Your Checklist: How to Get the Most Out of Exhibiting Your Work - Part 2 -

Three Edge Group Exhibition 2025

presenting, pricing & professional partnerships

3. Solo vs Group Exhibitions

One key decision when planning an exhibition is whether to go solo or join a group show. Both options offer great benefits, it just depends on your goals, time, budget, gallery, and where you are in your creative career.

Solo Exhibitions
A solo show gives you full creative control and space to present a cohesive body of work. It’s a powerful way to establish your artistic voice, credibility, sales and deepen your connection with your audience. The trade-off? This is very dependent on the gallery, but you can take on all the responsibilities and event management such as securing the venue, logistics, installation, curating, budgeting, sourcing printing & framing, marketing and sole bearer of the costs and any problems that arise. 

Group Exhibitions
Group shows share the workload and the spotlight. They’re great for networking, gaining exposure to new audiences, and being part of a wider creative conversation. But the focus is spread across multiple artists, so your work may not get the same level of attention as it would in a solo setting. Responsibilities and costs are shared, allowing you to concentrate on maximising your experience and enjoying it.

Your decision should align with your goals, budget and resources you have available. 

4. Present Professionally

Regardless of a solo or group exhibition, how your work is presented affects its perceived value.
Printing and framing matter. The right paper, frame, glazing, and matboard choice, takes your work to the next level and communicates value and professionalism.

Printing

Choose a paper that enhances the image - matte, lustre/pearl, metallic, semi-gloss, baryta all convey different moods and colour so select one that supports your artistic vision. Do your test prints on your short list of papers and take a look at the white space around the image to easily see if it’s a warm or cool colour. this colour base will affect the look of your image.

Framing for Exhibitions

Framing plays a crucial role in how your work is experienced in a gallery setting. Choose frames that support the artwork without overpowering it. Go for neutrals, clean contemporary lines, and cohesive styles.  You can certainly mix and match frames within a show, as long as there is an element which unifies them bringing that cohesion. White frames are currently popular for interiors, allowing the image to have a floating look on the wall which is void of any other distraction. But framing to the image will ensure a winner in any setting. 

Make sure you don’t overlook the glazing. The type of glass you choose has a big impact on presentation and viewing. Artglass is an excellent option for exhibitions, offering reflection-free clarity that allows viewers to engage with the artwork without glare or distraction. It also brings out colours and contrasts in the work and offers UV protection all which are attractive selling points for your customer.  

To matboard or not to matboard, is dependent on how you are positioning your style. The matboard acts as a barrier between print and glass so without it you still need a spacer bar making the costs with or without comparable. Both require a 5mm overlay onto the print, so it really does come down to aesthetics. Full bleed images can look contemporary and impactful, whilst large matboard borders can present timeless and classic work that can ‘breathe’ in the space. 

If any sold artworks require transporting, then acrylic is a must to avoid any costly breakages which aren’t generally covered by the courier companies. The standard of acrylic varies greatly from a budget glazing to Museum grade clarity and UV protection.

Have your framer install d-rings a ¼ down from the top so it hangs nicely on the gallery hanging system. Also have wire installed for your customer in mind. 

Make sure you don’t leave printing and framing to the last minute, get in touch with your Framer and Printer well in advance to chat about their lead times.  

Descriptions

Label description, QR code and price clearly, it signals professionalism and buyer confidence.

Tip: Your framing and printing choices reflect your artistic brand and how you want your work to be perceived.

5. How Do I Price My Work

Pricing can be a mine-field for photographers starting out until you have gauged your place in the market. The key is to balance fair value, your time, experience/reputation, presentation costs, and perceived worth.

Here are a few guidelines:

• Cover your costs – Include printing, framing, gallery fees or commissions, and a fair margin for your creative labour.
  Know your market – Research what similar work sells for in your region or genre.
  Don’t undervalue yourself – Low pricing can cheapen your work. Confident, consistent pricing signals quality.
  Offer different sizes or editions – Limited editions (e.g. 10 prints) or smaller formats can make your work accessible to a wider audience while maintaining exclusivity.

Value Your Relationships with Your Suppliers

Your printer, framer, and gallery are part of your creative team. Strong partnerships mean you have trusted people who care about your work and will help if things go wrong whether it’s a damaged print or a last-minute framing deadline where you have needed to pivot. Most framers and printers are there for the arts community and will support artists with wholesale rates and branding support in social media posts to help with selling. A strong relationship with your supplier goes far and it will give you consistency and peace of mind, knowing your work will always be presented at its best.
Jumping between suppliers for a small saving which is often absorbed into the retail price, sometimes costs more in the long run.

Tip: A buyer isn’t just purchasing a print, they’re buying your vision, your story, and the emotion it evokes for them.

6. Engage With Visitors

You are part of the exhibition experience. Be approachable and talk about your work naturally, it is your story and people are fascinated by your process, challenges and inspiration behind the shot. People connect with authenticity, not a sales pitch. Often, a buyer invests in the person behind the image as much as the print itself.

Share your story and engage visitors through artist talks or Q&A sessions to deepen connections. Other photographers and enthusiasts find your story on how your photography evolved fascinating. 

Tip: If it doesn’t come naturally to you, have a few short sentences ready to describe your work, and hand out small postcard-style cards with an image and your website or Instagram. These keep you memorable without needing costly giveaways. Visitors love them!

Part 3 Coming soon – promoting, growing and reflection