Creating a portfolio of one’s own work can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential part of presenting oneself as a photographer. A top notch book is one of the best ways communicate one’s ability and vision, especially when it can be viewed online and around the world.
Here are eight ways to make yourself look good.
- Keep it short and sweet
With a portfolio, quantity counts for nothing. If the viewer wants to see more, they’ll look for it. And if they can’t find it, they’ll ask. Both of these consequences are good. I usually aim to include 12-20 images in a photography portfolio. - Show quality
Following up to the first tip, only the best images should go into the portfolio. Consistency and distinction in your images should be a key takeaway. Showing anything but the best is often a waste of time; when you have someone’s attention, make every image count. - Show range
And aside from quality, each image should speak to some aspect of your vision and ability. In choosing images, ask, “What does this image say about me as a photographer?” If multiple images are competing for the same message, consider paring down for the sake of efficiency.Expressing range, however, should not be confused with a lack of focus. Every image should work toward a singular goal of expressing your eye and capabilities as a photographer. - Start strong
Start out with a bang. You want to put your second to best shot up front to catch the viewer’s attention. Why the second best? Keep reading. - End strong
With your last image, you want to reinforce everything that has come before and end with the impression of excellence. This position is where your standout image goes, since it’s the last image in the set that the viewer will see.With the last piece, your goal is to leave a mark. The viewer made it to the end, so go for the knock out punch. - Put the rest in the middle
There is no filler in a portfolio, but everything that isn’t your absolute best should go in the middle. After the lead off image, gradually decrease in image impact until you get to the middle of the series, and then ramp back up for the strong finish.In other words, the highest impact images should be book ends to the images that establish the tone of your work. - Don’t put it to popular vote
Bless your friends and family, but portfolios should not be decided by committee; what is popular is not always what makes your eye or execution unique.If need be, I’d suggest paring down a selection of your best images as well as you can and then enlist the keen eye of someone whose taste you trust to make the final selection. - Keep it fresh
Just like seafood, it’s better fresh. Once you’ve established your book, keep it as up to date as possible. Aside from assembling it in the first place, this task is one of the biggest challenges of a great portfolio.As you develop as a photographer and add different elements to your style (or polish it), don’t neglect to reflect that growth in the portfolio.
End Notes:
As a condensed representation of a photographer’s vision, the portfolio is a highly valuable tool for introducing oneself to an audience, especially with the ease of sending someone a link.
Whether it’s used as a sales piece to land clients, an informative statement about one’s work and capabilities, or simply a way to succinctly share with friends and family, a portfolio is a great tool for making an effective and lasting impression. If someone is taking the time to look at your work, make it count.
If you want to see if I followed the above eight tips, head over to my portfolio.
39 Comments Add your own
1. Chris | January 11th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Great guide, the length is perfect. I also love the new shots in your own portfolio. You were due for an update.
2. Todd | January 11th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Thanks, Chris. I am going to start writing more how-to articles and I will eventually compile/link up under a tutorials section.
And thanks for checking out the new portfolio. I had to follow my own advice, after all, and it was time to change it up.
3. Terry Ng | January 22nd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I’m elated that you have a blog now! :) The tips you post after each photoshoot are great. Keep up all the fab work. :D
4. Todd | January 22nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hey Terry,
Good to hear from you after so long, I’m glad you found this site. Thanks for the support, I appreciate it.
5. Carrie Whitelaw | January 31st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Hey Old Neighbor!!!
6. Carrie Whitelaw | January 31st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I am absolutely blown away by your work as well as Chris’. You give me inspiration for my passion of photography. I may not be as skilled as yall, but you give great inspiration. I know I may still be a virgin at it, but i did Leah’s wedding and hope to aspire as well as you and your brother……My favorite photo i have taken? Walking along the side walk of your parents house, and shooting their bamboo garden. The lines are great. Hope all is well with your family.
7. Todd | January 31st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Hey Carrie! How’s it going? It’s good to hear from you, it’s cool to hear you’re doing photography as well. I’d be interested in seeing that shot of the bamboo, too.
Hope all is well!
8. 8 astuces pour avoir un b&hellip | February 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
[...] et m’avoir autorisé à traduire son texte que vous pouvez retrouver ici en anglais : 8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio, ainsi que son portfolio. Personnellement je trouve que son portfolio est très réussi, il montre [...]
9. alessandro Rocchi | March 6th, 2008 at 9:24 am
very good suggest
10. Richard | April 11th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Really good tips! There’s so many places to create a free portfolio now too! I recently started using Viewbook..It’s a lot better than most other sites i’ve tried..That’s my portfolio tip;)
11. Rhyss | June 9th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Hey thanks for the tips, i like the refrence that you use saying that the two best shots should be like the book ends because this is where my portfolio has failed for i have put my most in depth and meaning full shots at the front and gradually went downhill thanks again
12. Todd | June 10th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Rhyss, I’m very glad to hear this write-up was helpful for you. Best of luck with your work.
