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Portfolio

portfolio help how to

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7 replies to this topic

#1
marco polo

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Hey guys

I am starting out and was wondering how I can start a succesful and appealing protfolio(s)

I have no clue where to start, which pics to include etc...

I have access to lightroom 4 and photoshop cs6

Thanks in advance



#2
Jerry_

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That's a bit vague (at least to me) for providing a senseful reply. Can you please explain what you are shooting and what you aim at with your portfolio. How do you see the relation to photoprocessing software?

#3
nbanjogal

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Yes, Jerry has some good questions. Who is your audience? What are your goals? What is the genre you are aiming to display? Without some answers we won't be able to give you good help.



#4
TBonz

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Agree with Jerry and Nicole...You can put a portfolio together, but typically portfolios are targeted towards a particular style of photography in the hopes of gaining work in that area.  In my case, I am working to build a portfolio of sports photography.  I may have a separate portfolio of other types of photos, but a nice sunset or portrait of a model won't help me get recognized as a sports photographer.  That said, only include the best of your best and keep improving it over time. 



#5
marco polo

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Well... i mean a general portfolio to WOW anybody... What should i include??



#6
nbanjogal

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Well, if that's all you're going to give us, all I can say is…include your very best, most flawless pictures…the pictures you have taken that make YOU say wow.

 

It would be helpful to know who you're trying to wow and what genre you're hoping to wow in. Maybe you need to figure that out before you think about trying to wow anyone.

 

Are you hoping to be a fashion photographer? Then include your best photos that show you can do that.

Are you hoping to sell landscape and nature photos? Then include your best photos that show you can do that.

Etc. etc. with any genre you can think of.

 

In your mind, what is the purpose of putting a portfolio together? Are you trying to get a paying gig, or do you just want the gratification of people saying wow? 

 

If you want the paying gig, then you put images in your portfolio that show you can achieve what your client wants--but first you need to know who your client is. That's why we're asking for purpose and audience. I shoot mostly portraits, and it would be silly of me to show a portfolio of wedding portraits to a hunting and fishing magazine.

 

So, take a minute to figure out who you're trying to impress and then look at what kind of images they might be looking for. That's what you put into your portfolio.



#7
TBonz

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I agree with Nicole...you shouldn't need other people to tell you you want to put your best photos into a portfolio so not sure what we can provide you without more details...



#8
kevy73

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Start with what you have.  If you have 100 portraits - pick your best 10 and promote those.  As your skills improve and you take better image, swap these new pics in for the ones you think aren't as good.







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