Creation of a photographer's portfolio. How to compose a portfolio for a beginner photographer. Types of print portfolios

Among you, there are both experienced photographers and beginners who have recently discovered the world of photography science.

We can definitely say that the topic that we will analyze today will be of interest to everyone who is engaged in photography. Today we will talk about the so-called "portfolio".

If you forget all scientific terms, and speak in an understandable, popular language, then we can say that "Portfolio" is the author's business card... Or, from a scientific point of view, it is a set containing the best works and projects of the author in any branch of art or culture, in order to tell about the author and his talents, experience and quality of work. The portfolio can be stored in in different ways... For example, if a person is engaged in drawing, then his portfolio is the drawings themselves, his copies or photographs.

We said that the portfolio aims to tell about the author and his talents, experience and quality of work. In other words portfolio is advertising... Let's say you want to order yourself a room design. You have found the right person and he tells you that he is very much a designer. How can he confirm that he really knows a lot about his business? He opens a folder with photographs of his best work. Now, you are sure that you will not pay this person in vain.

Why does a photographer need a portfolio? Let's figure it out. A photographer who makes a portfolio can have several goals. The least likely version is that he makes a portfolio for himself to look at and praise himself. Few photographers pursue this goal. The main purpose for which portfolios are made is, again, advertising. No wonder they say: "Advertising is the engine of trade." It is important for photographers who sell their services to have a portfolio. In particular, people conducting photo sessions. The person who comes to you will most likely demand that you show him your work. If you are going to get a job for a TV channel, a newspaper publishing house or a modeling agency, then the employer will definitely ask you for a portfolio. I hope you now understand what a portfolio is and what it means to the owner of each profession.

When should a photographer start building their portfolio? As a matter of fact, right after he feels that he is good at photographing, and he likes to do it.

What should a portfolio consist of? The main attention should be paid to the photographs shown in journalistic styles, photographs of nature and people, everyday subjects. By saying that you need to pay attention to photographs in the style of journalism, I mean that these photographs contain the genres of politics, society and society. For example, photographs from press conferences, various meetings of politicians, etc. Such photographs mainly have to be taken by photographers working as journalists, filming reports or whose photos are published in the largest newspapers in cities or countries. Photos of nature and people. It is also very important to have them in your set of the best photos. If you become a good photographer in the future, and you will receive requests for or, again, will work in a newspaper, then you will have to photograph famous personalities, models or ordinary citizens. Nature. Do not forget that animals also belong to nature. It doesn't matter what, wild or domestic. Take pictures of landscapes, and all the weirdness, all the fun that you think seems to be beautiful creations of Mother Nature.

How to store a photo portfolio? There are several options for you here.

The first and most popular is a regular folder with developed photographs containing the author's works.
The second is composing a presentation or a slide show on a computer and storing it, for example, on a phone or on a USB flash drive.
And the third, used mainly by famous photographers. Creation of your site. You can place an unlimited number of photos on it, as well as many others. useful functions for example, your contact details, ads (for which you can get paid), your bio, and many other useful "gimmicks". You can look at how to create a website on the Internet, as well as how you can make money with your own website.

In general, a photographer's portfolio should always contain photos on any topic possible. Anything can happen in life, so it's better to insure yourself in advance. It's best to start with what you do best. Then start with the lightest topics and plots, such as, for example,

From August 29 to September 2, Moscow will host the International Portfolio Review for Russian photographers. Portfolio reviews are held regularly, primarily in the interests of novice professionals and enthusiastic amateurs - this is unique chance get a professional comment on own work from people directly associated with photography: photographers, publishers, photo editors and representatives of agencies. But before you go to a portfolio review, you need to collect a serious portfolio that objectively represents the author.

We talked about how to do this with gallery owners and photo editors who organize regular private portfolio reviews “Building a portfolio: or how to prepare for a portfolio review” for novice photographers at Gallery.Photographer.Ru.

How should it look good portfolio? What is the best way to arrange it: folder, color, format, number of photos, signatures?

In fact, there are no general rules here. The portfolio should be a document that reveals the author's potential and gives an idea of his work. The portfolio format is formed either by the author himself, if he knows how, or by some consultant. Such a consultant can be a gallery owner (in case the photographer is planning his cooperation with the gallery), a representative of a photo agency or a photo editor. All these people have vast experience and practice of viewing a large number of photographic materials, excellent orientation in photographic space, photo market, etc. It is possible and necessary to search for such consultants in a professional environment. The role of the consultant is especially important because even very strong authors often have extremely misconceptions about themselves.

