How to Take an Art Booth Shot for Juried Art Fairs
If you are applying to juried art fairs, your booth photo can make or break your application. A strong art booth shot shows the jury that your work is professional and display-ready. It helps you stand out in a sea of other applicants and sets the tone for how they perceive your entire body of work.
After doing art fairs full time for over a decade, I have learned what makes a successful booth photo and what gets you overlooked. In this tutorial, I am sharing exactly how I take my own art booth shots when applying to juried shows. These are the exact steps I follow to create a clean, impactful photo art booth image that helps me get accepted.
This is my most recent art booth photo:
Set It Up at Home for Full Control
Instead of snapping a quick picture at a show, take the time to set up your full display at home. This gives you control over the environment, the lighting, and what is in the background. You will not have to worry about other tents nearby, distracting crowds, or uneven pavement affecting your display.
Taking your art booth photo at home also allows you to rearrange and tweak the setup until it looks perfect. You can step back and adjust your pieces, lighting, or spacing without the pressure of show day. Whether it is in your backyard or garage, giving yourself the time and space to do this right makes a big difference.
Use Your Best Tent and Display Walls
Juried art fairs often expect to see dome-style tents rather than simple pop-up tents. Some events may even reject your application if they see a pop-up in your booth shot. I always use my best tent for the photo, which is a Flourish Trimline. It presents a polished and professional image that juries are looking for.
In addition to the tent, I include my ProPanels and floor covering. These give the booth a gallery feel and elevate the entire presentation. Even though I do not always bring flooring to every show, I make sure to include it in my art booth photo because it adds a finished look that helps my display stand out.
Hang Your Most Impressive Artwork
Think of your art booth shot as your one chance to wow the jury. This is the time to Peacock your booth. Hang your most eye-catching originals, even if they are pieces you do not always bring to shows. Large and bold paintings catch the eye and help your work appear museum-quality and high end.
For my photo art booth display, I use paintings that have the most visual impact, even if they are not for sale. These pieces serve to showcase my strongest skills and help jurors understand the range and power of my work. This is not the place to be modest. Show off your best and biggest pieces.
Keep It Clean and Clutter-Free
It may be tempting to include every part of your booth setup in the photo, but juried art fairs are looking for clean, curated displays. Leave out anything that makes your booth look cluttered. That means no checkout counters, no print bins, no chairs, and definitely no price tags or name signage.
Even though you use these things at actual events, jurors do not need to see them. They already know you will have a way to take payments. They want to see that your art can stand on its own, without distractions. A clean photo art booth display looks more like a fine art gallery than a vendor stall, and that is what helps you get accepted.
Show Range Without Overloading the Walls
Include a variety of sizes in your art booth photo. Hang a few smaller works alongside your larger pieces to show that you offer a range. But be careful not to overcrowd your display. Too many pieces packed together can make your booth look messy and lower the perceived value of your art.
Give each painting some breathing room. Spacing your work thoughtfully shows that you understand visual balance and presentation. This communicates to jurors that you take your display seriously and treat your work like fine art. A well-composed photo art booth setup gives them confidence in your professionalism.
Use a Good Camera and Proper Framing
You want your photo to be sharp, well lit, and high resolution. I use a DSLR camera on a tripod to make sure everything is steady and clear. If you do not have a DSLR, a smartphone can work — just be sure to use a tripod or something stable to hold it still. Blurry or dim photos can make your booth look unprofessional.
Position your camera at shoulder height or just below eye level. This helps capture the full view of your walls without distorting the angles. Frame the picture tightly so that only your tent is visible. Crop out any trees, houses, or other tents. Your art booth shot should feel like a clean window into your display, nothing more.
Closing Thoughts
These are the exact steps I follow when photographing my booth for juried art fairs. I have learned from experience what works and what hurts your chances. When I used cluttered booth shots in the past, I rarely got accepted. But once I made these changes, my results completely shifted.
If you want to see a side-by-side comparison of a strong art booth photo and ones that did not work — plus examples and extra tips — watch the full video here: