help with portfolio

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I am graduating from college in a couple of weeks and pursuing a career in photography, can anybody give me some advise on putting together a portfolio?? Tips for putting it together, what would be the best?????? Thanx

-- michael howser (sabre265@aol.com), May 06, 1998

Answers

To say that you want to pursue a career in photography implies that you must be doing something photography related today; is this correct?. If so, what area of photgraphy is it; documentary, photo journalism, commercial, artistic?

Your speciality well dictate a career path. For instance, if your goal is to become a commercial photographer, you would probably want to learn the basic skills required (if you don't already have them). The next step would be to work as a photo assistant. This is where you truly learn the business. This experience would enable you to understand the necessary ingredients for branching out on your own. Each of the specialties would have similar paths to a professional career.

Hope this helps,

Harold Todman

-- Harold Todman (harold_todman@dmr.com), May 07, 1998.


portfolio

If you are graduating from a photography program I'm a bit surprized you dont already have some type of portfolio together. If not......

Ask yourself what type of photography you really want to do to make a living. Because each field within the medium can require a very different type of life style. And some that sound rather attractive can be come very old very fast. There are more than likely photographers in your area that offer lectures or workshops related to protfolio building. This could be well worth your time and money. Understand that building a portfolio is an on going and continuous process. It should always be changing and being upgraded as your work improves and changes. Best of luck.

-- jim megargee (mvjim@interport.net), May 07, 1998.


Michael,

You did't say you have any photography course or taking photos-------. Photogrphy is a big area.I what category you want to choose you have to know by yourself. If you feel free in photo journalisum ok, but you have to prepare yourself.You have take photos more and more,consult with sinior photographers,read books,visit photographic exhibitions.

So at last I have to say you "know thyself".Be sure what you will do, otherwise you will be frustated.Please mail me what you are going to do. with best wishes.

Thanks Mohammad Irfanul Islam. Drik Picture Library Ltd. Dhaka,Bangladesh. URL:http://www1.drik.net

-- Mohammad Irfanul Islam (darkroom@drik.net), May 11, 1998.


portfolios

I recently took a course about how to approach galleries with your work and the instructor had some practical advice about portfolios. The main point was to keep it simple and don't try to get too cute or lavish. If you run out and buy the best leather portfolio case it might actually compete with your images. The suggestion was to use a simple binder with 8x10" plastic sleeves. You can insert paper background (either black or white) that will function as a matt and attach your images to them - it looks better if you have a generous border. You can use 5x7 prints but shouldn't go any smaller and make the finest ones you can - 12 - 20 will be enough. Have a standard typed label for each image with your name, date and title of the image if you have one and the final dimensions of the exhibition print. Your photo choice should be consistent and function as a complete show itself although you don't have to include all of these images in an exhibition. Include your cirriculum vitae (only relevant artistic information) and an artists statement. You can have a number of portfolios to cover different venues etc. I know that there are many other ways to do it depending on what you are looking for (fine art, commercial etc.) but this seemed to give a reasonable start.

-- Andy Laycock (agl@intergate.bc.ca), May 11, 1998.

Yes, I agree, you should be educated more in portfolio building. If you are a fine arts major, sit down with your most supportive instructors and your 20-30 "best" pieces. The objective eye will help you sort the images out.

Try to pick 12-17 images. 17 is high, anyone who is looking at your portfolio has already formed an opinion of you after 10 pics. So don't smother them with work.

Try to separate your emotions from your pieces. PIck the best crafted and composed images, the ones that stand out and are striking. If the choice is between content and good visual organization, I would go for the visual organization.

You need to specify what you want to go in to so we can help you more.

-- Kristine Marie (miadockm@email.uc.edu), January 18, 1999.



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