With practicing authors, its strengths are already clear, beginning authors are more of a promise of development.

What should not be in the portfolio under any circumstances?

The portfolio should not contain anything that distracts from the perception of the photographer as an integral self-developing author. There shouldn't be anything superfluous.

Is there a difference in how to introduce beginners and practicing photographers? What is it?

Practicing authors already understand it strengths because it takes several years for the author to show what he can be successful in.
Novice writers are more of a promise of development. Here we can assume more single shots in different styles: the portfolio of the practicing author will be more complete.

Are there any general rules which portfolio will always benefit from? A variety of pictures, some kind of biography, a common history?

There are no general rules, the author's ability to show that his works are relevant and are in line with contemporary photographic thought is always an advantage. But having one-piece projects with a complex internal structure is always a plus.

A portfolio is an author's business card and should be sent to those who can influence their careers.

How long does it take for a photographer to assemble a new portfolio of quality images?

This process is endless in its essence. Professional authors collect portfolios of projects that they have been working on for years. It takes 10-15 minutes for a professional consultant to put together an initial portfolio of an amateur photographer.

What are some online sources of successful portfolios that you can take an example from? Or reputable portfolio magazines?

Check out the website of any of the leading agencies and you will find options for a wide variety of portfolios of authors working for that agency. Another thing is that each portfolio has its own consumer. The portfolio should not be liked at all, it should be interesting to certain consumers (photo editors, gallery owners or curators).

Who should you show and send your portfolio to? Where to send it when it's ready?

Portfolio is business card author and send it to those who can influence their careers. It all depends on the goals of the author himself. If he wants to work in an agency, then he needs to send a portfolio, and then seek a meeting with the heads and photo editors of the agency. If the author would like to exhibit in the gallery, it is recommended to send the portfolio to the gallery director.

Types of online portfolio design

The first impression is very important, so the portfolio should reflect the author. Portfolios are different. More precisely, there should be several of them if the author is interested not only in personal projects, but also in cooperation with publications and commercial organizations... Most of the successful photographers have several portfolios: that is, the criterion "good portfolio" is very relative. It is important to understand who you are going to show it to.

It is important to understand who you are going to show it to. The museum curator does not need to show commercial footage, for example, workers in helmets, unless this is your personal project on this topic. Exactly as it is not necessary to show your personal project about nature to the photo editor of the magazine who asked you for portrait photography. Of course, the editor may be interested in reading this work of yours, but only to have a more complete picture of you as an author, but in the end he will still ask you to show examples of your portrait work.

Most of the successful photographers have several portfolios: that is, the criterion "good portfolio" is very relative.

If we are talking about a printed portfolio of personal works, then it should reflect your vision of the final implementation: a book, an exhibition, a multimedia or a nomination for competitions, workshops, grants, etc. There should not be many photos. Typically 20-30 photos, and often even less for online applications. If you show only one project, then let there be 30 photos, but think about whether you are confident in each of them. If these are several projects (especially if they are in progress), then show 10-12 of each. Be sure that if you like the work, then you will have the opportunity to show more photos, you will most likely be asked about it.

As for the printing itself, the color, size, paper depend on the project and on the preferences of the author. Everything has the right to be. There are wonderful designs from Polaroids printed from iPhones. If there is an opportunity, there is no need to save. Service market quality printing became quite affordable. In Russia, by the way, it costs much less than abroad. Any author now has the opportunity to print their works on high-quality, museum-level paper.

Types of registration printed portfolios

In no case should there be a hodgepodge in the portfolio. If we are talking about a photographer with a name, then he is evaluated not only for the current project, but also for previous works. That's why famous photographer can allow you to mix custom and personal projects in your portfolio.

If there is an interesting story behind the photographs, then the author will definitely be paid attention.

For example, on the website of the Magnum agency, with photographer Chris Andersen, you will see black and white photographs from a book about Venezuela, fashion photography and a very personal story filmed at Holga. All of these photos are stacked in such a way as to remind of all the projects that Chris has done over the past 10 years. These photographs are widely known to the viewer. For a beginner photographer, such a variety is more likely to harm. Because in his case, each photo in the portfolio is not a reference to something that everyone has seen, but an attempt to make a first impression.

