine. And should you have the budget, design cool posters that you can display in quite a few places in your village or town. Tip: find out or ask in advance if you are allowed to put it up somewhere, there are strict laws about this nowadays.
Be careful with large photo files: they slow down websites, making them less durable. Are your photo files too large for social media or posters? Read here how to shrink your photos.
Tip 10: Ask for help with construction
Do you have everything for the exhibition? Great, because then you can get started! Once you arrive on site, it turns out you have some work to do. You may need to measure and drill holes in the wall. If, like me, you’re all thums , I recommend asking if the local community or cultural center, where you are exhibiting, has a concierge or handyman who can help you with this. Really saves an enormous amount of time!
Tip 11: To organize an exhibition opening or opening reception or not?
Nothing like a celebratory opening. Invite people over, have a speaker on the theme of the exhibition (a local politician or a fellow photographer) and provide snacks and drinks. In the Netherlands this is called a reception, in Belgium a vernissage. Some Belgian photographers are so festive that they organize not only a vernissage, but also a finissage or end party!
Tip 12: How to connect with your audience.
At an opening party, it is very easy to connect with your visitors. You talk to each other and expand your network. If you exhibit in group, you also have the opportunity to organize daily permanence and make new contacts. If you stand alone, you probably won’t have that opportunity. To maintain contact with your audience, you can ask them to leave their e-mail address somewhere (via QR code or on paper) or have them write something in a guest book. You can also ask them to share their visit to your expo on social media and start following you online.
I wish you much success in organizing your photo exhibition! Are you curious where my works have already hung? Then take a look at my fine art photograhy website.
Article updated January 4, 2025.