How to present your photographic work to a gallery?

Saturday 5th December - from 2pm to 7pm

A practical training to build a clear, coherent, and professional artistic portfolio.

Since the takeover of Studio Baxton in 2023 and the registration of the gallery at the Brussels Photo Festival, I regularly receive artist portfolios and exhibition proposals.

Through the emails, portfolios, and projects discovered, a desire has emerged: to share my experience as a gallery owner and help photographers better present their work.

A photographic project can be unique, sensitive, and accomplished, without its presentation doing it justice. A simple link to a website, a selection of images without a guiding theme, a difficult-to-navigate portfolio, or a poorly explained artistic approach can complicate the discovery of a work that truly deserves attention.

How to entice a gallery to discover your project? What should a good portfolio contain? How to select and organise your images, present your approach, and write an effective application email?

During this training afternoon, I suggest we look at the other side of the email and discover the best practices, as well as the most common mistakes in exhibition proposals.

Based on concrete examples, OK and KO files, and practical exercises, we will see how to build a presentation that allows a gallery to quickly understand your work, grasp its coherence, and assess its relevance for their programming.

On the agenda

• Understanding how a gallery receives and reviews an exhibition proposal.

• Identify the mistakes that undermine an application.

• Build a coherent and relevant photographic series.

• Structure a clear and enjoyable PDF portfolio.

• Write an accessible and personal biography and statement of intent.

• Write a concise, professional introduction email tailored to the recipient.

• Choose the right interlocutors and carry out appropriate follow-up.

• Work on your own project and leave with concrete improvement suggestions.

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For whom?

This training is aimed at photographers and visual artists who wish to present their work to a gallery, prepare an application for a call for projects, or develop an exhibition approach.

No technical prerequisites are necessary. However, it is recommended to come with an ongoing photographic project or a series that you wish to present, on a laptop or tablet.

Practical information

Date: Saturday 5 December 2026

Duration: one afternoon, from 2 pm to 7 pm

Location: Baxton Studio, Brussels

Format: collective training, commented examples and practical workshop.

The aim is not to provide you with a recipe for being accepted everywhere, nor to format your work according to a single model. It is to give you the tools to present your approach clearly, defend your project, and allow it to be considered under the best conditions.

Because good work also deserves a good presentation!