How do YOU present your print portfolio?

[Mario.]

Looking for ideas for print portfolios. I am wondering what photographers are using to show off their work to clients, BESIDES a web/virtual portfolio. :)

[canuck88]

I use a book of my images that I had printed (you can do these at a multitude of places including shutterfly, blurb, windflash, etc). I'm thinking of switching to a contract/portfolio all-in-one as Jon from Slantphoto posted in the forums... I'm waiting for him to send me a sample.

[Mario.]

I use a book of my images that I had printed (you can do these at a multitude of places including shutterfly, blurb, windflash, etc). I'm thinking of switching to a contract/portfolio all-in-one as Jon from Slantphoto posted in the forums... I'm waiting for him to send me a sample.

Thanks for your reply!

Frankly, I'm somewhat scared here. I've gotten one reply on a topic that I would imagine is fairly important to anyone who has a business in photography. :oops:

[atomick]

While my portfolio is more art based (and therefore I use a 13 x 19 portfolio with sleeves, so I can re-order as needed), as a creative director I got a lot of portfolio books from professionals. The nicest ones came in aluminum boxes and were spiral bound or loose leaf (believe it or not I love loose leaf prints in a box - easy to spread out, sort through); below that came the professional Blurb.com-level actual books. Below that came the spiral-bound inkjet prints (we actually loved these because it sold the work and the prints were awesome, less focus on the packaging). Below that came the Shutterfly-esque printed books.

That's just my opinion, though. I think the long and the short of it is that there are a ton of form factors to choose from and at the end of the day it's the quality of the prints that matter more. Nice packaging does infer some thinking in terms of marketing, self-promotion, and self-branding, which is nice to have but very, very secondary to the work itself.

Many pro art buyers do not like to solely rely on Web sites, but I've got no problem hiring directly from the web before as long as the images shown are at a hefty size. But I'm new school like that. :)

FWIW,
-Atomick

[Time Thief]

I use a TAP self stick album. I got the 10 pages/20 sides one and just started putting my pics in it. The only problem with that type of album is once they are stuck, they are stuck and there is no taking one out and replacing it. Now that I have filled it, I am a little pissed at myself as I don't have any baby pics in this one. I now figure that I will get another one that is 5 pages/10 sides for just baby pics. Hope this helps. Mark

[StMarc]

I have about a half-dozen 11x14 portfolios. These are leather cases which open on three sides with a zipper to become ring-bound books with removeable pages. I got most of them as gifts, but I've also bought a few from http://www.dickblick.com, which is where I also get replacement pages. Here's an example:

http://www.dickblick.com/zz150/10/

M

[CanonXTuser]

bump.

I am trying to figure out how to present images that I want to mail out to prospective clients, seeking work.

Like to hear what others do.

I also understand that portfolios, prints and books/photobooks are not considered commercial use but fall under the allowable or editorial use of photos [figures, events, sports, music, street, etc].

[CanonXTuser]

While my portfolio is more art based (and therefore I use a 13 x 19 portfolio with sleeves, so I can re-order as needed), as a creative director I got a lot of portfolio books from professionals. The nicest ones came in aluminum boxes and were spiral bound or loose leaf (believe it or not I love loose leaf prints in a box - easy to spread out, sort through); below that came the professional Blurb.com-level actual books. Below that came the spiral-bound inkjet prints (we actually loved these because it sold the work and the prints were awesome, less focus on the packaging). Below that came the Shutterfly-esque printed books.

That's just my opinion, though. I think the long and the short of it is that there are a ton of form factors to choose from and at the end of the day it's the quality of the prints that matter more. Nice packaging does infer some thinking in terms of marketing, self-promotion, and self-branding, which is nice to have but very, very secondary to the work itself.

Many pro art buyers do not like to solely rely on Web sites, but I've got no problem hiring directly from the web before as long as the images shown are at a hefty size. But I'm new school like that. :)

FWIW,
-Atomick

Really great info. Thanks. Wish we had more creative and art directors on forum.

One thing though - some of those kits sound really expensive

[John Mireles]

One thing though - some of those kits sound really expensive Some are. Photographers will spend thousands on their portfolio. That's how they make their money and, given that a lot of advertising jobs run in the tens of thousands if not hundred thousand or more, a great book will quickly pay for itself. I just saw another photographers book that was printed and bound like a hefty magazine - except thread was wrapped around the outside for the binding. That was probably a $10,000 production budget.

On the other hand, I've put together books that were spiral bound at kinkos. I'd keep them in their kinkos bag just to play up the low tech feel. Art buyers loved it. The cost was something like 10 bucks including the prints.

Whatever you do, don't come in with some half-baked presentation. Don't show prints of different sizes or your book in tatters. You'd be surprised what some photographers think is okay. It's not.

You just want to have great work that's easily viewed. The presentation shouldn't get in the way. It's nice though when it communicates something about your personality. Don't come up with some heavy monstrosity either - most Art Buyers are female and they're not going to break their back to lug your book over to their cube. They'll just send it back untouched.

Art directors will laugh though when they get some big fancy book in the door and the work is mediocre. The presentation doesn't matter if the work sucks. Likewise, if you're going to do some fancy presentation, your work had better kick ass. Actually, your work had better kick ass if you're going to get the job. In general, it's always helpful to have great work. Life is much easier that way.

