Private Mentoring:
Buisness Practices of Fine Art Photography
Empower your artistic journey with the essential skills needed to thrive in the competitive world of fine art photography with R. J. Kern. Gain invaluable insights on marketing strategies, licensing, contracts, pricing your work, and building a sustainable business model with immersive and practical one-to-one online mentoring.
The act of photographers helping each other builds community and results in a better, more robust art world. From this foundational premise, R.J. is offering his help to other photographers as they navigate the business of fine art photography. With private mentoring and in his workshops, R. J. imparts the essential career tips that allow emerging fine-art photographers to grow creatively while also growing their businesses.
R. J. Kern at his desk, waiving!
R. J. offers guidance on everything from landing gallery representation to structuring limited editions and pricing work—not to mention staying happy throughout it all. He speaks in-depth about the pillars of business that strengthen an art career, like branding and marketing (including developing an online presence), putting together a portfolio, maximizing efforts at portfolio reviews, knowing how to use certificates of authenticity, exploring potential exhibition venues, playing with the creative use of lighting, and much more.
Because cultivating the right audience for your artwork can make or break your business, we also examine subjects such as how to find a publisher and acquire financing for your book project—that is, of course, assuming you wish to publish one at all.
Whether you are wondering how to nurture a gallery relationship (that includes knowing when it’s time to quit) or why it’s important to differentiate between a completed project and one that is ongoing (some last for years), R. J. shares an invaluable perspective honed over decades, one you won’t find taught in MFA programs.
Rates start at $165/ hr and include a complimentary 15-minute consultation to understand how he may help you best.
Interested in mentoring with R. J.? Email rj@rjkern.com or call the old-fashion way (303) 474-0983.
Book your complimentary 15-minute Zoom consultation with R. J. Kern:
Workshops:
2024
2023
Buisness Practices of Fine Art Photography, Santa Fe Workshops, Santa Fe, NM
Instructor, B&H Photo Video, New York, NY (three-part series)
Pinhole Camera Workshop, Witchita Falls Arts Council, Witchita Falls, TX
2022
Guest Speaker, “Editing the Visual Narrative Workshop” with Sarah Leen and Bill Marr, Maine Media College
Instructor, B&H Photo Video, New York, NY (four-part series)
Guest Lecture, Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Midwest Chapter, Cincinatti, OH
2021
Guest Speaker, “Editing the Visual Narrative Workshop” with Sarah Leen and Bill Marr, Maine Media College, Rockport, ME
Advanced Lighting Workshop, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
2020
Advanced Lighting Workshop, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
2019
Polaroid Camera Workshop, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND
What people are saying:
“I recently had two 90-minute mentorship sessions with R. J. and was amazed by his wealth of knowledge and exceptional teaching skills. He’s personable, highly experienced in the fine art world, and easy to learn from. I highly recommend his 1:1 mentorship sessions to anyone interested in the fine art world.”
“R. J. is a true wealth of knowledge when it comes to approaching the intricacies of building a touring exhibition, as well as managing packaging fine art for shipments and the ins and outs of editioning work. His experience and approachability make him a wonderful mentor that will push you toward facing the challenges that seem daunting, but with help are completely attainable. Couldn’t recommend R. J. more!”
“R. J. and I met in a virtual writing class years ago. We became fast friends and encourage one another in all things photographic. I give him input on his writing and he gives me advice on the business of photography. I appreciate his knowledge, positive attitude, and enthusiasm. I wish he was my business manager! Most recently, R. J. helped me move forward with my first trade edition book (I have produced 25 self-published artist’s books). I had many questions. R. J. advised me on budget, distribution, and shipping as well as preparing me for my first Paris Photo. ”
“R. J. helped me to figure out good ways to hang an exhibit I was in. He was generous with ideas and suggestions, organganized and professional. His attention to detail was just what I needed. Additionally his energy and enthusiasm is infectious and inspiring. You can’t miss, if you mentor with him!”
“Over the years R. J. has been an invaluable resource for me in navigating the often confusing world of fine art. His knowledge and hands-on experience in specialized topics like portfolio reviews, exhibiting, selling, and marketing my photography has been incredibly helpful to me. Few successful artists with real art world experience are willing to share as much of their knowledge in such a practical, directly applicable way.”
“I took R. J.’s workshop— “Business Practices for Fine Art Photographers”— which gave me lots to think about, and led to some key decisions about how I could best approach the fine art photography market. Subsequently, I have engaged in a one-to-one mentoring session with R. J. to work through some of my ideas for moving forward. R. J. was generous with what he has learned from his own experience, a rare and rewarding experience. I will continue to consult with R. J. as my journey continues.”
“R. J. provides vivid, concrete, and immediately applicable knowledge on the relationship between making art and placing it in a larger conversation. He is incredibly generous in sharing his experiences to support photographers in both process and valuable business practices. Every session includes resources, personal consultation, and homework that stretches for the sake of growth and ‘getting out there.’ R. J.’s input has shifted my creative approach and widened my understanding about how to share work with the world. He is a model of support and such a positive ambassador for the wider photography community.”
“I had an invaluable experience with R. J. and recommend his mentorships highly. It is hard to quantify what you get out of this type of experience, but it is so much more than just learning skills and techniques. R. J. is prepared to offer guidance and is so generous about opening his files and sharing everything in his practice. R. J. is an innovative and creative problem solver, and he passes on that energy in these sessions. R. J. clearly prepared for my mentorship session and geared it towards my personal concerns. It is refreshing to work with him and a joy to see how he tackles the business of photography.
As an aside, towards the end of my session we were discussing a new body of my work and R. J. made a comment so insightful, it just knocked me off my feet. This was not a planned part of our session, but I was exhilarated to take away important information that was at the core of the project. It has helped me greatly in writing and thinking about the work. I recommend R. J. highly.”
Tips shared by R. J. Kern in Cliff’s Notes format.
Recent Talks:
Talk 1. Going from Weddings to Fine Art: 5 Tips for Emerging Fine Art Photographers 1.12.2022
I will share tips vital to artists’ careers that are not taught in art school, including: working with a book publisher, landing a gallery, structuring limited editions, pricing work, and how to stay happy through it all.
Presentation and Q&A featuring R. J. Kern, hosted by B&H Photo Video, New York, 1.12.2022
Talk 2. Finding, Identifying, and Engaging Your Audience in Fine Art Photography 1.19.2022
Cultivating the right audience can make or break your business. I will talk in depth about what it takes to build your business, from branding and marketing to developing an online presence, putting together a portfolio and the various venues (galleries, museums, art fairs, etc.) to explore with your art.
Presentation and Q&A featuring R. J. Kern, hosted by B&H Photo Video, New York, 1.19.2022
Illustrations by R. J. Kern discussed in the mentoring series..