Party pics w/flash... include in "portfolio"?

Hey,

I currently have a barebone site with a single "gallery". I intend on expanding this gallery, I will be giving out business cards to anybody that may be interested. I guess this could be considered an online portfolio.

I've always read that you only include your *BEST* work in your portfolio.

Anyway, I've recently done a bar/bat-mitzvah gig and I'm considering updating my "portfolio" with some of this event photography. A lot of these shots were posed, everybody all dressed up, though there are some "action" shots of dancing and people having fun. However, this was in a dark restaurant, so I had to use my Speedlite for the main source of light.

Thankfully, there are hardly any photos with redeye (only one I believe, that was a massive group shot).

The thing I'm concerned about is, the photography isn't very ... nice. It's not bad, if I say so myself, but it's just.. nothing special. I'm just not very good at flash photography, and I didn't bother with dragging the shutter with "cool" effects because I wanted to catch everything.

When I get permission from the family, I'll post some of these shots.

Should I post some of these shots in my "gallery" or should I just skip it completely since there's nothing that I'm really proud of? The shots were kinda like this one:

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I would only include photos that I would be prepared to pay someone else to take. IMO the above looks like an average snapshot. I know you can do better, so I would not include it in your portfolio.

Kevin, I believe that with this one sentence you have answered your own query. Don't put anything in your portfolio you are not happy with, or prepared to pay someone else to take as Big_B stated.

If you don't like your work, how can you sell it?

If you're not sure about whether to use it, don't. Your portfolio is how prospects are going to evaluate you. If it doesn't reach out and grab them, they won't reach out and grab you.

If you can, create another section on your site for event photos, and have a little explantion of what they are. Then pick your better 15-20 photos from each event and put them on.

I have a Portfolio and a Event Galleries section

That sentence answered your own question. Nothing but the absolute best gets in a portfoilio, regardless of print or online.

All this begs the question, what's the difference between a portfolio and an online gallery? Right now, I only have a single gallery. I wish to put my shots up on the 'net for everyone to see, as a display of what I've done and (to future customers) what I can do for you.

I'm not too worried about having a formal portfolio, I don't intend on applying to a school or applying for a job as a photographer anytime soon. I just want some work on the 'net to show everyone.

I kinda like Eric's idea. Though as of right now, I don't have (m)any "perfect" shots to go in my portfolio.

This is what I really meant: Would it be a bad idea to include a shot like above in my online "gallery" to show customers what I can offer them. I didn't even notice, but I cut off my poor friend's finger. I have some excellent shots from my last gig, but tips of toes were cut off due to space restraints and lack of wide end on my lenses. However, these are really nice "action" shots and I'm sure my friends will be happy with them even with the little imperfections.

Thoughts?

Kev, I'm a little confused about what you are trying to achieve here. You said that you were going to hand out links to the site on buisness cards but you've also said that you aren't trying to apply for a job. I don't see a distinction between applying for a formal job and showing your people your work in the hope of getting comissioned to carry out specific projects, so I'm rather confused about your motivations.

If you could answer that question, I'm sure we could give you much better advice about what to include/exclude from your portfolio.

Big_B, sorry, you're right. In most cases I do intend to just show friends and family my work, hoping that they may consider me as their photographer. So, yes, you're right, it is pretty much a job. (I was thinking of applying to FHM or something..)

Would this mean I shouldn't have a gallery up at all?

Kev,

If you are hoping that they would pay you for it, I'd treat the portfolio in exactly the same way as an FHM application (although the subject matter might be slightly different ). Anyway, it's what I said before, only put up work that you think people will be prepared to pay for. That's not to say that every photo should be technically perfect. You aren't taking them in a studio and so allowances have to be made. Personally I'd be surprised if more then 1% of your customers even noticed that her fingers were cut off, let alone cared about it.

However, the work still needs to be of high quality. If its not you either won't get any work, or the work you do get will be at "mate's rates". You said you were weak at flash photography, so work at improving on that. Once you've done that, start putting a portfolio together. When you've a good portfolio of strong pictures, then start touting for work. First impressions count.

(all my not-so-humble opinion you understand )

If you're posting the pictures to encourage other people to call you when they need photos, put up your best stuff. If you're posting photos solely for the enjoyment and memories of the people who were at a given event, put up everything that's not embarrassing. But don't even think about trying to mix the two purposes, because someone won't understand. Have a separate URL, or at least a separate directory, for each purpose, and control the access to the "enjoyment and memories" site if you can.