Artists’or Photographers’ Agent

Behind every successful artist or photographer is an agent who carts around resumes and slides from market to market, seeking the best opportunity to sell works of art to everyone from gallery owners to art catalog publishers and distributors. As an agent, you can also sell your clients’ work by using a well-designed, easily accessible Web site that you promote through e-messaging, blogging, and by hooking your clients into cash cows like GettyImages.com. The key is to juggle several artists and/or photographers at once and market them as widely as possible. To grow your stable of clients to represent, advertise in the publications that artistic types generally read. Invite them to send a detailed resume and plenty of slides. When you decide to represent someone, provide a contract that clearly spells out what services your client can expect from you and what commission per sale you expect from your client.


You’ll need to promote your services in each of the respective professional trade publications, and that will likely cost you in the neighborhood of $3,000 to $5,000 (some directories, however, allow you a free listing). Next, you’ll need to have a set of dynamic, yet professional-looking promotional materials of your own (including an impressive Web site) and a basic office set-up to keep it all running smoothly. With a commission of 20 percent on each sale you make, you should be able to earn an annual paycheck between $25,000 to $50,000, depending on where you live and how many successful artists you represent.


The art world is extremely tight-knit. Cliques abound, and if your name isn’t known as one of the “chosen few,” you may not succeed as much as you’d like.Work the art show openings and other functions and attend trade shows and the like if you really want to get your name out there fast. Above all else, be knowledgeable about art. If you’re not, it will definitely show. There are far more talented artists than there are folks to represent them, so the potential to develop your client base quickly is quite high. Be choosy about whom you represent and offer a wide range of artwork for sale to increase your chances of success.


Approx. cost of start-up: $5,000 to $15,000


Approx. potential earnings:$25,000 to $50,000


Typical fees: 20 percent commission on each sale


Where to promote: Trade publications for artists and photographers, a listing in the annual Photographer’s Marketand Guide to Literary Agents/Art Photo Reps(Writer’s Digest Books), direct mail to related associations, a Web site with an online portfolio of your clients’ work


Qualifications: Ideally, an artistic and/or sales background


Things needed: Computer with Internet access, printer, fax, copier, phone


Required staff:No


Hidden costs: Insurance, bad risks (representing artists because you care about them rather than because they are marketable)