Building that All-Important Portfolio
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 @ 03:53
At some point in time every photographer is going to want to put together a portfolio or some kind of collection of photos, possibly all around the same theme or purpose. For example, if you are an amateur today, but think you might like to move into wedding photography to make a bit of extra money, you might want to put together a portfolio that showcases some of your most creative work in this arena.
A portfolio should never contain more than twenty to twenty-five photos. Each one should be selected for a unique perspective it brings to the overall collection. There is nothing wrong with a photographer having several portfolios, each with a different theme or purpose, but just be aware that a portfolio is designed to be viewed by someone other than family and friends and they are not going to want to take the time to page through a large number of photos.
Building a portfolio should be looked upon as a continuing process. There is nothing wrong with replacing photos over time with ones that are even better. Just make sure that every photo is as perfect as it can be, especially if this portfolio is something you want to use to make the leap from amateur to professional photographer.
Another important point is, whether you choose to showcase black and white photos or full color ones, it really does not matter. Each works equally well. Just do not mix the two types. If you decide to go with a portfolio that contains black and white, then run that theme throughout the collection. Make them all black and white.
To build the perfect portfolio takes time and experience. Do not be afraid to ask for input from other professionals. Most will be more than happy to give you an honest appraisal of your work and their advice may help you realize that the shot you might love is not necessarily the one that should be showcased in your portfolio of best work.
