Jan 29 - Process Photos

Share your process--your artistic journey


In-process photos—images taken at various stages of creating a piece of art—offer a unique behind-the-scenes look at an artist’s creative process. These photos can reveal the steps involved in bringing a piece to life, from initial sketches and rough underpaintings to the final details and finishing touches. For artists, in-process photos are not just a means of documenting their work; they serve as valuable tools for engaging with their audience, building a personal brand, and establishing a deeper connection with their followers. Sharing these images on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok provides a window into the artist’s world, allowing viewers to witness the evolution of a piece from start to finish.


In an age where social media plays a significant role in promoting and selling artwork, sharing in-process photos can help artists stand out and create a narrative around their creative journey. These images show more than just the final product—they highlight the challenges, decisions, and emotions that go into making each piece, giving the audience a fuller appreciation of the artwork’s value and significance. Today we explore why in-process photos are essential for artists, how they can enhance an artist’s presence on social media, and offers practical tips on how to capture and share these images effectively.


Why In-Process Photos Are Important for Artists

1. Provides Insight into the Creative Process
   • In-process photos give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how an artwork is created, offering insight into the artist’s methods, techniques, and thought processes. For many art enthusiasts, understanding how a piece comes together is just as fascinating as seeing the finished work. These images reveal the layers and stages involved, from initial sketches or underpaintings to adding color, texture, and detail.
   • Sharing these developmental stages helps demystify the creative process and makes the work more relatable. Viewers can see the effort, skill, and time that go into each piece, enhancing their appreciation and understanding of the artwork. This transparency fosters a deeper connection between the artist and their audience, making the creative journey accessible and engaging.
2. Builds a Personal Connection and Engagement
   • Sharing in-process photos on social media helps humanize the artist, allowing followers to feel more connected to the creator behind the work. When viewers see an artwork evolve over time, they become invested in its progress, eagerly anticipating the next update and celebrating the completion of the piece. This sense of shared experience can create a strong emotional bond between the artist and their audience.
   • Regularly posting in-process images encourages interaction and engagement. Followers may comment on a particular stage, ask questions about techniques or materials, or share their own experiences. This engagement can lead to meaningful conversations, increased visibility on social media platforms, and a growing community of supporters who feel personally connected to the artist’s journey.
3. Shows Artistic Growth and Experimentation
   • In-process photos provide a visual record of an artist’s development, showcasing experimentation, growth, and refinement over time. Artists can look back at these images to see how their style, techniques, and approach have evolved, and to identify areas where they’ve made significant progress. This record can be motivating and serve as a reminder of how far they’ve come.
   • For viewers, these images demonstrate the artist’s willingness to take risks, experiment with new ideas, and tackle challenges head-on. Seeing an artist embrace the trial-and-error process, make changes, or even completely rework a piece can inspire others and reinforce the notion that creating art is a journey filled with discovery and learning.
4. Adds Value and Context to the Final Artwork
   • In-process photos add value to the final artwork by providing context and a narrative that enriches the viewer’s experience. They highlight the effort, dedication, and creativity required to bring an idea to fruition. This context can increase the perceived value of the artwork, as buyers and collectors gain a fuller understanding of what went into creating the piece.
   • For potential buyers, in-process photos can be compelling as they reveal the labor and skill behind the finished product. When viewers understand the story behind a piece, they are more likely to feel emotionally connected and more inclined to purchase or support the artist’s work.
5. Helps Overcome Perfectionism and Creative Blocks
   • Sharing in-process photos, even when the artwork is not yet polished or “perfect,” helps artists embrace the imperfect and see the value in each stage of creation. This practice can be particularly beneficial for artists struggling with perfectionism or fear of judgment, as it encourages them to share their progress without worrying about the final outcome.
   • Documenting and sharing each step, no matter how messy or incomplete, also helps artists overcome creative blocks. It serves as a reminder that every artwork has a journey, and it’s okay for it to look different at various stages. Embracing and sharing this process can be liberating and inspiring, both for the artist and their audience.

How In-Process Photos Enhance an Artist’s Social Media Presence

1. Creates Consistent Content and Builds Anticipation
   • In-process photos provide a steady stream of content to share on social media. Instead of waiting until a piece is finished to post, artists can share multiple updates throughout the creation process. This consistency helps maintain a regular posting schedule and keeps followers engaged.
   • Posting in-process photos also builds anticipation for the final reveal. By sharing the piece’s development over time, artists create a sense of curiosity and excitement, making followers eager to see how the artwork will turn out. This anticipation can increase engagement and boost visibility through comments, likes, and shares.
2. Encourages Interaction and Community Building
   • Sharing in-process photos invites followers to be part of the creative process. Artists can ask for feedback, share the challenges they’re facing, or simply express thoughts about the work in progress. This openness encourages dialogue and fosters a supportive community of followers who feel valued and included in the artistic journey.
   • Followers who see an artwork evolve may feel a sense of ownership or pride in the final piece, as they’ve witnessed its growth and offered encouragement along the way. This connection can lead to stronger relationships and a more loyal audience.
3. Boosts Visibility and Reach with Algorithms
   • Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook prioritize content that generates high engagement. In-process photos, with their potential to spark comments, likes, and shares, can help artists achieve higher engagement rates, leading to increased visibility in followers’ feeds.
   • Regularly posting in-process photos also signals to the platform’s algorithms that the artist is an active and consistent content creator, further boosting the likelihood that their posts will be seen by a wider audience.
4. Offers Educational Content for Other Artists
   • In-process photos can also serve as educational content for other artists or aspiring creatives. By sharing techniques, tools, or strategies used at different stages, artists can provide value to their audience and position themselves as knowledgeable professionals. This educational aspect can attract new followers interested in learning more about the artist’s methods or seeking inspiration for their own work.