If you are a photographer, creating a portfolio is by far one of the most important things you should do. There are a number of benefits a portfolio can bring you: it will showcase your work online, attract new clients, and create a stable and expansive online platform for your work. It is sad that not all photographers have the technical skills to build a portfolio. Some may feel a little worried about the lack of knowledge in website development, while others may think that it takes a long time to build a portfolio.

The good news is that there are a number of online portfolio platforms for your work. At the same time, you do not need to waste your precious time and be able to program.

Here's a random list of the top 10 portfolio websites for photography enthusiasts.

1. Wfolio

— online tool to create a portfolio specifically for photographers and artists who want to have a professional portfolio and sell their work online with ease. You don't need any knowledge of HTML or CSS to get it.

Foliolink features: mobile version of the site, settings and tools ecommerce,. You can create a free 7-day account before deciding which tariff plan suits you best.

is an online tool that will help you create an amazing portfolio quickly and painlessly. If you are a photographer looking for a platform to build a stunning portfolio or seriously considering selling your work online, then Zenfolio is the right choice for you.

500px is a personal tool for fast and simple creation portfolio as well as a marketing platform for selling their work.

With 500px, you can maintain and control your site whenever you want without having to dig into the code. They provide a wide range of options for registrants such as advanced visitor tracking systems, unlimited photo uploads, a custom domain name, and a photo shop to sell photos online.

The photographer is met by the portfolio, so it is important to show your work profitably. Modern tools allow not only to lay out photos, but also to create a story around them. A beautiful site will help you understand that you are a professional and will distinguish you from inexperienced amateurs. We asked Yana Plyushcheva, designer of the Tilda Publishing platform, to tell you how to make a website for a photographer. https://tilda.cc/ru/tpls/ Tilda Publishing https://tilda.cc/ - - Idea and structure of the site - Research and inspiration - Site sketch or prototype - Content preparation- Website design Step 1 - The idea and structure of the site Step 2 - Research and inspiration Browse sites in related categories: designers, illustrators, or even photo agencies. It is possible that you will find an interesting move that you can apply. https://httpster.net https://www.siteinspire.com/ http://www.designmadeingermany.de/sites-we-like/sebastian/ http://thegallery.io/ Step 3 - Site sketch or prototype Step 4 - Content preparation Step 5 - Site design Sign up for https://tilda.cc/ 1) Commercial photographer 2) Wedding photographer https://tilda.cc/tpls/page/?q=melissaweis 3) Photo studios https://tilda.cc/tpls/page/?q=ballancestudios First Screen Navigation

Portfolio Blog Price list Add a rules section to the photo gallery website. For example, that a reservation can be canceled at least three days in advance. Or how a refund is made. Customer Reviews Don't forget to add customer testimonials after the price list. It grabs attention and builds trust. And at the very end, repeat the contact information. For this use blocks from the category "Contacts" Before publishing, take care of SEO - write a title, description in the page settings and add a picture for sharing on a social network. If you want the site to open at its own address, connect the domain. To do this, in the site settings, write down the address, and at the registrar where the domain was purchased, specify Tilda's IP in one line. Don't forget about statistics. Register onGoogle analytics or Yandex Metrica , and connect the counters in the site settings. Before showing the site to friends and customers, look at it again with a fresh eye: pay attention to the overall accuracy and style - whether the site is excessively designed, whether there is enough free space between the elements. Try to be ascetic. The easier you make, the fewer mistakes you will make and the website will turn out to be stylish. Examples of photographers' websites made on Tilda: http://alexmatamata.com/ http://christinaabdeeva.com/ http://oleg-fedorov.ru/

We asked Yana Plusheva, designer of the Tilda Publishing platform, to tell you how to make a website for a photographer.

Yana: One of my tasks at Tilda is to create website templates https://tilda.cc/ru/tpls/ for users. Templates are ready-made pages that users can take as a basis and adapt, creating a website on their own. Therefore, my task is to think over everything, everything, everything and make functional pages that will be both beautiful and convenient.

Tilda Publishing https://tilda.cc/ - a modular constructor that allows you to create cool sites in a short time: portfolios, landing pages, longreads, special projects, interactive stories, blogs.

