| If you have hopes of becoming a professional | | | | Now, as for size, this is going to depend on |
| photographer, or even just of trying to get | | | | the size of your largest pictures. An 8 X 10 |
| your work published in a public forum, you | | | | is probably going to be your largest. If your |
| will need to create a photography portfolio. | | | | pictures are not this big, you don't need a |
| So what's so important about a photography | | | | portfolio this big. Your biggest will most |
| portfolio anyway? | | | | likely be an 11 X 14 and it could be as small |
| | | | as a 4 X 7. |
| There are many reasons why having a portfolio | | | | |
| of your work available for others to view. If | | | | The most important thing for you to remember |
| you are seeking employment as a photographer, | | | | is convenience - both for you and for the |
| then the need for a portfolio is obvious. If | | | | person who will be looking at your portfolio. |
| you are not seeking a photography job, there | | | | You want to keep it professional and easy to |
| are still good reasons to have a portfolio. | | | | hold, carry and look over. |
| For one, you love photography and you take a | | | | |
| lot a pride in your work. They are important | | | | Using a Photography Portfolio |
| to you. Most likely, some of them are very | | | | |
| good. Why not create a portfolio that | | | | So now that you know what a portfolio is and |
| showcases your best work so you can show it | | | | what type to get, how do you actually use it? |
| to others (even if it's just friends or | | | | Well, we mentioned you are going to fill it |
| family that comes over for a visit)? | | | | with your best work. This means you want a |
| | | | portfolio that can easily be changed. You may |
| Building a Photography Portfolio | | | | want to pull out old ones and add in new |
| | | | ones. You don't want to go for a job carrying |
| Before we get into what goes into your | | | | along every picture you've ever taken. You're |
| portfolio, let's discuss the portfolio | | | | going to want to have 15-20 of your best |
| itself. What should it be made of? How big | | | | work. You are also going to want to be sure |
| should it be? You may have seen portfolios | | | | your pictures are relevant to the job. If you |
| with covers made of all types of materials | | | | are trying out for different types of |
| such as plastic, leather and even stainless | | | | assignments, you may want to create |
| steel. These fancy covers are usually much | | | | portfolios that work for each of the types of |
| more expensive and may not be practical for a | | | | work you are doing. |
| beginner. If you are competing for high-price | | | | |
| jobs and want to stand out from the crowd, | | | | Of course, you only want to show your best |
| these expensive covers may be a nice touch. | | | | work but you want to give the impression that |
| But for most people, a regular black plastic | | | | you can handle any type of assignment given |
| cover will work just fine. It's what's inside | | | | to you ad not that you are "stuck" in only |
| the portfolio that is most important, right? | | | | one type of photography. |
| | | | |
| So, you are probably best to stick with a | | | | You want to showcase your best work; this is |
| plain black plastic cover and work hard on | | | | best technically as well. You may have a |
| beefing up what's inside. Don't decorate your | | | | photo that is really important to you because |
| portfolio with cutesy stickers and such; this | | | | of the image it represents or the memory it |
| will look amateurish and unprofessional. It's | | | | brings but if it is not technically perfect, |
| not a scrapbook; it's supposed to represent | | | | it doesn't belong in a business portfolio. |
| your high-quality work. | | | | Save that one for your coffee table. |
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