A Portfolio Consists of.....

[GTAltman]

....How many photo's, 4, 5, 133 of each assignment?

How should they be presented to potential clients? In sheet protectors inside a 3 ring binder (personally, I think this is tacky) or in a binded book from a photo lab.

If a photo lab is the choice, what size photos? 8x10 sheet 4 up, or just 8x10's, or should it be a mix of sampling like that and some christmas or easter or senior portrait 8x4's (on an 8x10 page, of course).

The genesis of the above questions are because I have a couple of people who have approached me and I'm willing to do TFP's to build a portfolio for myself. But I have already shot 1, and have 4 others lined up (mostly seniors) and they're all "connected" so there is the potential to move away from TFP's to a paid gig. The paying part will be applied directly to my addiction (photography)

Thanks in advance...

Gary

[OsmosisStudios]

Are these as deliverables to the client, or for presentation as a portfolio to a future client? HUGE difference.

[GTAltman]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Are these as deliverables to the client, or for presentation as a portfolio to a future client? HUGE difference.

Adam,

Sorry for not being more clear... FUTURE.
And just for more clarification, Seniors = HS Seniors. :-\

Since you're saying there's a big difference, what I was going to do for the maternity is print out a proof sheet in a PDF file (from PS Bridge) for them to review prior to meeting up, so they can get an advance look-see at what has passed the test of being in focus and the best of the best.
Should I be doing something a tad differently, in your opinion?

Thanks for the reply!

Gary

[ChrisAdval]

well depending on your target audience on who you're showing them to, like for example if you're showing to anyone in the print realm I would have prints (photobook or even magazine from magcloud) for they can see how it would "feel" if they printed the photos into their print publications. So, otherwise than that I would assume an ipad or even laptops are fine with the general public consumers, but if they're coming to you and your own studio/office I would have it on a big screen (than a ipad or laptop it would be much smaller).

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by GTAltman

Adam,

Sorry for not being more clear... FUTURE.
And just for more clarification, Seniors = HS Seniors. :-\

Since you're saying there's a big difference, what I was going to do for the maternity is print out a proof sheet in a PDF file (from PS Bridge) for them to review prior to meeting up, so they can get an advance look-see at what has passed the test of being in focus and the best of the best.
Should I be doing something a tad differently, in your opinion?

Thanks for the reply!

Gary

You haven't cleared anything up: You specify future, but your paragraph seems to be discussing proofing with a client (for deliverables).

If you want a portfolio to show a future client:
You should only use your best work from a wide range of different shoots. Max, I'd say, is 2-3 images from the same shoot. You should have 10-15 images, at the very least, to show to a prospective client. That's 5 separate shoots, minimum. With 5 different models I should add, preferably showing a wide gamut of styles, angles, etc.

If you're proofing:
Make 3x4 (4x6 cut in half) sample cards for your clients of the images you feel are acceptable to you. The number will depend on how many photos you took and how many photos your client's contract calls for. That being said: in many cases, I wouldnt necessarily offer full proofing: if a contract calls for 25 images, I'd probably fill in 20 of them myself and give the client an option of 5. Often it's not even that much.

[Jim Bryant]

Portfolios........20 kick ass photos! No all of the same client on the same shoot.

[GTAltman]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

well depending on your target audience on who you're showing them to, like for example if you're showing to anyone in the print realm I would have prints (photobook or even magazine from magcloud) for they can see how it would "feel" if they printed the photos into their print publications. So, otherwise than that I would assume an ipad or even laptops are fine with the general public consumers, but if they're coming to you and your own studio/office I would have it on a big screen (than a ipad or laptop it would be much smaller).

Thanks Chris.
Very good. I think this was part of the answer I was looking for....

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

You haven't cleared anything up: You specify future, but your paragraph seems to be discussing proofing with a client (for deliverables).

If you want a portfolio to show a future client:
You should only use your best work from a wide range of different shoots. Max, I'd say, is 2-3 images from the same shoot. You should have 10-15 images, at the very least, to show to a prospective client. That's 5 separate shoots, minimum. With 5 different models I should add, preferably showing a wide gamut of styles, angles, etc.

....and this was the OTHER answer I was looking for.
Thanks Adam.

In the first sentence of my reply I did answer the question you asked. I then morphed into a follow up question. Either way, you wrapped it up very nicely and gave me the answer I was looking for thanks.

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

If you're proofing:
Make 3x4 (4x6 cut in half) sample cards for your clients of the images you feel are acceptable to you. The number will depend on how many photos you took and how many photos your client's contract calls for. That being said: in many cases, I wouldnt necessarily offer full proofing: if a contract calls for 25 images, I'd probably fill in 20 of them myself and give the client an option of 5. Often it's not even that much.

Now, this question (yes, another) comes from a work flow angle. I'm reading from your scenario, that on a 25 image contract, you'd hand pick 20 and let the customer select 5. Is this to minimize decisions by the client at the proof session? BTW, I'm in sales, and this is a good thing (re: information overload). Or is it to reduce time spent with the client, or some other reason I'm completely missing?

However, would showing the rest and giving them the choice from all and doing it all themselves increase print sales?

More curious on this follow up than anything else.

Again, thank you both for your quick, courtious and informative responses!

Regards,
Gary

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by GTAltman

Now, this question (yes, another) comes from a work flow angle. I'm reading from your scenario, that on a 25 image contract, you'd hand pick 20 and let the customer select 5. Is this to minimize decisions by the client at the proof session? BTW, I'm in sales, and this is a good thing (re: information overload). Or is it to reduce time spent with the client, or some other reason I'm completely missing?

However, would showing the rest and giving them the choice from all and doing it all themselves increase print sales?

More curious on this follow up than anything else.

Again, thank you both for your quick, courtious and informative responses!

Regards,
Gary

The big reason for it is to control the end product. The more of MY decisions end up being delivered, the more tailored to my liking the eventual perception of my brand is.

Think of it this way: Car companies only give you a handful of colours to choose from. This selection is based on how they want the company to be perceived. Small, compact hatchbacks? Sure, lime green, bright blue, orange, red, whatever. They're fun and cheap and silly. A slick luxury sports sedan? Black, grey, silver, white, MAYBE navy or a deep red. The idea with photos is the same: If I like the photos, they accurately portray my style. If I only let the client pick 20% of the images, and I even control which images they get to choose from, I give them the illusion of control while still maintaining a hand in things and im able to protect/grow my brand.

[GTAltman]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The big reason for it is to control the end product. The more of MY decisions end up being delivered, the more tailored to my liking the eventual perception of my brand is.

Think of it this way: Car companies only give you a handful of colours to choose from. This selection is based on how they want the company to be perceived. Small, compact hatchbacks? Sure, lime green, bright blue, orange, red, whatever. They're fun and cheap and silly. A slick luxury sports sedan? Black, grey, silver, white, MAYBE navy or a deep red. The idea with photos is the same: If I like the photos, they accurately portray my style. If I only let the client pick 20% of the images, and I even control which images they get to choose from, I give them the illusion of control while still maintaining a hand in things and im able to protect/grow my brand.

Apologies for the tardy response. I wrote out my reply days ago, but never checked whether it posted or not...User Error.

Thanks for the insight. Never thought of it in that way. My thought process was speed/quickness to get the job done, minimize decision making and never taking into account Style and Branding. Excellent point.

Thank you very much!

Gary

[nickbedford]

Joey Lawrence has a good blog post on how he created his portfolio.

Creating a Photography Portfolio | Joey L : The Blog