I’ve gotten a little bit addicted to print exchanges, which probably explains why I’ve organized a few of them (and more to come, I think!). Looking at art someone else made and then mailed to me is hugely inspiring, and knowing that others are holding my art in their hands and looking at it too is weirdly validating.
I wanted to share a quick list of things I’ve learned that make the experience even better, as well as some pitfalls to avoid:
Do:
Consider adding a touch of personalization in the envelope with your print. I like to write a letter or note giving a small amount of context around the photo, why I took it, what it means to me, and maybe even some technical details like the camera/film/lens/filter(s) I used, if the recipient seems like the type to appreciate that.
Sign and date your print. Even if you got it printed at CVS, it’s your art. Stick your name on the back, and the date you had it printed! I often include the date of capture as well. If you ever become famous, the grandchildren of your recipient(s) will be very glad to have your mark on the print when they sell it for billions of NuCreds on futuristic eBay.
Let your recipients know when you’ve sent their prints. They’ll be waiting excitedly to get them, and if something goes wrong in transit, they’ll know that it wasn’t just you blowing them off.
Put your Reddit username somewhere in or on the envelopes you send out. Otherwise your recipients might not know who to thank on r/printexchange!
Say thanks to the people who send you prints. I have a dedicated space on my office wall for rotating in and out various artworks I exchange with others. I love to tell someone that they made the wall, but even if you don’t have space to display what you receive, a thank-you makes the experience better for everyone.
Don’t:
Accidentally trigger customs for your international recipient. This is a big one. Many countries, especially in the EU, have VATs or customs fees that can be triggered when a package, particularly a valuable one, arrives from out of the country. I’ve heard stories of friends in the EU being forced to pay €20-30 just to claim an 8x10 print, because the customs office arbitrarily assigned a high value to the artwork inside. If you make sure to send as a letter instead of a package, and specify that the letter contains a document or a gift (rather than a product or ware), then your recipient should be able to claim it for free. Besides that, you’ll be able to mail it for a lot less than it costs to send a package, and the only thing you’ll really be giving up is a tracking number. Ask your friendly post office worker for help if you’re not sure how to get things sent the right way.
Try to send without a proper name. While sometimes you can get away with addressing something to u/your_mom_69_420, using a real name on the envelope significantly increases the chances that your print will actually be delivered.
Ghost people. Sometimes life happens and you just can’t send your prints, or maybe you can’t send them on time. Communicating this with your recipient(s), and/or the organizer of the exchange, can go a long way toward smoothing things out. Some exchanges will even re-assign people so your exit from the exchange doesn’t impact others. But nothing is more disheartening than sending prints out and receiving none.