In general, the process of creating a website consists of the following steps:

Idea and structure of the site

Research and inspiration

Website sketch or prototype

Content preparation

Site design

Step 1 - Idea and site structure

Before you start, determine for yourself what is the main idea and purpose of your site and what exactly you want to show. Think about the people you would like to see on your site: are they your customers, fans, gallery owners, or maybe just your friends? Decide with the audience - for whom you are creating a site. Then try to put yourself in their shoes and guess why they came to you and what they expect to see.

Take a regular piece of paper and sketch out the structure. Think about whether you need a multi-page site or just select 10 best works and place it on one page that is easy to scroll through. If you are a photographer and know the visual language, then most likely you write well too. Will you have a blog? On the same domain as the main site or on a separate one? Are your works divided into categories or are you staying within the same genre?

The structure of the page will depend on your activity - if you are shooting in several directions or doing only one activity.

Step 2 - Research and Inspiration

When you roughly understand what kind of site you need, do a little research.

Chances are, you already regularly review the websites and portfolios of photographers whose work you admire. But now you need to look from a different angle - you need to notice which sections other photographers are using and make a list of main or recurring elements. For example, it can be a story about yourself, about your studies, about your history (how you started taking photographs), the cost of services.

See how it looks in general modern internet, without being tied to a specific topic. There are quite a few resources online where enthusiasts collect good samples:

Try to notice what exactly you like. Maybe a good rhythm, good typography, or a combination of colors.

Step 3 - Site Sketch or Prototype

A sketch or prototype is a schematic representation of the blocks that make up a site. Your visual script. This is done simply: take a sheet of paper, a felt-tip pen and draw a diagram of what will go for what. You don't need to draw everything in detail, just a general idea.

Step 4 - Preparing Content

In advance, select the photos that will be on your site, put them in a separate folder, and ideally reduce the size to 1680px on the larger side. This way the photos will retain good quality, but will not slow down the loading of the site. Because if you put a highrez on the site and then open the site on your phone, it will be hard.

Write the text in text editor... So it will be convenient to edit it. Some points can be changed right on the page, but there should be a basis.

How to write text for a website. If you write the text yourself, use the following scheme:

Write a short text about yourself. It should be one phrase that summarizes what you specialize in. For example, Alina Lyalina is a children's photographer in Moscow.
Write a little more detailed text. Explain what your features are. Write simply - as if you were telling this to a friend over a cup of coffee - in the most understandable language.
Highlight three main points - why people order photos from you.
Describe the benefits. Tell us what your customers get when they contact you, give details.
Think about headlines. People are often lazy to read solid text, and headings are read without effort, so do not get carried away with beautiful metaphors, write the essence in the headings.
Take reviews. Ask your clients to say a few words about you. Works great.

When you have the content ready - the photos are selected and the text is written, you can proceed to the direct creation of the site.

Step 5 - Website Design

Sign up for https://tilda.cc/ , immediately after registration, Tilda will offer to choose a page template. There are templates especially for photographers on Tilda:

1) Commercial photographerhttps://tilda.cc/tpls/page/?q=samphotographer

2) Wedding photographer https://tilda.cc/tpls/page/?q=melissaweis

3) Photo studios https://tilda.cc/tpls/page/?q=ballancestudios

If these templates don't work, check out the others. Template is a sample good design and an example of using blocks. The choice of a template does not limit your creativity in any way - at any time you can change it beyond recognition and even start from scratch.

You work with images, so the first thing a visitor to your site should see is photography, which immediately shows your specialization (for example, weddings, food, exhibitions, photo studio interior).

First screen

Specify contacts on the first screen: Email, phone, link to social networks, city where you work. It is convenient for the client. Be sure to include your first and last name in the header. Place your logo there. Optionally, you can put a large photo in half of the screen so that the client can see your face.

On the cover of a wedding photographer website, create a gallery where you can post a selection of photographs of your activity, as well as headlines for popular searches on the Internet, for example, a wedding photographer in Reykjavik

Navigation

Think about navigation - how a visitor will navigate a site, navigate through pages, or navigate within a single page. To organize, add a menu: a box with links, which will be at the top of the site. It can be static or fixed when scrolling to always be in front of your eyes. Or it can fit into a laconic "hamburger". You can read more about menu design in the article "Site menu design and practical application"http://help-ru.tilda.ws/design-menu

Important: do not overload the menu, this is a functional part that should help you navigate. Use short words for item names, do not exceed 5 items.

