How to get photographs exhibited

NARRATOR:Listen to a conversation between a student and her Photography professor.

FEMALE STUDENT:Professor Johnson, there's something that's been on my mind.

MALE PROFESSOR:Ok?

FEMALE STUDENT:Remember last week you told us that it's really important to get our photography into a show, basically as soon as we can?

MALE PROFESSOR:Yup, it's a big step, no question.

FEMALE STUDENT:Thing is, I'm sitting here and I'm just not sure how I get there.I mean I've got some work I like, but, is it really what the gallery is looking for?How would I know? How do I make the right contacts to get into a show. I just really don't...

MALE PROFESSOR:[laughing] Okay, hold on. Slow down.Um, these are questions that, well, just about every young artist has to struggle with.Ok, the first thing you should do is you absolutely have to stay true to your artistic vision.Take the pictures you want to take.

Don't start trying to catch the flavor of the month and be trendy because you think you'll get into a show.That never works, because you wind up creating something you don't really believe in.It sounds uninspired, and won't make any shows.I've seen that happened so many times.This doesn't mean that you should go into a cave, keep up with trends.Even think about how your work might fit in with them, but don't mindlessly follow them.

FEMALE STUDENT:Well, yeah, I can see that.I think though that I've always been able to stay pretty true to what I want to create, not what others want me to create.I think that comes through my work.

MALE PROFESSOR:Ok. Just remember that is one thing to create works that you really want to create when it’s in the classroom.The only thing at stake is your grade. But, work created outside of the classroom?That can be a different story.I'm not talking about techniques or things like that.It's just there's so much more at stake.When you're out there making art for a living, there's a lot of pressure to become something you are not and people often surrender to that pressure.

FEMALE STUDENT:But to get stuff exhibited.

MALE PROFESSOR:Well, you need to be a bit of an opportunist.Here's common sense, things like ,always having a sample of your work on hand to give to people.You won't believe that kind of contacts are opportunities you can get in this way.And try to get your work seen in places like restaurants, book stores.You'd be surprised how word gets around about photography in places like that.

FEMALE STUDENT:[a little overwhelmed] Ok, it's just so hard to think about all those practical things and make good work, you know.