2026 02 02: Making Art Make Cents

Enter here, free berries. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2026. © Clayton Hauck

There’s this vague vision I’ve had formulating in my head for a few years now. It’s not fully formed, but I want to start communicating it more to suss out whether I’m on to something of full of it.

Photography has been an “ugly stepchild” of the art world for as long as I’ve been a photographer (in part, this is why I’ve largely avoided the art world), but I don’t think it needs to be this way. I continue to think of photography as a wildly under-rated and under-represented form of art. Without getting into why this is or isn’t the case here today, I will instead focus briefly on how we may be able to change this perception a bit.

Do what musicians do (I write this as I passively watch The Grammys)!

Compared to music, photography is a brand spankin’ new art form. The idea is not to compete with music, but instead to take a page from how bands and musicians are able to make their practice work and bring some of these ideas over to the world of photography. Much like releasing LPs and EPs, we can and should put out books and zines. While this is not a new idea in any capacity, we could be taking it a step further by touring — a photographer releases a project and then hits the road; pounds the pavement; communicates to the people directly, in places and spaces not previously familiar. Bring your work to the people. Become a traveling (art) salesman. Everything is sales, after all.

Musicians have had the luxury of mass transmission of their art for for decades now, however, this hasn’t been the case with photography until only recently. The internet and social apps have allowed us lowly photographers to get our work out in front of the world for the first time ever, only recently. You no longer need to be Ansel Adams to have your work seen, you can be Clayton Hauck. Of course, this has created a ton of less desirable side effects in additon to the benefits, but let’s focus on the bright side of things, today!

It makes sense to bet on ourselves, as photographers, and help push our art form forward. Nobody is going to do it for us. The corporations who run the apps sure as hell won’t.

So let’s form an alliance, of sorts! A network of like-minded working photographers to play host from town to town. We’ll put on shows and host talks. We’ll publish books and do crits and promote each other’s work. We’ll do interviews and tell others about which projects get us most excited. Again, of course, touring is not new even in the world of photography. But from my perspective it has always been The Institutions doing it. The Big Money art markets, museums, and higher ed. I think we should get scrappy and open lil photo gallery/shops/spaces all over the country. Some already exist. Easier said than done, yes. Money is a necessary part of all of this, which complicates things, I know.

One fact that gets me excited is the recent realization that most nobody has this stuff. Since opening a photobook shop in Chicago, it has been remarkable to see how few people own these incredible projects, as there is no existing network in place to obtain them outside of the internet (it’s why we’re trying to open this shop!). No store carries Some Say Ice, or You Are What You Do, or As It Was Give(n) To Me, or Songbook, or I cant stand to see you cry. I’m biased, of course, but these books are as good or better than most albums. So let’s build the infrastructure to support them! Do shows, throw parties, charge a suggested donation and put the money towards the next show. Rinse and repeat.

Of course, photography will never be as big as music. It’s an active art form, requiring participation from the viewer. This is what I like about it. It’s why I shun video and prefer indie film to mainstream blockbusters. Photogprahy will never be as big as The Grammys, but I do think it has the potential to be a more respected art form that can sustain working photographers through a career in the field. Yes, it already does in many instances, but let’s build a better network of support to help us focus on the things we want to capture. The art side of things, opposed to the commercial side, which is being increasingly tainted by an ever-unrealistic set of demands placed upon the photographer.

I see so many people with so much talent out there, yet there’s a clear lack of support to turn this artistic talent into a livable wage. Perhaps this is all a big pipe dream, but in my recent experience, I will tell you that putting quality work in front of people shows me there is a path forward, challenging as it may be. And plenty of opportunity to have more fun with how we choose to put our work into the world.

-Clayton