There is a special category "Menu" in the Tilda block library

Portfolio

Selecting several blocks to show the portfolio. Add tabs if you want to present multiple directions of photography. By clicking on the names, we go from section to section. Each section is worth showing best photos for a specific area of activity.

For example, if you are photographing weddings, add a gallery with select photos that expand on click. Then you can add photo stories with information about where the wedding was and what date. You can include a section on the best weddings of the last year.

It is worth adding a button under the photos, when you click on it, you can go to a separate page of the project and see more works.

Blog

If you have a blog post it on the page. Show the last three posts and add a button by clicking on which the user will follow the link to other posts.

Price list

The next block about the cost of shooting can be done in the form of a table or cards. Indicate popular services and their prices. Add a button "Order a photo session". By clicking on it, the client goes to the form for collecting data, which he will send to the photographer's mail.

If you sell photography studio services, tell us what premises and equipment you provide for rent, indicate the cost and tell us why you should choose your premises and equipment. By adding images of backgrounds, reflectors, diffusers, cameras, cycloramas, water zones, etc., you greatly increase your chances of being seen (and making money).

The portfolio of a businessman is a work book.

A comprehensive guide for photographers who want to craft their portfolio competently and independently. At the heart of the note: basic knowledge, special cases, minor differences that must be taken into account when working with a customer. Free photographers will also find for themselves useful information, because the basic principles do not depend on genre, geography and other external differences. Frankly, as I develop in the profession, I notice less and less that the role of a portfolio of a designer or architect, for example, is somewhat different from that of a photographer, and this is not surprising, as well as the fact that authors, like the profession, are distinguished by the specificity that someone then it ignores and creates a stamp, while the other notices and finds its viewer.

I do not strive to retrain anyone, but I will not mislead either. There are no tricks in compiling or updating a portfolio, but there is a method that you need to master once, and then go on your own, as you believe and feel: your creativity, your viewer. Please note that the portfolio:

This is not a collection of technically correct works, but a selection of works by the author, which are the same in style and theme, the author's view.
It can be composed of both the newest works and the oldest, because the true, most valuable photograph is always timeless.

With the help of a portfolio, a photographer solves problems:

Creation of a single visual series, demonstration of the narrative.
Finding your audience and drawing attention to your work.

Drawing up a portfolio is not an insane emotional impulse, according to the principle "like everyone else's," but a meaningful decision - to create a tool that will help get away from the masses and convey your message to the audience, with which the author has common views on life and values that are reflected in the portfolio; That is why, I believe that drawing up a portfolio is not a whim, and not a process "left for tomorrow", but the primary task that a photographer, if he reads these lines, must solve in the first place, because:

A portfolio saves the photographer's time.
The portfolio showcases the author's skills and experience.
The portfolio enriches the photographer if he updates it.

Photographic equipment is secondary, the portfolio is the main asset of the photographer.

Basic knowledge - the volume of the text. Of course, I will try to write concisely where possible, but still, for convenience, I will compile a list of chapters:

General Portfolio Guidelines
- Drafting
  - Study of target audience
  - Selection of images
  - Format selection
  - Choice of design
- Update
  - How often to update your portfolio
Instead of a conclusion

The first thing I would like to draw the reader's attention to is self-criticism. Only a sober, detached look at your work will help you create a portfolio that you will like and will attract the attention of the viewer. I understand it's difficult. But the first impression can be made (and there is no need to be surprised) only once. It is necessary to exclude occasional works: walk-through and those that awaken our memories, which the viewer is deprived of. If this is not done, then you can independently make sure that a person's patience ends faster than we think.

The second thing to remember is that a portfolio is not a static product. No matter how ingenious and, I do not exclude, professionally the portfolio was not designed, one day you will have to reassemble everything again, because creativity matures, the client or place of residence changes, and those works that previously guaranteed cooperation are no longer enough for the customer, his look and thoughts, could understand the photographer. Hence another advice follows, combine and constantly revise the portfolio, and if you no longer like the frame - remove it; do not be afraid of laconic episodes, be afraid of boring ones.

Drafting

If you don't have a portfolio, you have nothing to sell.

