Feedback requested on Booth Shot for Juried show

[Former_Member]

Greetings:

I would love to have any feedback on our first attempt at a booth picture for a juried show. This is an 'into-the-corner' picture.

So, what is good about this picture and what is not:
https://goo.gl/photos/iFKqi9PA7ZMHwt5L6

Thanks.

[ArteOfTheBooke]

I really like the use of white gridwall on the white canvas panels on the right. i'd carry this through on the left side as well. The blue background is distracting.

First impression is the shop looks empty. Do you have more inventory than this? Fill that booth up! Additional racks, small tables, etc. You want good traffic flow but lots of stock for visual interest.

I can't tell from the photo what is going on with the ceiling---are those just your light fixtures? Or are you trying to hang product from the support?

Hope this helps,
Nancy

[TheCatFarm]

The most obvious thing missing to me is...where is your setup to basically park yourself to greet customers and take payments? There is plenty of room for customers to move about the space but I see nothing for you. You need your own spot to store extra inventory (probably under a table), keep bags, business cards, calculator, and anything else you'll need handy to run your shop. The table you have in there now doesn't look like its set up for you to use as your cash wrap. Don't forget to put YOU into the whole setup equation!

[NorthStarPapercraft]

Agree that the blue cloth is distracting. Totally disagree with the advice to "fill that booth up," at least for the jury photo. I would also lose the decorative stuff on the ceiling.

I found this fantastic resource as I was working through some old posts in this forum: the St Louis Art Fair Mock Jury results. I don't know what event you're applying for - I gather just from the caliber of the work presented that SLAF is highly, highly competitive - but there's a ton of great info to be gleaned that I think apply to all or most juried shows.

One of the recurring themes is that the jurors were looking for clean, uncluttered spaces where the product is highlighted and treated as something special. They don't want to see your cash wrap/packaging/storage solution, they want to see how you're displaying your product.

Link: http://e2.ma/webview/kz75g/ba2804adcc5ac62176ea31ffaf292cfe

[andidanie]

Alicia said "You need your own spot to store extra inventory (probably under a table), keep bags, business cards, calculator, and anything else you'll need handy to run your shop."

While this is very true, it's not something she wants conveyed in her jury photo.

Personally, I thought you need more product as well, more display pieces. A 10x10 space is really big, and you don't want it to look empty.

[ImLaughingMyGlassOff]

It seems like lots of your stuff is the same size. Could you make one big thing, even if you price it way too high to sell, that could provide a focal point?

I need the same thing, but I am limited by the size of my kiln.

[RedThreadBows]

I agree that blue cloth is distracting. You items have color in them and would do well against a white background. You need more in the picture- it does look empty. Also, maybe do one far away shot like this and one closer shot of just one display so that they can see your items better. Not sure how many photos you can submit, though.

[JustMeToo]

I would either remove the blue background or go all the way around with it! I personally would remove it. I use white gridwall on three full walls in a 10 x 10 booth, and they are all backed with white cotton (so the grid almost disappears)! I also use 6 foot tables though, to fill out the display.
I think the booth looks a little empty. Even just one 6 foot table filled with goodies, would fill out the display, and also give you good storage. Just using gridwall means you're off to a great start IMO. It's the best thing ever (I have 15 of them)! Good for you, and the best of luck with the show!

[SleepyPandaStickers]

The booth looks very empty I don't see any continuity to your display and it looks very haphazard. Definitely get rid of the blue backdrop. I also don't see any sign telling me the name of your business. Good luck!

[rocksandsalt]

I like your tablecloth with the green creeping up from the bottom; it might look cool if you were able to cover your grids with that on the front, so that they were white where your product is hanging, but green near the ground. We cover our grids with some meshy fabric - I feel like it helps deflect the fact that it's grids, while allowing air to circulate. I have a real love/hate relationship with grids, they're so useful and pack nicely but I hate the way they look so I'm always trying new ways to cover them up.
A couple of floor display pieces would help fill the space out a bit, like a two way rack or something that goes with the cute animal bag theme. I agree that it looks a bit sparse, getting enough product made is always a struggle for us.

[PurpleGrace2]

I like the way the gridwall is set up with your bags hanging. I like the table and the cloth on it. But I don't like the blue fabric either. It reminds me of a bedsheet. I'd rather see you buy a couple of nice curtain panels, hemmed so that they don't drag in the dirt, and hang them off the back of the wall with curtain rings or hooks, if you think you need a backing.
I think a nice small piece of furniture on the left side in front of the wall would give some interest. Like an old end table or cabinet - painted in a color to match your tablecloth. Then set a few bags on it, lean one against something, like a stack of old books, or a large decorative jar filled with clear glass beads, or stones, or something neutral.
Or use a coat tree, painted to match your color scheme, to hang a few bags on. (these are things I've seen other sellers do at the juried shows that I do).
A sign or banner above the table with the cloth on it with your business name on it - if that is allowed at the show - would be nice.

