By Lisa Jenkins
The portfolio is the most important tool in the professional photographer's arsenal. It is not just a selection of your best work as a professional photographer; it is also a marketing and networking tool. The quality of your portfolio will definitely help open doors, acquire more clients and establish your career as an artist and a professional. There are a few different methods of presenting your professional work. How you present it depends almost entirely on what specific career you hope to enter into. Nevertheless, it is always important to prepare your best work in at least two or three different methods and to have multiple portfolios that focus on one specific narrative or theme. This shows that not only can you create beautiful images, but also that you can edit your own work.
See the tips below on how different methods of presenting your portfolio, which portfolios work best for which profession and how to create a strong portfolio.
Methods of Presentation
Print: Print portfolios are collections of printed photographs. No matter how many inroads digital technology makes into photography, it is always beneficial to have a physical portfolio to hand to prospective employers and/or clients. Several professions require a physical portfolio. If you hope to show a gallery or want to do editorial work for a fashion or travel magazine, you will definitely need a print portfolio. As a photographer, you will want to familiarize yourself with printing technologies (digital and analog, to be sure), but if you do not have the time or capacity to print work yourself, collaborate with a custom printer or lab technician. Portfolios range in size from images featuring 35 mm photography printed on 8.5" x 11" archival paper to medium- and large-format photography printed on sizes up to 16" x 20". Photo editors, fashion photographers and others also feature tear sheets of their published work in their portfolios.
Online Portfolio
Every photographer must have a high-quality Web site to show off his or her work. It is far too expensive to mail portfolios. If it is not possible to deliver a portfolio in person, hire a professional web designer to create a Web site for you. Web sites are not only great ways to feature your best work, they are excellent for networking, marketing and promoting your work. Your Web site can also feature tear sheets of your published work, as well as selections from some of your best photography.
Image Galleries
Some organizations and professional associations let photographers upload their portfolios online. This can be especially beneficial for the burgeoning photographer because you will get to network with more established photographers who may offer much-needed advice. Prospective clients, employers, corporations and individuals are also easily able to search for your work.
Four Tips on Building Your Best Portfolio
Become Prolific: In order to build your best portfolio, you need to have images to add to it. Photographers often add to their personal and professional work to their portfolios, but if you plan to work in advertising or other commercial areas, it is best to stick with previously published images. This shows that other people thought well enough of your work to pay you for it, and they are, therefore, more likely to hire you, commission you or buy your work.
Choose a Theme
If you an aspiring fashion photographer, your images will obviously feature editorial fashion shots. Nevertheless, there should also be a common theme. Will your portfolio feature candid shots of models on location or will the focus be on hair and makeup in studios or backstage? A portfolio of architectural photography might feature exterior shots of industrial buildings printed on large-format archival-quality paper.
Edit: After you decide on a theme for your portfolio, edit. Edit, edit, edit. It cannot be stressed enough that editing is crucial for any photographer. Once you have chosen a theme for your portfolio, stick to it. Editing a portfolio often involves the task of what order to present your images in, what size on which to print your images, whether to present them in black and white, color or a combination of both. No matter how you decide how to edit your work, themes and aesthetics should remain consistent.
Present: Lastly, you must decide how you will present your portfolio. Different photographers present their work differently. How you choose to present your work falls along industry practices and personal tastes. For example, anytime you present your portfolio for work in an editorial publication, it is common to include tear sheets of previously published work. Look at what other professional photographers are doing and how they present their work. Better yet, consult a gallery owner, photo editor or professional in your association or organization for assistance.
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