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After a lot of editing, toning, retoning, printing, reprinting, reordering(repeat a few more times for good measure) my print portfolio is finally finished. The beautiful or perhaps the ugly thing with a portfolio is that it’s never truly done. Your portfolio just like your mind will continue to grow and evolve. There’s a good chance the work you like today you’ll hate tomorrow.
I thought I’d share a few things about the process. Here are 11 random thoughts about the experience in no order. Anything I miss?
11 – Edit tight.
This should be a no-brainer, but it’s still a mistake we all make. Leave the audience wanting more. Show only your strongest work. Like they say you’re only as good as your weakest photo.
10 – Editing for print and the web are two different beasts.
The web is forgiving. It doesn’t mind if your image isn’t tack sharp at 100 dpi and 1000px wide it’s willing to forgive and forget. A lush sheet of matte paper isn’t nearly as understanding. That soft image that looks good on the web will do you no good in print. Laying out your pages for the web and print are also different. Your sequences and edit for the web and print may differ. In my print portfolio I have some pages comprised of four images with a full bleed image on the accompanying page something that doesn’t make sense on the web.
09 – Things change.
Don’t fret your portfolio will evolve and change over time. The important thing is to keep shooting and keep getting your work out there.
08 – Make it a musical score.
Your portfolio should have a rhythm. Most it importantly it needs to have soul. The question of what to include and exclude in your portfolio will haunt you. Trying to find the perfect melody for your body of work won’t be easy. One image out of place and it disrupts the whole show. Start strong and end strong but doesn’t mean you should load the middle of your book with empty calories.
07 – Step away.
Go for a walk. A run whatever just get away from your work for a bit and come back to it refreshed. You’ll see things when you come back that you completely overlooked when you were consumed with the edit.
06 – POD Book vs Screw post portfolio?
The first issue I had to tackle was whether I wanted a print on demand book like Blurb, WHCC, Asuka, etc or a screw post portfolio I’d print and assemble myself. For the longest time I was leaning towards a POD book for the production ease and the classic bound book appeal. I’d still like to try the WHCC book with hinged pages for a project. With time I saw that a screw post portfolio would be a much better fit for me. I had a few reasons for that with the biggest two being image quality control and easily changing the edit. I change the order/edit of my work as often as I shower, which would of made a blurb type book a PITA and more expensive over time. Everytime I’ve done a POD book I always seem to have a few problem images that are always printing dark or light, but never just right. Printing myself I was able to print multiple proofs until it looked perfect.
05 – The portfolio viewing experience.
Keep the manila folder full of creased prints at home. This should be common sense, but if you are a professional your presentation needs to look that way. People will only start respecting you and your work if you start respecting it first. Some questions you will want to ask yourself: What size is best for my work? What orentationion? For me that was a 11×14 book. Sleeves or no sleeves? I opted for no sleeves due to glare issues and the tatical feel of paper. Helps that I have my own printer so making new prints won’t be an issue. In short make sure your presentation highlights your work not detracts from it.
04 – Rules?
There are no rules. Take what I say and what anyone tells you with a grain of salt. A portfolio is a very personal thing. What works for me or others may not work for you. Sure there’s general guidelines you’d probably be wise to follow, but don’t be afraid to do your thing. If it works great if not you know what not to do next time.
03 – Don’t like what you see?
Not happy with the images in your portfolio? There’s only one person to hold accountable and only one way to fix it. Keep creating.
02 – You can’t please everyone
If you try to please everyone you’ll please no one including yourself. They may love it or they may hate it, but do yourself a favor and make every portfolio your FU portfolio.
01 – Your portfolio is you.
You are what you eat, but you’re also what you shoot. Most importantly though you are what you show. I’ve shot my share of sports in my life, but it’ll be the last thing you see my portfolio. This isn’t a time for peer pressure. Show me who you really are not what you think I want to see.
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- Building a photo portfolio « Ashley Z. Photos
Great post, funny this is the 2nd post like this i’ve read today.
Care to show a few more spreads from your book??
What kind of paper are you using? Are you printing double-sided?
You book looks tight! Good work.
-Nick
Great advice for portfolios. I teach photography & always talk about portfolios to students. I would add, “have someone you respect give you critical feedback about your portfolio; put your most powerful image first, sequence the images in such a manner that enhances their impact, and think about having a sustained body of work for most, if not all of the portfolio, etc.
The “shotgun” effect of trying to put a little of everything in the portfolio often weakens it; people want to see that you have the ability to to make a series of works; it shows that your photographs are deliberate and not happenstance or luck, among other things.
You also need to be able to speak well about your own work. Try explaining your work in a few sentences for practice and even write a one page artist’s statement about it.
I use a 13×19 portfolio case with loose prints encapsulated in archival clear envelopes. This allows the viewer to handle the prints and bring them up close to see details if they wish. It’s better than a “book” type with pages because the viewer feels more free to look at the prints in different ways than just on a table turning pages.
I’ve found in recent years that my liveBooks portfolio page has dominated the number of people who have seen my work, and I travel a lot just to show my work to other people, mostly as an artist as opposed to a commercial photographer. I use Powerpoint for these presentations, but would prefer Keynote. T?he sad reality is that Keynote doesn’t always work on the road and it confuses IT folks.
Thanks–
Larry McNeil
(from on the road in a New Zealand Artists Residency)
Thanks for the responses all. Much appreciated.
Jeremy – I’ll try to get a few more pics up next week or I guess maybe even a little video of my book that everyone seems to be doing. Yep I’m printing on both sides and using Moab double sided matte paper that’s pre-scored & drilled. This stuff right here to be exact – http://www.pinazangaro.com/accessories_inkjetpaper.html
Great advice Larry especially on being able to articulate what your work means.
Great. Can’t wait to see it.
As for using prints without the plastic sleeves, are you just punching holes in the prints?
Hey Jason,
Thankfully the paper comes pre-drilled already so you don’t have to worry about punching holes in them. It works out great.
Hi Tim – thanks for sharing your tips. Love your style – your candid yet thoughtful approach to photography. You’re refreshing!