[Former_Member]

Wow! Thanks for all the great ideas and feedback.

I especially appreciate feedback about the blue background and leaves hanging from the roof. I was aiming for an atmosphere, like people coming into our booth were entering a magic forest or glade - but now I can see it is not quite there. . .

I do have more inventory. I removed part of it for the booth shot, but it sounds like I went too sparse.

[weekendjewelry1]

I too think a piece of "furniture" could convey a more finished look. I'm thinking of something like a kitchen island, placed with walk-around space (and you could have high director's chair or bar stool there too, for when you do want to sit down). I'm sure you could come up with a portable island (table legs on hinges, a removable top, and skirting all around to hide stuff under) - all in white maybe, or wood-tone with tan?)

Then you'd have a tabletop for biz cards, perhaps a small "hero display" - a particularly wonderful piece of merchandise you want to highlight, placed in a basket or on a small pedestal - anything to show off its "star status". Just one piece, or maybe a pair, so as not to clutter the tabletop - but make it really grab customers.

Just an idea!

[SomeKindOfPretty]

I agree, you need to have a check out area. I like that your product is clearly visible, but it also looks a bit bare. I would add a small table in the middle to help make the foot traffic flow through your space.

By the way...your pieces look so cute!

[RenaissanceSupply]

could you have your items on multiple levels instead of all hanging?
maybe move the table from the side to kitty corner for some visual interest?
i have a small pintrest board with some booth ideas.:
https://www.pinterest.com/mrsunderoos/
good luck!
you have such lovely things!

[CGrabskiDesigns]

Many of the things I thought have been mentioned, but what stands out to me, is that it is hard to see your product- it is too backlit. A trick I learnt at art school, is that if you squint, you can see the values/contrast of everything. The brightest part is the back wall, and everything else blends in.

If you are photographing outdoors, its best done on an overcast day so you don't have as harsh of a contrast, and there is a more even lighting across everything. You may also want to use flash when taking the picture as well or set up some lights coming into the booth to make it brighter. You wouldn't think that using flash would make a big difference, but when I was photographing my booth, the pictures with flash looked a lot nicer, brighter, and it was easier to see my product.

When I was reading up on juried shots, you want to have as much as the product showing, even if its not exactly like how you would have it in the show, it will show the product more clearly. If that makes sense. I would also recommend inverting your white gridwall on the right hand side from making a 'v' poking into the tent, to poking out. That way you can have the product on the inside facing wall more visible in the photo, rather than just being able to see the sides.

You have very fun bags, good luck!

[rocksandsalt]

Oh, I couldn't tell that those are leaves from the photo - I've seen people use fake leafy garland and wrap around the frame of their tent, it looks great. I love the idea of the magical forest!

[Former_Member]

I just wanted to second the "one big thing" notion. It helps people focus when you sell lots of tiny things.

I've considered getting some vinyl banners - if you took photos of close-ups of your pieces -like maybe just details with color - so they are more like flags - and they were super large that would work. A few people have suggested halfpricebanners dot com and if I get around to it that's where I'll get mine! There are lots of other ways you could do it too, of course.

[andidanie]

Another poster mentioned "I also don't see any sign telling me the name of your business."

Banners are good, but you don't want one with your name for a jury photo; they are typically blind juries. However, one or two banners with images of your work (current or previously sold items) is a good idea. It catches the eye and helps to draw them in to your booth. (During your shows, definitely have a banner with your name!)

[Former_Member]

Thank you for the photography tips - will have to work on those.

I like the idea for banners, and the big photos of the products to go on the walls.

Also, like the big focus item idea. I could make a large monster/critter and even let people pose with it to have their picture taken. Kids might like that a lot. If the business name was behind the posing area, that could work as advertising when the photos are shared.

I've been thinking about adding additional tables and displays as suggested, which I agree with - just have to figure out how to fit more stuff into my vehicle.

[LizArti]

I'd get rid of the blue cloth, for sure. It's distracting from your product. Can you get any more of the greenish table cloth? My vision is the irregular, green cloth all around the outside, behind the grid wall, like you're in a nature scene. Or a light blue, gradient cloth might be nice, too. Like the sky. Irregularly dyed, like the green one, and progressing up to white on the top.

I like where you're headed with the decor along the top, but would add lots more, or maybe tulle, to soften the affect. There's too much contrast now between the flowers/leaves/whatever they are and the hard, steel metal. Or just forget it. Unless you're hanging product from the top, as well.

The product is very regularly spaced around the booth, which I don't like much. On the other hand, it looks like a sort of hodge-podge arrangement. Either make it VERY regular or VERY irregular.

I don't agree that you necessarily need more product. You just need to work on cohesiveness. This is a great start. I see tons of potential!