I've been asked to display some of my work at an outdoor event this weekend. This might be a good thing if I do it well, and it might be a disaster if I don't. My first impulse is to say no because I haven't done anything like this before, but I'm also tempted by the opportunity.

I don't have a big volume of stuff to display. I have a few small (8x10) matted prints and about a half dozen larger, framed ones. The idea of the display wouldn't be to sell the work, but rather to show my capabilities and perhaps generate new clients.

Having been to a couple of art fairs, I've seen the often elaborate booths that photographers use to display and sell their wares and I have neither the time nor the budget to come up with something like that in short order. I can rent a 10x10 canopy and grab a banquet table or two. I have some table top easels and plate holders to display the smaller prints. So far, so good.

My quandary is how to display the framed pieces, which are 20x30 and 24x36. The canopy won't have any interior walls, or exterior ones for that matter. I've considered just propping the work up but I'd rather hang it... but how and on what?

Any inventive, MacGyver types out there with ideas? Time and money are both in short supply.

Thanks.

Wire frame walls and zip ties. Really. Bring along cutters, too. Someone just might buy a print off the rack.

Go with the expectation that you will sell something. And plan on how they're going to pay for it. Will you take checks? Credit cards? If so, are you set up for it?

Bring lots of business cards and any letter sized flyers that you might have. Do you have any promotional pens or frisbees? People LOVE free stuff! Get your name out there!

My first inclination would be to mount them on a piece of relatively thick foam board -- perhaps 1/2 inch. Then prop them up -- wire frame walls is also an option, but again, it requires some infrastructure.

With a minimum of carpentry skills and some 1" x 2" lumber you could build artist-style tripod easels tripod for the larger pieces. Three legs joined at the top with a bolt or some wire with a cross piece, or just couple of wood dowels or nails on the front two legs hold the frame.

I think you can buy easles for about $15 at a store like office depot.

Wire frame walls... where would I find those?

Can usually find at an office store like Staples, Office Depot, or Home Depot or sears -- might also try online. Google "wire panel", "wire wall display", etc. Some will sell wholesale and ship to you. Any place that sells display boards might be able to offer you a solution.

I contemplated selling at an exhibition but it became prohibitively expensive.

mdude85 wrote:
Can usually find at an office store like Staples, Office Depot, or Home Depot or sears -- might also try online. Google "wire panel", "wire wall display", etc. Some will sell wholesale and ship to you. Any place that sells display boards might be able to offer you a solution.

I contemplated selling at an exhibition but it became prohibitively expensive.

Thanks. Yes, I'm trying to do this on a shoe string without looking overtly cheap. The good news is that there won't be any other photographers or artists for the crowd to compare my display to.

There are some good ideas in these threads from an artist's forum:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=563197
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540610

Whatever you do, make sure you have a way to hold everything down in case it gets windy. Even a small gust can send things flying.

Thanks to all for the good tips. I think I can make it through this thing now.