What are your thoughts on building a portfolio? Is a portfolio a photographer's tool and you can't find a client without it? No, although they are useful, but it is better to think about something else - in what sequence to work on the portfolio, who will be the first to see it, what feelings, thoughts and desires should awaken in the person with whom the photographer would like to work. In many portfolio building guides, one can see a common problem- they call for the author to select the best pictures and present. I propose to act a little differently: think, decide, make a selection, think again, arrange and show.

Portfolio creation - time, effort, financial costs. That is why, I suggest taking your time, and taking into account the viewer, and not your capabilities, which will grow:

It takes time to master technical skills.
To shoot the missing frames is a desire that will appear if you are busy with your own business.

Another thing is more important: the theme that will unite the works; style, albeit original. To make it easier for you and me, I will describe the sequence:

Study of target audience
Selection of images
Format selection
Choice of design

Now let's look at all the stages.

Study of the target audience

A good portfolio does not inspire everyone, and this is normal, because among the viewers, and this is also normal, there are not many of our clients:

Some people like to watch.
Others - to discuss or condemn.
There are still others - they like it, but they won't buy.

Therefore, we need to look for those who understand our work and say: “This is mine! Tell me, when will you have time so that we can discuss the terms of cooperation? " The portfolio should take the viewer out of information field photographer and attract the customer. How to do it? Explore everything first characters, but the first step is to create a portrait of your client.

It is necessary to take into account age, profession, social status, if important - material and emotional data; hobbies, habits, problems and desires (sometimes hidden, when the customer himself does not admit them); sometimes you have to take into account the appearance, diet, music and cosmetics (attitude towards it), preferred wardrobe, method of transportation; holidays, family and national traditions. There are many criteria, but they, as a constructor, help not only to compose a portrait of the target audience, but also to choose the right amount, theme, style, design (which should not be forgotten) of your portfolio.

Selection of images

You have chosen your market segment, the main characters have designated, it's time to select images, but which ones and how many? There is no consensus, but there are important notes:

Quality... Stability in jobs speaks of level - the first thing to consider when selecting. The rule that the first and last 2 photos are important is erroneous, as well as the fact that weak works can be mixed in the middle, for quantity. All photographs must be uniform in technical execution, or in style (not stylization). Somewhere I heard a long time ago that one bad job outweigh 100 good ones; social networks like VKontakte and Instagram have convinced of this. Pictures must retain attention, evoke a response in the heart of the viewer; walk-through works cannot be shown.
Quantity... The optimal number of photos is 20. But it is better to start "screening" when you have 100 or more in your hands. Select 30-40 best photos that you are confident in yourself and show the draft portfolio to friends or relatives who are strong in understanding the visual art and are similar to the portrait of your target audience, and are ready to give a response to your portfolio. Pictures that did not evoke emotion can and should be deleted. If there are more or less 20 jobs, for example, 12 or 21, then it's okay, optimal amount- not a hard rule, but a recommendation.

When choosing your own photos, it is important not to think about numbers. Another thing is more important - in what potential client will be reflected (after all, as you know, we see him in the work of the author), how he imagines the soul of the photographer. Contrary to collective opinion, the client needs confidence, which is why he looks at the portfolio; who needs emotion, he asks - how much does it cost?

Format selection

"Digital Portfolio or Traditional, Designed Prints?" - a question that is often written to me, in e-mails, or in personal messages VK. I understand, it is relevant, but my opinion is invariable - a compromise. Look for it. Consider the benefits of a particular solution. Portfolio on the Internet is convenient, prints are weighty. I propose to combine and find the best combinations for yourself. For example, it is convenient for me to place prints in a folder, I don’t like photobooks, and I don’t consider them at all; but it is convenient for a meeting, an Internet site (personal choice), but there are significantly more options:

Digital portfolio
- Personal site
- Social media
- Photo sites
- Slide show
- Photo archive
Printed portfolio
- Prints
- Passepartout prints
- Photobooks

Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.

Digital portfolio

Photos in in electronic format- lack of dependence on geography, saving time, effort and the ability to demonstrate the portfolio in a passive mode, since it is available and works for the author, around the clock. But there is a problem - technology. All devices are different, and their screens, for the most part, do not undergo colorimetric adjustment, and what is most unpleasant for us, a photo in electronic form is a glow on the screen, while prints and photo books are reflected light, like all information from the real world... We humble ourselves, read and choose one (or several) solutions for ourselves that will complement the prints.

