How to Create a Professional Photography Portfolio
For the aspiring photographer, as well as any other artist, a portfolio is an invaluable tool. When approaching potential employers or individual clients, most will ask to view your portfolio to see the kind of work you are capable of producing. A portfolio displays a small portion of your very best photographs in a sleek, straightforward fashion. Though some photographers prefer to arrange their portfolios chronologically or by subject matter, no defined order is required when assembling your own.
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Instructions
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Browse your entire collection of images. Pick out images which strike you as very good, or move the digital files into a new folder entitled "Portfolio." Continue until you have amassed 30 to 40 photographs.
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Look through the photographs you've collected with several friends or fellow photographers and request their input. When looking at each photograph, try to be objective in critiquing your work. Only set aside those which encapsulate your artistic vision and unique style. Narrow down your body of images to 15 or 20 excellent photographs by the end of the critique session.
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Make high-quality prints of your selected photographs. If you work mainly in 35mm film or digital format, standard 8- by 10-inch prints will suffice. For medium or large format film, opt for larger print sizes to emphasize the sharpness and tones in your images. Use a professional lab for best results.
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Place the prints in an artist's portfolio. If desired, you can place the photos in a thin mat frame prior to insertion in the portfolio. Avoid gluing the prints onto the portfolio pages to allow for the addition of new work.
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Write an artist's statement and place it at the front of the portfolio. This statement should lend your work clarity and a sense of purpose. Avoid being overly wordy, as the images in your portfolio should speak volumes about your vision. Ideally, an artist's statement is no longer than a paragraph or two.
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Tips & Warnings
Complement your physical portfolio with an online website or archive. If you are working with film, scan your images and upload them to a portfolio website. If you are a digital photographer, simply upload your high-resolution files to a host site.
Build new portfolios as you progress as a photographer.
Never include an image in your portfolio that you did not personally make, as this may result in legal consequences.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
