printing a portforlio(need advice asap)

[sarahle]

At 49, I'm going back to school and am going after an associates in photography. I meet w/the advisor(head of department) in two weeks. I realized it would not hurt me to have a small portfolio to hand him so he would see I was not some middle-aged crazy woman coming in to haunt the studio but a serious student. So, here's part one of my problem. I have found a inexpensive portfolio display book on Amazon but sizing has me in a dither. Over the last few years I have entered in our state fair and win in various categories every year, part of my portfolio will include the best of these which are sized to 8x10. 8x10 is cheap to print and I have a few already ready to slide into the presentation packet. I realize that is an odd size for such a presentation but economics is calling that shot. However, I do have some landscape-panoramics that need to be included in this group(at least 2). What I'm wondering is if I print the panoramas to an 11x14, will that be okay? Will the remaining 8x10 photos appear lost on 11x14 sheets in the rest of the book? I'm only planning to have approximately 13-15 photos included in this portfolio.
Also, any other advice on this task would be helpful..I've been shooting all of my life but just got serious about 3 years ago and the more I learn, it seems the more there is to learn and do. I thought I'd include my best portraits, best animal portraits, landscape, and some of my best photo-shop processing which show my skills well. Thanks for help.

[Superfitz]

I'm confused... I doubt the advisor is going to care if you are 19, 49, or 109. What is the portfolio for? Is it required to be admitted? Are you sure the advisor will even want to look at it? If you were going for a associates degree in photography there is probably a set course path you will have to follow no matter how good or bad your portfolio is. I guess my answer is I don't know. I wouldn't take a portfolio. I might throw a few prints in a briefcase on the off chance that they would ask to see something, but that is about it.

[sarahle]

No confusion needs to be..I am definitely not walking into there empty-handed..good or bad photos..and as you say...might throw a few prints in a briefcase, no, I don't want to do that..I'll have my prints on hand in a portfolio type case(needed or not needed). I will be prepared to show prints in a more professional manner. I just asked advice about the size of the photos, thank you though.

[Superfitz]

Originally Posted by sarahle

No confusion needs to be..I am definitely not walking into there empty-handed..good or bad photos..and as you say...might throw a few prints in a briefcase, no, I don't want to do that..I'll have my prints on hand in a portfolio type case(needed or not needed). I will be prepared to show prints in a more professional manner. I just asked advice about the size of the photos, thank you though.

You are very welcome! Relax...Just trying to save you a bit of time and money before you put all this together only to find out it may not be neccessary. It is a school, not a prospective job. As long as you keep paying them they will let you attend.

[Doug Sundseth]

To answer your original question, sort of:

Back when I was editing a catalog, I would have wanted to see variety in a portfolio -- large, small, medium-sized, different subjects, different lighting -- variety.

To the specific size question, shooting for a small print is (or normally should be, anyway) very different from shooting for a large print. A large print allows more complexity; a small print nearly requires simplicity.

Would this apply for a school? It should, but who knows. "Them as can't shoot, ...."

[sarahle]

Very much wanted to say thank y'all for responding but I figured out an inexpensive, different way to approach this problem. I've got it solved to my satisfaction for $25. Of course, with it being a school, it was just a matter of finding a way...in the past, I have have used Kodak Beta Gallery site for some photo cards and some processing of some of my photos for small competitions..they've always been a good quality for the price. I went through my last five years of shooting(my Canon Rebel is five years old and I'm still getting quality photos from that camera w/a couple of decent lenses). I have done some local portrait shoots for charity, some portraits for barter, some landscape, some photoshop, some still-lifes, etc and I chose 20 of the best & favorites which show my whole range, interests, and abilities. I put them in an 8x10 book and let's cross fingers that it looks good. It looked good on the screen as I worked all weekend to put it together. It's convenient, inexpensive, and I think it will look good as a finished project. And I tell you something else, just putting my best in one place and looking from where I started to where I am...yep, I've come a long way..and it is giving me some better insight to the direction I'm heading. Thanks y'all for your help.