Getting pictures for a portfolio

[alexrmay91]

I'll make this short, sweet and to the point. I need pictures for a non existent portfolio, but when I speak to my clients about my photography service, they ask to see my portfolio. Catch 22. The best I could come up with was offering a few free photo sessions on craigslist, but even thats not working.
I'm also trying to find my own niche in photography, so please don't limit your advice to just portrait work. I would love to try my hand at everything and see where I fit in. Sport, portrait, objects, music, anything. Other than nature. I'd rather stay away from that.
Just so i can provide as much information as possible, I'll tell you the gear I currently own
Canon T2I
EF-S 18-135mm IS
50mm F1.8 (coming in just a few days )
EF 75-300mm
I have a small limited external flash, with cable, tripod and a couple macro filters.
I'm currently a college student at San Francisco State, have no car, and no money for more equipment
any help would be very much appreciated! Thank you!

[Photologyst]

Take lots of photos. Take them every day. You'll soon have enough for a portfolio.

Can you use the school printers?

[alexrmay91]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

Take lots of photos. Take them every day. You'll soon have enough for a portfolio.

Can you use the school printers?

Thanks for the speedy reply. but I was more asking along the lines as to how to go about taking these pictures. like where to go, who to contact, what to post online, etc. I'm currently looking through a list of concerts in san francisco and asking if they could use a free photographer. I'm not even sure if thats the way to go about it, but thats why i'm asking here.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by alexrmay91

Thanks for the speedy reply. but I was more asking along the lines as to how to go about taking these pictures. like where to go, who to contact, what to post online, etc. I'm currently looking through a list of concerts in san francisco and asking if they could use a free photographer. I'm not even sure if thats the way to go about it, but thats why i'm asking here.

Photograph what you love. If you don't have a passion for something, you won't amass a great portfolio.

Your city has plenty of photo-ops.

[alexrmay91]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

Photograph what you love. If you don't have a passion for something, you won't amass a great portfolio.

Your city has plenty of photo-ops.

i'm sorry, this just doesn't help me. great advice but i'm looking for specifics, or new ideas. not the cliche

[Jim Poor]

It sounds like you want someone to give you the magic answer and unfortunately, that's just impossible.

Shooting for free, beyond certain exceptions is a really bad idea if you want to get into business. It sets a bad precedent that is difficult to recover from.

Portraits. Volunteer for a cause you would support anyway, take some portraits.

Nature, Wildlife, Landscapes, City Scaptes, etc. Just go do it. Post some photos for critique, learn as you go.

[candidrachel]

I'm kind of in the same boat. Hope you don't mind me piggbacking on this thread but I'm in the Catch 22. What I'd like to do is contact the nursery schools and get their permission to take some relaxed candid shots of the kids, print off proofs and then the parents can buy those through me or even enlargements. Its kind of working for free in a way to get the experience but then they only buy the photos if they like them that I have on display on their wall or notice board.

Its informal family fun that I want to specialize in.

Also, what Jim said about charities. I used to be a Home-Start volunteer (before I got so consumed in photography). Home-Start is a charity that supports families in crisis such as single parents, mums or dads away in the armed services, lonely parents, parents at their wits end etc etc and they are always looking for creative ways to promote the charity and raise money for funding so I may contact the local organizer and offer my services - again selling prints!

[KUlmer]

I'll tell you what my mom told me. Just have fun with it. Starting photography as a business is not going to happen overnight. It will take time. Building a portfolio especially. You've got all the gear you need. Start bringing your camera everywhere. You never know when the chance to get a great shot is going to pop up. This will be especially helpful in deciding what kind of photography you like to do. Go to some local sporting events. Take a walk downtown with your camera. Check with the host and then bring it with you to parties and such. I like bringing with me whenever my camera so that when I see a great location I can make a note of where it is and take a picture to remind me.

Try a 52 week or 365 day challenge. They help you challenge yourself and build a portfolio at the same time.

Talk to family and friends and see who would be interested in a free family shoot. If you have to, guilt your siblings and friends. Start your portfolio small. I've just recently moved beyond my family and onto more distant friends. Now, I ask people if they will allow me to take their picture to build my portfolio. I provide a list with what will be my prices, but state that in exchange for the rights to use their pictures in my portfolio and on my website I will provide them with a free shoot and 5 digital image files. All pictures that pass my inspection are posted on their proofing site where they can order more digital files or prints. They get a few free pictures and I get to add to my portfolio. It is a win/win. Don't focus so much on building a business and making money just yet. Focus on just building a portfolio and getting better at what you do. The rest will come in time. The more people see your work and recognize the quality the more will be interested in hiring you.

Also, as you are building your portfolio make sure to get it out there. I post pictures of family and friends on my Facebook and then link to them. I love when they make it their profile picture! Starting a website is important, but I typically only visit a website once or twice, a good blog I check near daily. Both are free ideas that start making your more visible.

[alexrmay91]

Thanks for the input. Sorry Jim, i'm not looking for a magic answer really. I think i just made my questions way to general for anyone to answer! sorry about that. but rachel and KUlmer, thanks for the input. I especially like the idea of taking pictures as a volunteer. Next time i will ask for something more specific. like if i wanted to get into sport photography, i would ask how to do that specifically.

What about advertising yourself? I have an ad on craigslist, but craigslist really isn't but best option. I'm just not sure where else to turn to get my name out there for potential clients

[Kretch]

Can I be blunt?
Just maybe you're not ready to make that leap yet. Why are you trying to build a portfolio for possible clients when you don't even have a vision yet? It's obvious you're not experienced because you don't have photos for a portfolio?
Sounds like you need experience BEFORE the portfolio, not the other way around. Like it was said, take lots of pictures and your portfolio will build itself.
Stop trying to put the cart before the horse.