What’s Your Preference?

Mytusi · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2010, 10:56 PM

I don't know if this is the right place to post this....

I am working towards opening a website and I would like an objective look at what starts to be my portfolio. My focus is children (and at some point family) photography.

Questions:
1. how many pictures should I aim towards having in my portfolio?
2. are there 'keepers'/'goers' that you see?
3. suggested improvements? If you were a parent would this be attractive to you?

Thank you so much!!

Jim Poor · #2 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 02:20 AM

I suggest you look up Zack Arias who has a series of critiques posted. One thing he really hammers is that you shouldn't have multiple (more than one really) picture of the same person. Shows that you have limited experience & clients.

Mytusi · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 01:18 PM

Hi, Jim! Thank you so much for suggesting Zack Arias. I looked him up and he is quite pertinent with his critiques. A lot to learn from him.

I agree with the point you brought up. I was debating the multiple pictures of the same person, as well ... It can, indeed, give the message of limited experience/clients. And the truth is that I am just beginning and didn't have a lot of shoots yet ....

So, my dilemma is....
* Do I wait until I perfect my photography and have a lot of clients to show on my portfolio?
* But in order to get to a good number of sessions, the potential clients should see my work....
* So, maybe I should just show a few pictures with no person repeating
* but then this looks poor as well

The other thing that I am hoping to get some feedback on is the quality of the pictures I do have. I find myself looking back at my older work that, at some point, I was planning to put in a portfolio and say 'No, way!'. And I know that in a few months or so I will be looking at what I have now in my portfolio and say 'hmmm. not good enough!'

Thanks again!

kuvahmagh · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 02:33 PM

My understanding is that generally you don't want too many pictures in it anyways, Quality is much more important than Quantity for a Portfolio. Personally I think 40 images is too many.

I don't have one of my own, yet, but when I look at others pretty much all of the images they have in it jump off the page at me within the first 5-10 seconds of viewing.

I don't have much to say about specific images other than much of your stuff is really good and does jump out at me however I would personally remove the PIZZA shot if it is up for consideration in your Portfolio, that image seemed more like a person shooting their own family than a pro doing a portrait/event shoot. I don't mean to offend but if she was just holding the pizza it wouldn't be so bad but with it sticking out of her mouth like that, it just doesn't look good to me.

Indigo November · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 04:46 PM

They're all pretty good, good enough for a portfolio.
I agree about the pizza shot, it doesn't belong. I wouldn't be too afraid of having maybe 2 of the same person, as long as the 2 shots are not similar.
I think around 20- 40 is a good number of photos. If you thin it out a bit, only using the best 2 of each person, and maybe do a couple more shoots you should have a good amount for your portfolio.
Just my 2 cents.

slugger · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2010, 05:10 PM

I would think having 2 or 3 of the same person wouldn't be such a bad thing, after all, a potential customer wants to be sure you can take more than one good picture of the same person, right?
I think you have som great creative portraits here. Very good job!