Applying to fine art and fine craft festivals can be a stressful process! Here are some guidelines to help you better prepare your application and improve your chances of being accepted.

1. Make a list of what you wish to exhibit. Select 4 items that best represent your current work.
   

2. Plan on getting high-quality photos; it is essential! A team of jurors will make a decision about your application in a very short amount of time. If the images are not compelling, they will likely be overlooked by a jury panel. You want to capture their attention and interest in seeing more of what you do best.
   

3. If you are able to photograph your items well, you won’t need the help of a professional photographer, but pros sure make it much easier on the artist. Consider asking a friend or relative who has more expertise in photography for help if hiring a professional is not in the cards.
   

4. Note any instructions about photo file size. You may, for example, see requirements that each photo be at least 1920 ppx on the longest side and no larger than 1MB. Whatever the stated requirement, make sure you prepare your photos as required.
   

5. Photograph your 4 items, keeping in mind the Photography Dos and Don’ts below.
   

6. High-quality art festivals always require a booth shot. Set up your white tent and display furniture. Arrange your current work in a pleasing, professional manner. Leave out any signs that show you or your business name, since juries are often blind, meaning they are jurying your work, not you, the artist. Photograph your booth with attention to good lighting. The purpose of a booth shot is to demonstrate your ability to display your work professionally within your white tent.
   

7. Most festivals require a written statement. Sometimes it is an artist statement, sometimes a paragraph describing your work, tools, price range, and your aesthetic. Read the application materials carefully so you can prepare what is required. It is best not to draft the written piece while completing the application. Prepare it before starting the application. The jurors will notice a thoughtful statement, and that can only work in your favor.
   

8. Often, it is possible to submit two separate applications if your work could fall into two separate media. For example, if you make ceramic sculpture, you could enter in the ceramics category and in the sculpture category. You’d have to pay 2 entry fees, but it may increase your likelihood of being accepted.
   

9. Complete your application and pay the jury fee. Remember to include everything requested, such as the number of photos and booth shot, and a well-considered statement. Incomplete applications do not even make it to the jurors, so you’ve just donated your entry fee without a chance at acceptance.

   
   

Photography Dos:

• Prepare a clean, uncluttered background with nothing within the frame other than the item being photographed.

• Photograph the art, and only the art. A high-quality photo shows only the piece of work (not a portion of the frame, an easel, or other distracting background elements).

• Be sure the image is in clear focus.

• Light the piece well to minimize shadows, glare, and reflections. Use extra lighting as needed. Photo editing programs like Photoshop, as well as many smartphone cameras, make it easy to adjust brightness, contrast, and other variables. Allow your work to shine.

• Be intentional about the space around your object. Be sure to capture the whole piece with equal space on the left and right, and pleasing upper and lower margins. If centering your piece is not your jam, make sure the off-center placement appears planned, rather than haphazard.

Photography Don’ts:

• Don’t prop an art piece on a patterned sofa and photograph it with the sofa pattern showing (see “photograph the art, and only the art” above).

• Don’t allow the box or chair that the art is propped on to show in the photo.

• Don’t submit poorly lit or dark or out of focus photos.

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