What is a photography portfolio, and when do photographers use one?
Asked 2/1/2011
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I often hear photographers talk about “building a portfolio.” What does a photography portfolio usually include, and when would you use one? I’m especially interested in whether it’s just a selection of your best images or if it can also be a themed body of work, and whether portfolios are typically shown online, as prints, or in another format.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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A portfolio is a collection of your very best photographs. There are typically two modes for presenting a portfolio, namely online and prints. The use for them will depend on what you are wanting to use the portfolio, but let me give a few key pointers.
- The portfolio probably should not consist of more than 10 pictures, at least for an initial portfolio. It can be okay to have a slightly larger portfolio if a prospective client wants to see more of your work.
- It is more important to have consistently high quality of pictures than shear numbers. If a picture is not your very best, then don't include it. It's better to have 5 great photos than 5 great photos and 5 okay photos.
- Make sure your portfolio consists of photographs that you want to sell to your client. Don't include dog shots in a wedding portfolio, or wedding pictures in a landscape portfolio. It can be okay to mix slightly, such as portraits and wedding, but you might consider having multiple portfolios even then.
- If you print your portfolio, it is best to not bind the photographs.
- If you are submitting a portfolio to a business, then find their standards for making a portfolio and follow them exactly!
Just to help hone in a few more points, I have 2 portfolios, one of landscape/wildlife, and a second of portraits, to which I am including links. I welcome any feedback as well on the portfolios, email me at [email protected]. Portrait, Desert Photos
Originally by user2692. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2692
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A photography portfolio is a curated presentation of your work, used to show others what you can do.
Most often, it’s a small selection of your strongest images chosen to attract clients, employers, or other opportunities. Quality and consistency matter more than quantity: a few excellent photos are usually better than a larger set with weaker images mixed in. It should also match the kind of work you want to be hired for.
Portfolios are commonly presented online or as printed images/books. For some fields, the format may differ: for example, photojournalists often use tearsheets (published pages showing the photo in context) when seeking jobs.
A portfolio can also mean a themed body of work, especially in fine-art photography. In that case, the images may be connected by a subject, idea, or visual concept, and the collection functions as a unified project rather than simply a “best of” set.
So you’d use a portfolio whenever you need to present your photography professionally: to get clients, apply for jobs, show a personal project, or demonstrate your style and strengths.
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