I read both posts about reviews. The gallery owner and the museum curator are two utterly different types and I would therefore expect some differences as a result of that alone.

The art dealer presumably risks his own money or that of investors who trust him when he gives space to work that may or may not sell. The Camden Arts Centre gets “less than 60%” which probably means at least 50% of it’s money out of the pockets of taxpayers. The art dealer has to find stuff that will sell to the people who visit his gallery. His position depends on his judgement of what might sell to his particular market. The arts centre has a page where you can donate to them. At the top of the page it says “Help keep Camden Arts Centre adventurous and free”. Totally different purposes.

My main question to you is what do you want to gain from a port review? Is it sales? A place to exhibit? Someone to act as a sales agent? Commissions? Direction for future work? I was not sure from your posts which if any you wanted. On that basis I wouldn’t recommend paying for a review.

I’d love to have a definition of “commercial”. It often seems to be a slur and I’ve seen it used against people like Jack Vittriano by people who are probably envious of his success in providing pictures that people like so much they are willing to pay lots of money for.

I have had some limited experience with port reviews from a few other togs and a couple of art directors in ad agencies. I would be amazed if an art director spent as much as 15 minutes looking over a book. My approach was to put appropriate work into the book. The kind of work I wanted to shoot that was also something I thought fit the agency. I handed the book over and pretty much shut up after that. The pictures either communicate or they don’t. In an advertising context no real member of a target market is going to give me a chance to give any more information let alone spill my whole philosophy.

But there are other people who might review your work who might be worth going to if you are interested in advertising work. People such as photographer agents who work in advertising and who have contacts in the business. Look up Selina Maitreya based in the States. She has quite a lot to say about ports and putting them together.

Another thing worth trying might be to find another artist you admire and see if you can do an exchange of reviews or something like that. I’ve never done this myself but it could be interesting. I’d be interested in what the other peroson sees and understands about my work without any other clues than the pictures themselves. I wouldn’t have any interest in what they thought I should do about anything unless I specifically ask a question.

This is begining to ramble a bit but I think it comes down to the question I asked up front. What do you want from a review?

And there are two other questions I find myself asking myself and other artists quite a lot: How do I find my artistic direction/vision/purpose? And, How do I remain true to it and still eat?

Fascinating reading for couple of reasons … 1) I’ve followed your progress for many years /months and great to see the direction you are taking 2) Great to hear your inner most thoughts about how someone else viewed your work, through knowing more about you, I know more about your art.

I’m thinking of submitting a portfolio to the Royal Photographic Society so very timely, thank you

Maybe sometimes there is role playing, like in the image where you are smoking (you said you do not smoke) but this is still not an alter ego.

In your images you are showing your character, your aesthetics, your inspirations and as a result it feels like a person knows you better after looking at them.