PhotoPlace Gallery — Attraction in Middlebury

I’ve been submitting work to PhotoPlace Gallery since May 2025. So far, I’ve been accepted into two shows and rejected from two others—which is completely normal. Every juror is different, and the competition is fierce. I'm batting 50% right now, and I’ll take it. I regularly submit photography, painting, and mixed-media pieces to galleries throughout New England. Each PhotoPlace show receives around 200 submissions (about 1,000 images total), and roughly 75 images are selected for the gallery and online exhibitions.

Yesterday, I drove up from Connecticut—three hours—to see my piece Tangle of Travelers on the gallery wall. My wife thought I was crazy and stayed home. But I met even crazier folks—one drove from Philadelphia, another from Tennessee.

I had emailed Zach (the owner) a couple of questions beforehand and received professional and thoughtful replies. I arrived early, scouted out the gallery, and had a great conversation with Zach before heading to The Mad Taco for lunch. I returned later for the 4:00 p.m. opening.

The gallery itself is small and charming—one of the oldest buildings in Middlebury, dating back to the 1700s. Inside, the vibe is warm and welcoming. The show was beautifully hung, and a digital display looped through the online selections. It was great to see that even the online-only pieces were being honored and presented in the space.

Meeting other photographers who made the trip was a highlight. Let’s be honest: we artists all have egos. So yes, seeing your work on the wall next to strong, compelling images is personally affirming.

Now, about the business model—I’ve read reviews calling this a “scam.” I questioned that myself at first. But no, it’s not a scam. It’s a business. Unless you’re grant-funded, galleries need income to survive. Open calls at most galleries involve entry fees. Even local member galleries often charge to enter shows.

Juried shows mean not everyone gets in—that’s the nature of it. If you were the juror faced with 200 artists submitting five images each, that’s 1,000 pieces to review and just 75 spots. Inevitably, some very good work won’t make the cut. That’s part of the game.

If you’re growing as a photographer and looking to build your CV, you probably already have a website, Instagram, or Facebook presence. On your “Exhibitions” page, you can list:

The shows you've been accepted into, and

The publications you’re in—because PhotoPlace Gallery publishes a catalog for every show. That means your work is in print, your name and website are listed, and the book is available for purchase. (Yes, it’s another revenue stream—but Zach’s not making millions off it.)

One thing I’d love? A published list of upcoming show themes for the next 4–6 months. That way I could shoot intentionally with those themes in mind, rather than digging through past work to fit the current call.

In conclusion: If you’re in Middlebury, VT, PhotoPlace Gallery is absolutely worth a visit. Each month brings a new theme and a fresh set of artists and jurors. If you’re a photographer looking to get your work out there, this gallery is a solid part of any marketing strategy—and more importantly, it’s a space to see your work in context with other passionate creatives. Rejection is part of the process, but so is the affirmation that your art belongs.

I’ll continue to support Zach and what he’s doing at PhotoPlace Gallery. And if he ever decides to lower the entry fees—I...

• Warning Vanity Gallery*

It’s a scam.

This gallery makes its money off high submission fees and printing fees. Real, above board, well run galleries and shows don’t charge fees just to submit your art/photos.

It s run-down, tiny, out-of-the-way hole in the wall in an alley. They aren’t making money off selling art, they are making it off submission fees. The owner will admit as much if you ask him, and probably call you names for asking. They aren’t promoting artists or their shows.

They have a fairly active social media and online community, but they don’t link to the photographers personal accounts and barely credit them. They don’t have gallery openings or community. Legit galleries post links to the artists pages and will share posts from those artists on their social media, it’s a mutual beneficial publicity relationship. Legit galleries have events and shows to bring in viewers and buyers. Legit galleries have one show at a time and space their work to showcase the artists/photographers.

Even artists that are chosen for Photoplaces shows get nothing for their money.

Imagine they get 50 submissions for a show. They charge $35 to $50 a submission fee. They only accept 10 photos. They make $1400+ for absolutely nothing. That is the definition of a scam. They run multiple shows at a time in their tiny crowded gallery.

Not worth submitting to.

The gallery owner claims he needs the high submission fees to stay open because he’s not selling art and doesn’t know how to run a gallery.

Save your money, submit elsewhere. There are better galleries and photo clubs in VT. The library in Middlebury and several of the coffee houses run galleries and will let you hang your art/photos for free and they are high...

I’m truly honored to have been accepted into the TRAVEL: People, Places, Things exhibition juried by the esteemed Laura Moya. From submission to acceptance and through to the actual exhibit, Zach and his team managed everything with professionalism and care.

Some reviews might rate PhotoPlace Gallery poorly, but my experience was very different. The fact that they only host juried exhibitions shows a strong level of curation, which is essential when it comes to photography showcases. As a rule, I only submit work to juried exhibitions because I want my work to be judged by someone more established in the photography community. I don't mind the submission fees as I know it is important to pay the people reviewing and handling my work.

I also appreciated that they promoted my photograph on their social media channels. As someone who lives far away, being able to view the exhibition online was a wonderful experience. It made me feel connected and proud to be part of such a thoughtfully produced show.

In the future, if there is another juried exhibition that fits the theme of the photos I've taken, I will definitely submit again to Photoplace Gallery. My experience with them is truly superb and...