13. Bobin James | July 28th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Great tips, Todd! Thanks :)
14. Todd | August 8th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hey Bobin, hope you found it useful. Which reminds me, I need to update my portfolio.
15. Concert Portfolio: Update&hellip | August 26th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
[...] Concert Photography: Tutorial Series Concert Photography: Gear Guide How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 1 How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 2 How-To: Shooting with Telephoto Lenses 8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio [...]
16. Bob - Trainee music Tog | October 15th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Hey Todd,
Great artical and finding it was great timing as I’m just putting together my portfolio for Gig photography in Scotland.
I tend to think of a portfolio like I think of a set list. You need to start strong with a couple of crackers, put a few strong/biggies in the middle when interest is starting to drift off and then gradually ramp up to a spectacular finish. Your artical pretty much confirms that.
Love the site.
See you in the Charts!
Bob
17. Todd | October 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Hey Bob, thanks for the comment. You’re exactly right, a portfolio is in many ways simply a visual performance, with different movements. Great analogy.
18. peter | November 27th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Hey, Todd!
Thanks for these useful tips!
Could you please tell your thoughts about positioning photographs of different subjects in one portfolio? If, for example, I would like to include Portraits, Travel, Blia-Bla and Bla-Bla-Bla ?
Thank you!
Peter
19. Todd | November 28th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Hi Peter, glad you found the tips helpful. If you have different subjects such as portraits and travel, I would suggest creating separate portfolios for each image set. I think that this would be the best solution so that each set has the most individual impact.
20. Martin | December 11th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Nice one, ive been trying to put one together to support my uni application!
21. 2008: Year In Review | is&hellip | January 5th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
[...] Concert Photography: Tutorial Series How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 1 How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 2 Choosing Lenses For Concert Photography 8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio [...]
22. Rachel | February 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I really need to make one, one of these days.
23. Todd | February 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
You should! In spite of all these tips, the task of creating a portfolio doesn’t have to be intimidating.
The process of putting together your best shots should be fun, too, after all. It’s a chance to reevaluate your progress as a photographer and to express your vision.
In fact, working on a portfolio can help a photographer identify patterns, tendencies, and stylistic elements that make his/her work unique, which in itself is a very valuable bit of knowledge.
24. Dan | February 3rd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I’ve managed to get by thus far without one, but really ought to pull something together to expand my horizons.
25. Todd | February 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Hey Dan,
I must take back the part of a portfolio being essential then, as you’ve shown us all how well one can do without one!
26. Rachel | February 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
See, I wasn’t being lazy by never making one, I was just copying Dan!
27. Portrait Portfolio Added &hellip | February 5th, 2009 at 10:46 am
[...] Concert Photography: Tutorial Series How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 1 How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 2 Choosing Lenses For Concert Photography 8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio [...]
28. Irina | February 21st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Great guide, Todd! Love all the info you so selflessly give here. I have a question… how do you get your copyright info consistently the same size on each image? What program do you use and how do you deal with cropped images with different dimensions?
Again, thank you :)
29. Todd | February 21st, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Hey Irina, thanks, glad to hear you enjoyed the guide.
Regarding the watermark, I have an action setup in Photoshop that automatically applies the watermark during my save-for-web routine. The action is setup to align to the bottom right of the image, so the orientation doesn’t matter. Hope this helps.
30. Irina | February 27th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Thank you Todd, that was very helpful! Using actions is much more consistent with size (and faster) than my previous drag and drop method. Cheers! ~irina
31. Todd | February 27th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hi Irina, glad the actions are working out for you. It definitely makes things a bit easier to be able to batch-process multiple images.
32. Better Photography Throug&hellip | March 30th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
[...] Concert Photography: Tutorial Series How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 1 How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 2 Choosing Lenses For Concert Photography 8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio [...]
33. Lisa | March 30th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Thanks again for your great tips! I have an interview tomorrow and they’ve asked me to bring a portfolio. I guess it’s time to put one together. ;)
34. Todd | March 30th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Hey Lisa,
Good luck on your interview! Knock ‘em dead.
35. Manal | April 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Hello,
Thanks for the tips, they are really helpful and informative. I’m thinking of creating my own online portfolio, but I’m researching first so I’ll be able to create something great!
Manal Ali.
36. Todd | April 14th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Hey Manal, glad to hear you enjoyed the tips, hope they help when you come to make your own portfolio.
37. Sarah | May 19th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Thanks for the tute, twas very helpful. I need some guidence as to whether there should be a particular point you’re trying to make through the series of photos when you create a portfolio. Should I be telling a story??? Im a very lost little girl!!!!!!!
38. Becoming a Concert Photog&hellip | May 20th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
[...] Concert Photography: Tutorial Series How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 1 How-To: Metering & Exposure, pt. 2 Choosing Lenses For Concert Photography 8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio [...]
39. Todd | May 26th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Hey Sarah, glad to hear this was helpful, thanks for the comment.
Ultimately, I think you should be telling a story of sorts with a portfolio. At the most basic, it’s a narrative of yourself as a photographer – showing depth, vision, and ability.
speak up
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