Practical Tips for Capturing and Sharing In-Process Photos Effectively

1. Set Up a Dedicated Workspace for Photos
   • Choose a well-lit space with good natural or artificial lighting to capture your in-process photos. Ensure that your camera or phone is stable to prevent blurry images, and keep your workspace tidy so that the artwork is the main focus.
2. Take Photos at Key Milestones
   • Document significant stages of your artwork, such as initial sketches, base layers, color blocking, detailed rendering, and finishing touches. This provides a comprehensive view of how the piece evolves and helps viewers appreciate the complexity of the process.
3. Use Consistent Angles and Lighting
   • Consistency is key when taking in-process photos. Try to use the same angle and lighting setup for each stage to create a cohesive visual narrative. Consistent photography helps viewers see the progression clearly and makes your social media feed look polished and professional.
4. Share Personal Thoughts and Insights
   • When posting in-process photos, include captions that share your thoughts, challenges, or excitement about the piece. Explain why you made certain choices or how you overcame obstacles. These insights make your posts more engaging and relatable.
5. Create Before-and-After or Time-Lapse Posts
   • Consider creating before-and-after posts or time-lapse videos that show the transformation of your artwork from start to finish. These formats are highly engaging and visually satisfying, making them ideal for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
6. Include a Call-to-Action (CTA)
   • Encourage your audience to interact with your posts by including a call-to-action, such as “What do you think of this stage?” or “Can you guess what colors I’ll use next?” CTAs invite followers to comment and share their thoughts, increasing engagement and visibility.

In-process photos are powerful tools for artists, offering a way to document, share, and celebrate the creative journey. By inviting your audience to witness the transformation of your work, you build stronger connections, enhance engagement, and provide valuable insights into your artistic process. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, illustrator, or digital artist, incorporating in-process photos into your social media strategy can help you tell your story more effectively, showcase your dedication, and establish a compelling online presence. Embrace the practice of sharing your progress, and let your audience be part of the journey from concept to completion.

If you like this blog, consider buying the book!

Artist Muse : 365 Day Art Challange

$19.99

Artist Muse is a 365-day art challenge. It is a year-long commitment where artists create and share a piece of art every day for an entire year. It walks you through the steps of creating a sketchbook, journal and gratitude book to get to know one's self better. Dana guides you through the steps needed to create, market and sell ones art in today's creator economy. Broken up in daily segments to cover a lot of ground, it dives into everything an first year artist would want to know about being one in this day and age. It goes over topics beginner to advanced artist will encounter at some point in their art career. The book is a 365 day compilation of topics to do or consider doing to further ones own art career online and off. It cast a wide net of subjects that effect artist from myths to how to create residual income creating content about ones own art to promote it. It suggest ideas to increase ones own income doing art. Recommends strategies and discusses pit falls. The books is a yearly discussion on how one can become a better artist an further ones skills while learning everything first year art students would. It advances you one step further by covering subjects not taught in art school: like how to promote, market and sell your artwork. Not only does the book challenge you to do art everyday, set clear goals: It helps you build a strong portfolio of work to share with others. By following along with the daily challenge one increases their artistic skill while learning about what it means to be a artist to oneself. Artist Muse is simply that: a muse to help an artist get up and running within a year. It covers what art school would and then some. From materials to legitimate ideas to sell oneself and art. One of the most significant benefits of a 365-day art challenge is that it helps artists develop a daily habit of creating art while practicing promoting in. The consistency required to complete a daily art project encourages artists to prioritize their practice, making creativity a regular part of their daily lives. Over time, this routine helps artists build discipline, focus, and a stronger work ethic. By building a project notebook in the first sections of the book, setting time aside for art the book can help you stay inspired, give ideas to follow up on and prevent creative blocks. Each topic is something an artist encounters doing and being an artist. It introduces one to the business of art today. The 365-day art challenge is a transformative journey that can lead to tremendous growth, both artistically and personally. By committing to create every day, artists build discipline, refine their skills, and gain confidence in their creative abilities. The challenge fosters exploration, discovery, and a deeper connection to the artistic process. While completing a 365-day art challenge requires dedication and perseverance, the rewards of self-discovery, skill development, and a strong body of work make it a worthwhile endeavor for artists of all levels. Embrace the challenge, enjoy the journey, and watch your creativity flourish throughout the year.

952 pages download of 365 days of the year to further your yourself, your art & your career in art.

Shop