Personal site

Advantages:

The trust. Many do not know how the site is arranged, but they understand the costs, the intentions of those who invest in the development and updating. All other things being equal, the customer will look at the portfolio on the site, and not in in social networks(eg).
Independence. From moderators, their mood and rules, technical restrictions and, what is most unpleasant, legal rigging in the user agreement. Somewhere it happens differently, but in most cases: the service does not owe anything, the photographer is nobody.
Versatility. Accounts, registrations, personal data and any, to some extent useful, services are not needed. All the necessary information: contacts and price lists, frequently asked questions and reviews, can be collected in one project. Comfortable!
Quality control. As images so that the client sees the portfolio in the most in the best possible way, without serious visible distortions, and the surrounding space (some projects need comments, while others do not, for example).
Attention management. Your project is freedom of action. You can implement different schemes for presenting material in order to display the optimal sequence and speed of viewing the portfolio; eliminate distractions in the interface.

Flaws:

For a long time. The site is a separate project. It takes a lot of time for discussion, development and, what is not the end, implementation; further tests, making edits, promotion, constant monitoring and improvements: updating the portfolio, structure, etc.
Expensive. Creation and maintenance in working order is money, if not with your own hands - a lot. You will either have to study (and this is time and money), or constantly pay, keep on the balance sheet, a freelance employee (which is also expensive).
Responsibly. He is his own boss, but there is a limitation - the legislation of the Russian Federation.

A personal website, in my opinion, is the most convenient and high-quality option for your portfolio on the Internet. Anyone interested can read it and make the final decision.

Social media

Advantages:

Fast. Fully customizing an account, hosting a portfolio, and setting up a public page or community will take less than an hour. Get comfortable in advertising cabinet, without which the presence on social networks is meaningless, another one or two hours.
Is free. Relatively.

Flaws:

Addiction. From the leadership, popularity and target audience of the selected site; mood and user agreement change in unilaterally... The photographer cannot remove all the data after changing or leaving the site (the "delete" button is fictitious).
Restrictions. Portfolio viewing is available without registration (if you do not limit this in the settings), but contacting the photographer - you need an account. Publishing images is easy, but managing the quality and consistency of viewing is impossible.
Fragility. The practice of blocking social media, under one pretext or another, will increase. The influence of politics and augmented reality will lead to the disappearance or decline in popularity of domestic sites, and the blocking of objectionable "others".

Social media - free playground that every photographer considers. One sees opportunities in it, the other - limitations: inconvenient navigation (a long way to the goal increases the income of the owners), color distortion (nothing has changed in this matter in 10 years), lack of customization (design decisions can be left to yourself, no one considers them ); social media can be considered both as an independent solution and as an advertising channel for the flow of additional traffic to a personal website.

Photo sites

Advantages:

Status. Portfolio on PhotoVogue is not easy, works are selected by Vogue.It editors; on MyWed you can see the look of a Russian Internet wedding photo; Behance is a union of talents and employers from all over the world. Peer recognition builds customer confidence.
Quality. The color profile is not deleted from the file, the optimal photo size for the Internet does not change; colors are not distorted, detail does not drop. It is on these sites that you can, without fear, place your portfolio.
Is free. Nicely.

Flaws:

Addiction. A third-party solution is dependence on its owners and photo sites, alas, are no exception. How long will the publication last, how will the project change and what will happen if, for example, the new design causes hostility among the photographer's clients?
Uniformity. Change the layout, redesign and implement new technology, which I spied on from a colleague - will not work; the technical part is hidden from the author (and in many situations this is good, but still, the limitation is a disadvantage).

Photo sites are the closest to a regular site - they allow you to place the author's portfolio and, what pleases, do not spoil the image. Provide easy navigation and demonstrate the opinion of the professional board: editors and photographers; of course, this is a possible, and largely controversial, argument - public opinion, but consider it if you choose the path of a free photographer.

Slide show

Advantages:

Is free. Relatively, because good software is money. Free solutions - outside of Windows, for example, Linux, but it takes time to master this OS; pick up a program - time again, understand it ... well, you get the idea. Relative advantage.
Qualitatively. The only limitation is sRGB (but his photographer is always accustomed to taking it into account: when printing, publishing on the Internet, viewing on device screens). Otherwise, we are limited by our experience or choice: to squeeze or not (photo and video).
Attention management. There are no restrictions, except for the author's imagination. You can control and manipulate the attention and emotional state of the viewer. The experience of a build editor, director, designer, marketer and psychologist will come in handy, and more than once.

