Karolina Skorek is a Polish photographer who lives in Wales and creates fantastic artwork portraits in her front room that command a mean buy worth of $3,000. She just lately spoke with host Nikki Closser on The Portrait System Podcast about how she made the transition from marriage ceremony pictures to fantastic artwork pictures, making 90% of her earnings from gallery gross sales.
Skorek is a lifelong learner who’s presently pursuing her third grasp’s diploma in arts and psychological well being. Her first diploma was in glass design with a further challenge in classical portray. Nevertheless, Skorek quickly realized that her aim of creating ten classical work in three months was unachievable, and her tutor prompt she swap her challenge to creating painterly results in pictures.
When Skorek graduated, she adopted her dad and mom to the UK. Whereas working part-time as a graphic designer, she determined to additionally start taking pictures weddings. After six years within the marriage ceremony trade, Skorek was prepared for a change and determined to maneuver into portraits.
[Read: The Home Studio Advantage]
Skorek loves the liberty and adaptability of not having a studio, and she or he creates 99% of her portraits in her front room, additionally typically taking pictures in a spare room, her hallway, or wherever she feels impressed. She says, “For years, I used to be anxious that individuals would choose me by the house I used to be taking pictures from, however no, they choose me by the artwork I’m doing.”
Skorek takes purchasers for fantastic artwork portraits, however 90% of her earnings comes from gallery gross sales. She took a proactive strategy to being exhibited, networking at artwork openings and sending emails out to galleries she is fascinated with. Skorek shared that for anybody trying to exhibit in galleries, she has discovered it handiest to ship inquiries not from her private e-mail deal with however from an alternate one and from the voice of her agent (though it’s her sending and replying to the message!). Skorek has additionally been approached by galleries on Instagram.
[Read: What Makes an Award-Winning Portrait?]
At the moment, Skorek’s artwork is priced round $3,000 per picture with the gallery bearing the price of manufacturing and taking 50% of proceeds. She advises that photographers who want to command excessive costs for his or her items ought to enter awards competitions. Not solely are the critiques invaluable for bettering your craft, but in addition Skorek says that a picture’s worth will increase together with the variety of badges and awards it has acquired. Galleries have pricing specialists who select the value for works based mostly on their impartial analysis on the artist and their work. Different elements that may improve valuation embody being exhibited in a number of gallery areas and who the works have been exhibited alongside. For instance, Skorek’s pictures turned extra helpful after she appeared in a London Gallery alongside works by Rembrandt.
To study extra about Karolina Skorek’s work, go to her on Instagram or YouTube.
The Portrait System Podcast helps portrait photographers navigate the world of pictures, enterprise, cash, and far more. Hosted by Nikki Closser, the podcast is powered by The Portrait System, a complete, on-line instructional platform that teaches all points of operating a profitable portrait pictures studio.
