Last weekend I set up at my first market at the Tofino Market.
To be honest, getting ready for it felt a little chaotic. There were so many prints to organize, sign, and pack, along with what felt like a never-ending list of last-minute details to figure out. I was definitely a bit nervous heading into it.
Over the past few years, Tofino Surf Photography has gradually grown beyond photography alone, so the booth ended up being a mix of all kinds of things: art prints, block-mounted prints on wood, canvas prints, stickers, magnets, greeting cards, postcards, and even a couple of my painted surfboard fins. Much of the work is inspired by life on the west coast of Vancouver Island, so seeing all of those different projects come together in one space felt pretty special. Once everything was set up though, it was such a cool experience.
One of the things I enjoyed most was getting to talk with people about the work. Through Instagram captions and the occasional YouTube video, I get to share some of the stories behind my photography, but not often in much depth.
At the market, people would stop to ask about a photo or a piece of artwork, and suddenly we'd be talking about the swell, the weather, the place it was made, or the story behind it. That was probably the most meaningful part of the whole experience for me.
A lot of creative work happens alone. Whether it's photography, editing, painting, or preparing prints, most of the process takes place behind the scenes. It was really rewarding to see people connecting with the work in person and sharing their own thoughts and interpretations.
I also came away feeling inspired by the other artists. Seeing how people presented their work, built their displays, and interacted with visitors gave me a lot of ideas for the future. It made me excited to keep expanding both my setup and the range of work I bring to future events. For a first market, I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth, shared a conversation, or took home a piece of my work. It truly was a memorable first market, and I'm already looking forward to the next one.
If you'd like to explore more of my photography and artwork, you can browse my gallery and print collections here on the website. I hope to see you at a future market soon.