Lecture Content Responses 2 - Portfolio's

Marketing the Practitioner

My Portfolio Box

Portfolios to Paperwork

I have just finished Compiling, editing and presenting my Portfolio for this particular module.  There are a lot of benefits to having a printed portfolio and I personally love having one. Printed Portfolios are always good to have and will probably never disappear no matter how good technology gets. As long as there are face to face meetings, and as long as there are printed end applications like magazines, brochures and posters etc, the portfolio will still have a place. 

Most advertising and design agencies and most magazines and newspapers still ask to see a portfolio in hand, even if it is private clients like weddings, families and portraits, it is just nicer to present them as a folio rather than on a laptop.  Clients tend to look at websites and then still ask for the request of a portfolio, which ever industry I go to, I need to make sure my portfolio is at a high standard because is says a lot about a photographer, keeping work, clean and up to date is the right way. 

• The best Portfolio box or case that I can afford will be the nicest to use, especially for 3rd year and leaving out into the real world.  That's why I have a Silver print A4 box. 
• I need to consider a case for my business cards to make sure they do not get crumpled, and the Portfolio Box is the colour Black, It is standard and most professional. 
• The prints will be of a good quality and on a decent paper type. 
• I have worked with paper types before and know the differences between a good paper and a bad paper.  I would like my prints to suit the paper I choose, so I may have to look back at all my different paper types to decide what looks best. . 
• I will not have any sleeves in my portfolio as they are reflective and make it harder to see the images.  The size for my Portfolio box and prints is A4, I only choose this size as it is my first professional Portfolio Box that I will be getting, when I produce another Portfolio later down the line with much more base to my work I will get an A3 box so I can show the images off. 
• I will include additional materials as well as all my necessary contact details at the beginning of my portfolio.  This will include my name, address, my website, phone number and e-mail.  This is important If I am unable to find some business cards cases. Cover letter and Contact Details.
• It is known better to keep all Portfolio prints either all landscape or portrait, according to what best suits my work, but also says not to mix them up at all.  I have quite a few of each so will have to sort this out a bit later. 
• The standard photo number for a Portfolio is 25-50 images.  Some pages could have multiple images on the same page, this can be appealing to design agencies and magazines who are used to looking at images as stories rather than singular images. 
• I will make sure all images within my Portfolio are kept to a similar theme and are right for the viewer or client I can potentially show to, and will only show my best work.  
• Making sure the Images flow well is important too, should have a beginning, a middle and end.  Its sometimes good to include strong work at the end as well as the beginning. 
• My Portfolio should be updated regularly as I want to give the impression I am constantly working on new projects and new imagery to keep it looking fresh.