By no stretch of the imagination is it an easy task to create a portfolio. Usually, most photographers have either rudimentary or absolutely no information about design at all. Furthermore, conceptualizing a photographer’s portfolio in which the pictures need to be constantly in focus is a highly sensitive endeavor. Nowadays, it’s the norm to showcase a web-based portfolio, making it relatively easier to create a portfolio. This also provides easier access and better exposure to a photographer’s work. This is why it’s vital to follow the ten steps listed below, in order to be on the same page with your designer and produce a portfolio as per your desires.
Visualize Your Target
Even though you might have been told do this tons of times, it’s still the most important rule of professional photography. Whether you aspire to be a wedding photographer, fashion photographer, or wish to join a huge traveling magazine, visualization is still the most assured way of achieving your target. In order to create a portfolio you need to visualize each image in it and the sequence in which you should place your images. Also, spending time to think about the right layout and design will help you explain your intentions to your designer in a much more cohesive manner.
Have a Fixed Number of Images in Mind
Remember, that more often than not, a layout looks better when a smaller number of images are included in it. Also, you should avoid a case where you are stuck with an odd number of images to display on a particular layout. It’s important to strike the right equilibrium between the quantity of images on a page and the negative space left in-between and around them. If you have a large number of photos that you wish to showcase, segregate them using categories of pagination for easier viewing.
Ensure that Your Images make an Impact
It’s actually quite simple to make your pictures stand out. All you need to do is maintain a high contrast between the background and the images. Always use black or a similar dark color as your background. This helps achieve a greater contrast between the pictures and also makes it easier to view pictures bearing diverse landscapes.
Ascertain a Good Quality for Your Images
Viewers like seeing full size images, whether on an online portfolio or a hardcopy portfolio. Moreover, they prefer images to be large in size. They should always look good and be able to fit the entire dimensions of a desktop screen. Plus, more discerning viewers are interested in checking out minute details in a picture. Hence, large images are a must. However, at times, large images take time to download depending on the configurations of a computer or a mobile phone and some people don’t have this time to spare. Differing screen resolution, size, platform, internet browsers, and network speed make delivering your images to as many people as possible a lot more challenging. This is why; it’s prudent to produce multiple separate versions of each image in your portfolio and let the user decide which image he/she wishes to download.
Be Ready to Adapt
As per official statistics, currently less than 1% of people utilize 800 x 600 resolution computers. However, there are many who prefer viewing portfolio photography on their mobile phones. Those with access to regular WiFi might even prefer downloading images directly onto their phones. For all these purpose, you should create a portfolio with each image rendered in multiple resolution formats.
Display Only Your Best Pictures
Some photographers have an annoying habit of including all their images in a portfolio. This is not only exasperating to a viewer, but can also have detrimental consequences on the career of a photographer. Suppose a potential client is interested in hiring you, and he sees a mixed bag of photos in your portfolio. Always remember that your portfolio should only include the most relevant selection of your strongest photographs.
Make Sure that Each Photo Has a Description
Leave a very small note underneath or beside each picture in your portfolio. Clients like to understand the reason behind capturing a particular image and the location where it was shot. Naming the shooting equipment and post-processing tools you used could also prove useful. Also, don’t forget to mention the contact details of the models you used, in case somebody wants to hire them. Keep in mind that the people seeing your portfolio are more interested in the pictures and not in reading mini-autobiographies about how you connected with each picture you shot. The descriptions you provide should be very short indeed.
Lay Proper Emphasis on the Contact Information
It is of no use if somebody likes your work but finds it difficult to access your contact information. In today’s fast times, people are too busy to spend their effort in searching your contact details or trying to decipher it in some obscure corner of your portfolio or website. A link taking a potential client to your contact page should be readily available on each layout of your portfolio. It also helps to have your email ID in the footer of each page of your portfolio. Moreover, make it known on which social networking sites you are active.
Request for the Viewers’ Feedback
Be sure to ask for feedback at the bottom of each layout page and also provide information on how viewers can get in touch with you with their opinions and suggestions. This makes it appear that you are open to discussions and welcome both, praise and criticism in your stride. It is also an ideal way of ensnaring potential clients, which is your goal at the end of the day. Also, some of the feedback can be really useful in enhancing your portfolio or shooting better ones in the future.
Always Update Your Portfolio
If for any reason, your portfolio isn’t updated regularly, you risk alienating your viewers from your work. It could also prove to be a huge deterrent for future clients. Updating portfolios, especially web-based ones is very easy nowadays, with all the high-end online tools at your disposal for touch up purposes. Shooting new pictures for your portfolio also has ever been simpler, on account of the ergonomic shooting techniques and contemporary equipment available.
Following the above simple steps will not only guide you better on how to create a portfolio, but will also provide you wider exposure as a photographer. Ultimately, these steps are guaranteed to assist you in attracting prospective clients.