Job Interview / Portfolio Question

I've been contacted by the Parks & Recreation department of my town, and was given very few details over the phone. From what i deduce, they are interested in hiring me as a photographer for certain events and other things, and just keeping me on as a part-time staff photographer of some sort - a position that currently doesn't exist.

I am strictly a hobbyist photographer, and I guess they contacted me simply because of photos of mine they viewed online. I am extremely interested in picking this up as a part-time job. So I a guess any advice or information about the business of photography that I should know about before going into this meeting would probably be very helpful. What might be be suitable payment for someone who has never done any professional work before? the moment i am guaranteed any sort of payment from photography is the moment i will upgrade my camera body - if nothing else, just to appear more professional.

It wasn't mentioned, and although they have looked at my work online, i'm going to bring in some prints of my work for them to see. what are some suggestions of how i can organize a portfolio at least somewhat professionally, and in just a few days?

any help or pointers would be extremely appreciated, thanks!

well, i'm preparing some prints today. any idea how i should present them?

If they liked your work, why should whether you've been paid for it before enter into the discussion? Ask what you're worth to them?

I don't see where that's necessary? "Upgrade" when what you have has paid for the upgrade. OTOH, you could get a light meter too & hang it around your neck, if you want to be like the poster who said, "It will make me look more profeshional". Yes, he misspelled it.

A dozen of your very best should do it.
What is your portfolio

re: portfolio

edit, edit, edit. Post it here if you need help editing it down. Be brutal. No one will remember a portfolio is small if it wowed them... they sure will remember if they thought an image was mediocre.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #8839457
OTOH, you could get a light meter too & hang it around your neck, if you want to be like the poster who said, "It will make me look more profeshional". Yes, he misspelled it. A dozen of your very best should do it.

Classic

Add a director's finder and tell them 'doing stills is usually below me' but you'll listen to their offer.

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PhotosGuy wrote in post #8839457
If they liked your work, why should whether you've been paid for it before enter into the discussion? Ask what you're worth to them?
I don't see where that's necessary? "Upgrade" when what you have has paid for the upgrade. OTOH, you could get a light meter too & hang it around your neck, if you want to be like the poster who said, "It will make me look more profeshional". Yes, he misspelled it. A dozen of your very best should do it.
What is your portfolio

thanks for the link. my comment about upgrading my body was mostly tongue-in-cheek. i've had no problem justifying buying glass, since i buy second-hand so they won't depreciate much and last forever. i may at the very least updgrade my xsi to a 40d, because i've struggled with concert photography with the xsi a bit.

for the portfolio, should i leave the prints loose for them to sort through, or should i have them bound in some way?

also, if i know that it was a certain set of photos that piqued their interest, should i make sure that set is well represented, or should i show them what else i can do? nothing that i've done before is going to be close to what they are hiring me for - but hey, they contacted me, right?

Some people put them in a book. I prefer then loose as some are mounted on black art board, some are flush mounted, & some are transparencys. For car guys, I have a book I made two years ago. See my Sig.
A few prints outside their area of interest wouldn't hurt IF you get the feeling that they'd like to see more. I let them look through the prints at their own speed, & would put those on the bottom. If you have one of those that you think is especially great, I might lead off with that one.

If you leave any prints loose that have a gloss finish, they will be "one-time" prints as they suck up finger oils and dirt. Matte papers have a better chance of surviving if you want to show them loose from a display box. Any finish mounted on black art board looks great and removes the chance to muss with the prints themselves. Portfolio cases with plastic sheaths are OK but the plastic definitely takes some of the pop away.

Moooney wrote in post #8840209
for the portfolio, should i leave the prints loose for them to sort through, or should i have them bound in some way?

also, if i know that it was a certain set of photos that piqued their interest, should i make sure that set is well represented, or should i show them what else i can do? nothing that i've done before is going to be close to what they are hiring me for - but hey, they contacted me, right?

No do not show them loose. Put them in a very nice portfolio. PRESENTATION is all part of it. Show what they are talking about hiring you to shoot with the majority of the work you show them.

Congrats Moooney - that's a nice contact you've rec'd. I've also done some volunteer shooting for the local district here... it's fun, creative, you get to see your stuff in print now and then... and rewarding. Mine is strictly as one of the park's volunteers so there is no monetary compensation.

I haven't done shown any "interview" portfolios lately, but I have filled a number of these Itoya Art Portfolio's that can be purchased in many art supply stores:

http://www.utrechtart.​com …ew_product.cfm?​item=98015

They come in many sizes, lay flat, take up little room and stack nicely. You just slide the print in between the archival acetate (or whatever) pages. I use an Epson R1800 for output to 13x19 which fits nicely in that size book, each one hold 40 prints.

Utrecht very often has sales coupons or free shipping so there are usually deals to be had. But like TheHoff says, leave those glossies loose and they won't be glossy for long. - Stu

I absolutely totally agree with Allen here. If you just have them tossed loose in a box or a bag, that implies you show little respect or care for display and future of your work.

In addition to presentation books, you may want to consider matting some of the nicer work.... not a lot of pieces as that will be bulky and cumbersome.... but a best shot or two that may be enhanced by an attactivley cut mat. No frames though. - Stu

airfrogusmc wrote in post #8844555
No do not show them loose. Put them in a very nice portfolio. PRESENTATION is all part of it. Show what they are talking about hiring you to shoot with the majority of the work you show them.

sapearl wrote in post #8844577
I absolutely totally agree with Allen here. If you just have them tossed loose in a box or a bag, that implies you show little respect or care for display and future of your work.

In addition to presentation books, you may want to consider matting some of the nicer work.... not a lot of pieces as that will be bulky and cumbersome.... but a best shot or two that may be enhanced by an attactivley cut mat. No frames though. - Stu

If you do show them loose get a clam shell type portfolio case to put mounted, over matted prints in. Its big and kind of awkward. A really nice portfolio with clear archival insert type pages are a great tool for presentation.

the fact that i don't know what sort of services they are expecting from me has me skeptical about my portfolio. they contacted me because of shots they saw that i took at a local music festival - shots that in my opinion are extremely mediocre. so at least they probably don't have any unrealistic expectations of me.

i printed thirteen 8x10"s that i will present in a decent binder.