How to Drop Off an Illustration Portfolio

Being a freelance illustrator is a dream job for most artists. Having your work exposed to many people is exciting. But how does one drop off a portfolio for consideration? This article should help with the process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Research publishers and make sure they are interested in your particular style of art before you go around dropping portfolios off to every publisher. This will help you not waste your time and the time of the art director's. One way to research is by going to a bookstore and looking at books and their publishers to see which illustrators have similiar styles.
2. Once you have created a list of publishers, call ahead and make sure they are accepting portfolio submissions. If you would like to go one step further you could ask the art director's name and ask if they would be willing to review your portfolio while you are there.
3. Once you know the art director's name, you should make your submission more personalized by including the art director's name.
4. Once you have the information on the publishers and your portfolios are put together, you may go ahead and start planning your trip to drop off your submissions.
5. Making the portfolios is key. Make sure your work in the portfolio refelects the works that art directors on your list are looking for. Be sure to make plenty of copies of your work that aren't too expensive (in case they get lost) and that the portfolio is just big enough for the art director to be able to open it up at her desk to look at it.
6. Now start dropping them off. This can be a time-consuming step in the process.
7. When the portfolios are ready to be picked up, show up ready to answer questions. If the art director is impressed, they may want to personally meet with you.

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