John

[TroyRaymond]

I bought a 18"x18" leather scrapbook album. Then purchased the black page/paper and replaced all the sheets. I display the 8x10 photos naked (with no covering) but keep a thin piece of felt between the photos when closed (also from the scrapbook section). Each photo has a couple double faced tape pieces made for photos around the edges, then small 1" L shaped vinyl (sticker) pieces on each corner for good measure.

So far everyone loves it and no comments have been made about the felt. Customers seem to take more time viewing the photos... Treating them like they're fragile. ;)

I have been designing a book too.

Troy

[MrsKitty]

I have done a lot of freelancing for some magazines. How does one present this work?

Do I use tear sheets? On the b/w magazine shots, is it OK to also display the color images alongside the b/w?

Thanks! :)

[disneydork06]

I have about a half-dozen 11x14 portfolios. These are leather cases which open on three sides with a zipper to become ring-bound books with removeable pages. I got most of them as gifts, but I've also bought a few from http://www.dickblick.com, which is where I also get replacement pages. Here's an example:

http://www.dickblick.com/zz150/10/

M
Those are some great stuff on that website. thank you so much for sharing. would like it if more people would chime in on here :-)

so yeah, I'm getting ready to present my images to the faculty at my school. (almost ready to graduate! woohoo!) anyways, it's kinda weird but the teacher in charge of the program does not want us to use any plastic covering for the storage of the photos. any other recommendations? I'm thinking about going for the itoya art profolio professional presentation book.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz152/35/

yay or nays? my shots I'm presenting are fashion with dresses. hope this works.

[slappy sam]

What size prints do you guys normally use for portfolios? 11x14 would seem like the best size to me. What about weird aspect ratios like 8x12?

[symphony-x]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/levibassist/portfoliolayout1.jpg

a3 size, photos of showing the portfolio aint great but you get the jist

[disneydork06]

my stuff will be at about 11x14 in size.

[slappy sam]

Levi,
Nice portfolio (and work in there). Where did you get your portfolio from? I want to pick up one locally if possible but I dont know where to go - maybe office max/staples or micheals?

[Mike Photo]

I'm interested in what types of photography people are using these portfolios for especially those who mail them to clients. I use regular 8x10 itoya portfolios but i typically only use them for when I'm out and people ask to see my work or when meeting a new photographer for assistant work.

Hey slappy I grew up in plymouth still live on the south shore too.
Mike Photo

[symphony-x]

Levi,
Nice portfolio (and work in there). Where did you get your portfolio from? I want to pick up one locally if possible but I dont know where to go - maybe office max/staples or micheals?

Thanks, if you google portfolio cases, there should be a website comes up with a huge host of them, I used that.

[PhotosGuy]

What is your portfolio (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=443217)

[disneydork06]

anyone know the difference between the polypropylene and polyglass sheet protectors? I'm looking for something that won't really crinkle in the sun and distort the colors and be all "unprofessional" as my teacher said...

[slappy sam]

What is your portfolio (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=443217)
Thanks for the link, but with all due respect, I posted in that thread and I didn't find the nature of the thread very similar to this one. I think that thread was more about print vs. online portfolio, whereas this one is discussing the actual physical portfolio type (box, binder, leather bound, book, etc.) that you use to display your work.

I'm also always amazed at the amount of links you are able to dig up :D Dunno how you do it! But I do appreciate the fact that you aren't always telling people to just search, but provide them relevant links instead.

[PhotosGuy]

I posted in that thread and I didn't find the nature of the thread very similar to this one. But if you take the time to look at the bottom, there are links to "Similar Threads" which provide more information. I'm also always amazed at the amount of links you are able to dig up A lot of them are already posted in the forum "Sticky"s, so I just copied them to Notepad & use Edit > Find to pull them up. This sh!t ain't all that hard? ;)

[slappy sam]

A lot of them are already posted in the forum "Sticky"s, so I just copied them to Notepad & use Edit > Find to pull them up. This sh!t ain't all that hard? ;)
I figured you had a notepad/word document with all those in it ;)

[travsirocz]

I want to do either a 8X10 print in a 11X14 mat in a box or a 11X14 photo that has a large white border (like a PS mat) on a Gator Board or foam core, again in a box. Which one sounds better? I think the gator board will keep the image completely flat where the mat wont. The real mat will look better.

[quiksquirrel]

Mine is a handmade book measuring roughly 12X18 inches. Brown leather cover and black pages of linen paper with white acid free Separator pages.

I chose to do make it all black and very simple, so that it would not draw attention away from the photos, but still look nice and professional.

A good portfolio should bring out the best in the photos. Just like the perfect frame can sometimes complete a photo.
For that exact reason, I am currently making a new portfolio that better matches the style of photos I'm doing these days.

A portfolio may be a work of art in itself, but if it go with the photos you put in it, both photos and book will suffer.

Perhaps I just think to much about these things :-P

[travsirocz]

Mine is a handmade book measuring roughly 12X18 inches. Brown leather cover and black pages of linen paper with white acid free Separator pages.

I chose to do make it all black and very simple, so that it would not draw attention away from the photos, but still look nice and professional.

A good portfolio should bring out the best in the photos. Just like the perfect frame can sometimes complete a photo.
For that exact reason, I am currently making a new portfolio that better matches the style of photos I'm doing these days.

A portfolio may be a work of art in itself, but if it go with the photos you put in it, both photos and book will suffer.

Perhaps I just think to much about these things :-P

Do you have any photos of it? Love to see it.