starting a portfolio??

phil8139

phil8139

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Im looking at starting a portfolio.

Where do I start and where do I keep it? Printed or media or both? :shrug:

A basic question I know, but if I dont ask I dont get and I haven't got a clue about what should be in it. Im a budding sports photographer, basketball is my passion, I like a little macro work. I like to shoot lots of things to see what works for me.

Thanks in advance.

Phil.
 
Who's it for / what do you want to get out of it?

I keep an online folio (my website) which is just general work and personal stuff to point people at with my business card. So that's for randomly showing people, and for showing to potential clients.

Then for more specific things, such as approaching an agency or specific company, I'll do either a printed folio, or a small high res digital one to put on my laptop and go show them. This will be between 12-20 shots and targeted specifically at the person I'm going to see.

Don't know if that helps at all. :shrug:
 
Some interesting ideas and pictures on your website James, good food for thought. Good work btw.

I suppose I just need / want to get my library in order and get a collection of pictures to show who I am about.

Cheers for sharing your ideas. :thumbs:
 
You should tailor your portfolio towards the audience you want to see it. Keep it short, probably not more than 15 or 20 pictures. I keep mine in a posh ringbinder folder so I can swap and change what I include what I include as and when I like.
 
You definitely need to have your audience in mind when creating a portfolio. No good showing other sports people macro shots of insects!

I wanted to jump into creating a portfolio straight away but what I'm doing now is getting a few events under my belt so I can pick some nice ones. So I've created a blog type website which also shows a bunch of my pictures. Eventually I'll add a portfolio or different categories of pictures to the site.

It will definitely take time to build a nice portfolio, and if you want to display them online you'll probably take time choosing how to do that to.

I guess a nice ring binder is a good idea too, I'd prefer just an online one but that's my own preference and some people will prefer something they can hold.
 
I have a couple of those hard backed folders with clear plastic pages in at the moment. Which works well. Using ALDIprint you can get 12x8 prints for 34p at a fantastic quality so I regularly get prints done and add to or change the pictures so that I keep up to date. I am looking for a supply of better quality folders at the moment though as I add a wedding folder.
 
If it's sports you want, then you need to have the best shots you've taken. Be ruthless about what you want to include, and if you're unsure then scrap it.

The shots need to be technically superb, no under-exposure or missed focus. Sharp, and well-exposed with properly adjusted colour and contrast.

They should stand out to a viewer looking for the first time. A viewer shouldn't need a second look, they need to get a complete overview of everything you can produce straight away at first glance.

As for printed vs online...for agencies I've approached, I've never bothered with printed actually. The cost of postage and the uncertainty about whether it'll be received is too much.

If you're communicating with someone via email, then send them a gallery link.

I've sent you a PM too...
 
Keep your portfolio up to date with your BEST work only. Any shots you have even the slightest of worries about - don't use. I regularly receive and review portfolios (in the design industry and I don't think the photography world is much different) and you can soon tell the 'padding' and automatically dismiss it - I'd rather see a shorter portfolio, well presented, with outstanding work, rather than a longer one with good work and padding.

Be specific with your folio, (as someone else said) a sports agency will have no desire to see macro's. It would be worth keeping them separate whether you print or have an online galleriess.

As for print or online, I'd do both. You're first contact will probably be via online galleries, with follow ups possibly in person where you can tailor your portfolio for that meeting. A printed portfolio has a certain wow factor to it anyway, and can really enchance your images. Make sure all aspects of your galleries and folio are well presented in the appropriate format, with no mistakes or anything you have to 'vaguely' apologise for. You'd be surprised at how many people in interviews or meetings end up doing that.

Also worth considering is the order of the images - a good portfolio can tell a story and has logic behind it's arrangement. Images should be grouped together to make it flow rather than just being completely random. Make sure the last page has impact so the portfolio doesn't just end.

I know in the commercial photography world most of the top photographers have 'a book', basically a really top end printed folio.

Hope this helps,

Mark.
 
Thanks Mark, some good info.

What do you mean about 'padding'? :thinking: Im presuming it means filling out with lower quality/impact shots???

Phil
 
phil8139 said:
Thanks Mark, some good info.

What do you mean about 'padding'? :thinking: Im presuming it means filling out with lower quality/impact shots???

Phil
Click to expand...


Spot on,

quantity over quality..... when it should be quality over quantity as others said :)


all the best

:)
 
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