Building a portfolio

[Claire]

I have in a way already begun to build up a portfolio, but I feel that I want to be more focused. A journalist friend of mine told me I really should put together a proper one. He went through some of my shots and told me which ones he thought should go into the portfolio, but I'd like some more advice.

So, what should I include? Let's say that it's a newspaper Editor who'll see it. I mainly have nature shots, candids and portraits. What else should I try to put in there? And how many pics should I really have??

Would love some input.

/Claire

[robertwgross]

You can build a portfolio, but keep it flexible and easily customized.

Then, when you show it to somebody in the newspaper business, you show them only the photojournalism shots. When you show it to somebody in a nature magazine business, you show them only the wildlife and sunrise shots. When you show it to somebody about wedding photography, you show them only the shots that you will take next springtime at the wedding.

---Bob Gross---

[jaypie77]

Are hardcopy portfolios still preferred?

[Claire]

Thanks guys. I do like the idea of keeping the portfolio flexible with a bit of "everything" in it. I'm just feeling a bit short on ideas to what exactly I should put in it. :oops:

[dhbailey]

I'm not a PJ, not even a professional photographer, but the criteria for submitting a portfolio would be similar for many different fields, so here are some suggestions, you can take them for what they're worth:

One thing you could do is to attend public events and photograph them so you can include pictures of actual newsworthy events. Things like local school sports, any public events where the mayor will be speaking (or other newsworthy government official) like ribbon-cuttings or first-shovelfulls-of-dirt for new businesses or new construction.

I would think that having it organized and customizable will be wise -- professionals such as editors haven't got all day, and it is quite likely that if they don't see something early on in their perusal of your portfolio they'll just say "No thanks."

Be courteous so they don't feel you're wasting their time -- if they're thinking of hiring you to photograph bloody auto accidents, cute pictures of your daughter's birthday party probably won't do anything to persuade them.

Show them how you can capture a tense or emotionally upsetting moment with objectivity, show they how you can capture, as someone else quoted Bresson, the defining moment of an event. Get the basketball just as it is going into the net, not as it is dropping through.

Also be prepared not to get your portfolio back, at least for a while. Don't put your only copies of any pictures into it.

I would advise coming up with a digital version as well as a hard-copy version, since many editors are working entirely in the digital realm while others are still of the old school and would prefer seeing printed photos. You can ask before submitting.

Whatever you do, don't include a zillion pictures. Include a few which show your work at its best. An editor may well simply pass over examining a portfolio that he/she feels will take a long time.

Good luck! There really isn't any one method of building a portfolio which would work for everybody.

[IndyJeff]

Now don't anyone quote me on this but, I seem to remember that when submitting a portfolio you should have 6-10 images. I may be wrong on that so feel free to correct me. Strong, bold, the best of the best in your collection sjould make up you portfolio. Let 4 or 5 different people pick out 20 shots they think are the best then, let a photographer look at them. You might only have 3 or 4 that are portfolio material.
One thing I do know, never ever, ever submit a portfolio and apologize for one of the images...."If you see the one of the clown, that is a little soft but the lighting was bad and he was moving around so I had to get the best one I had." An editor or customer who will be reviewing this portfolio will immediately turn to that image and look at it and wonder why you put a bad image in your portfolio.
Now if they ask about the clown image being a little soft before you bring it to thhier attention, simply say that is way I wanted it to be. I didn't want that to be crisp and clear. I like how the softness blends the colors more than a sharp defined edge would have if it was shot sharp. Then as soon as you get home take that image out and hang it in your closet or something but never ever submit it again.

You can also have your portfolio built for different applications, 1 for portraits, and others for newsworthy items such as action sports or features. You do want to bring the right images for the interview. Nothing looks worse than showing off your great images from the cemetary to a bridal magazine. How depressing huh? LOL

edit:
Geez I can't believe I almost forgot this....if you have any shots published, an 8x10 of them with a business card mounted at the bottom stating the publication, and date of publication can be a real zinger.

[swatcop169]

Hey guys, I'm currently looking into this myself, not for the PJ side of things, but more along the lines of Freelance, call for hire, etc.

Any good tips? Where to start?

[leony]

The portfolio you make is primarily dictated by the purpose, audience and ultimately your market.

If you're pursuing editorial and fashion realms, a 20-page book holding 40 11x14 images is what you need to show editors in magazines, model agencies, boutique owners.

If you're pursuing weddings, you need to have "sample albums" that show possibilities from the weddings you previously shot. one wedding - one album.

For portraits, a selection of 15-20 portraits will do.

I don't know about PJ - but there are many talented people to help you here with that.

The idea of sending work on disk is not a practical one if you're targeting people that deal with images on regular basis. The problem is you can't control other's environment so what looks good on your monitor might look washed out or too dark on another. Post-card promos mentioned by Bloo Dog don't change their look signifficantly depending on the monitor the recepient uses. they are also more immediate.

nothing beats a website along with a tergeted mailing of those promo cards to a finely edited list of 150 recipients.

While assisting one particularly gifter photographer based in New York City that shoots for: FHM-type magazines, Marie Clare, and Gap Kids all at the same time as well as some catalogues for shoe boutiques. He has 5 different portfolio books, and each one is used to showcase releavant work to potential clients. By keeping all portfolios separate (having enough work to fill all 5 books with recent and relevant materials is no easy task) when hired to shoot children for Gap, no one sees his glamour portfolio or his images of shoes.

most important thing to ask: what does your competition use?