Flaws:

Inconvenient. Required condition portfolio - update; a slideshow excludes this, because removing, adding or correcting the order of photos is tantamount to creating a new project. Reminds of a house of cards.
Waste of time. As in the literal sense - to master the software, to choose a plot, tempo and music, and in a portable way - no one is interested, no one else watches. Time has passed.

Even 10 years ago, this way of showing a portfolio was convenient, but now, people do not want, or cannot, spend time watching a slideshow. Statistics, user experience and the new paradigm of web development convince us of this.

Photo archive

Advantages:

None. This is not a portfolio.

Flaws:

Wrong decision.

Send pictures by mail so that the customer can assess the level of work - probably once there was a point in this, but it has nothing to do with the portfolio. It is impossible to consider this option of demonstrating your work, you need to learn how to select works and compose thematic selections; to style them and provide the viewer with a complete product, and not a bunch of fragments.

An e-portfolio is a part of an internet marketing strategy that a photographer must, if not obligated, develop before picking up a camera (which is on a shelf in a store); from this position, it is better to assess the prospects of this or that decision, and not globally, but in a narrower direction - for yourself.

Printed portfolio

A traditional portfolio, fingerprints in a folder, or a photo book is a sleek and solid solution that is suitable for personal meetings with a client, finding a mentor, and visiting a craft friend with whom it is better to communicate outside the virtual world.

A classic printed portfolio, in contrast to an electronic one, is a tactile sensation, without which, sometimes, it is difficult to realize the real value of a work. If a photographer decides to work with agencies or magazines, then without prints he will not be able to declare himself.

Prints

Advantages:

Photo. Real, sought after. Correctly selected paper, conditions and method of printing. In the hands of not a semi-finished product, but a finished product that is exposed, fixed, decorated and packaged.
Tactile sensations. Without them, the photograph does not remain in the memory for a long time. Our forces are at the limit, the information field is overloaded and it is difficult to keep one more picture in our memory, if we do not touch it with our hands, do not feel the weight and texture.
Reflected light visibility. Traditional perception of information from the surrounding world. This is the value of traditional photography, despite the fact that, for the most part, modern devices reproduce wider color gamuts.

Flaws:

Expensive. Of course, it depends on the format, printing method and type of paper, but on average, prices are from 40-50 rubles to 900 rubles for an A4 print. If you regularly update and replace damaged photos, you will have to fork out for an amount equal to the average budget lens.
Short-lived. Paper is paper. Accidentally knocked over a glass of water, or a cup of coffee, that's it, the picture is spoiled, you will have to replace it. Additional expenses for a visit to a printing house and printing (costs grow).
Personal contact. A traditional portfolio requires, from the author, the ability to present, in many respects - to interest in the demonstration of his product. Communication skills and experience as a marketer are indispensable. Additional self-education is needed.

Traditional prints, arranged in a folder-album, are not a relic of the past, but rather the opposite - a basic portfolio of a photographer. Another, more expensive and protected version - photographs designed according to museum standards, we will consider them in detail.

Passepartout prints

Advantages:

Durability. Cardboard protects the print from kinks and chips (in case of falls), but this is a half measure, because the main threat to photography is moisture and ultraviolet light, from which the complete design (baguette and glass) protects. Looks and is expensive.
Visual perception. Passepartout is not just a piece of cardboard, but an additional, or, rather, an artistic element, a tool with which it is quite easy to control the client's visual perception. The main thing is to choose the right size and color.
The final look of the photo. The museum standard of design is 200 years of preservation of the print, and the aesthetic pleasure of viewing. Ideal for a portfolio of a mature author, owner of a photo studio.

Flaws:

Dimensions. The weight and size of the printed prints are large, which makes them inconvenient, I would even say - unsuitable for meetings outside the space where they are located, and own studio - necessary condition to post and display this portfolio.
Price. Quality is expensive, museum quality is even more expensive.

The photographs, decorated in a classic mat, complemented by a baguette and museum glass, and marked with the author's personal seal are an expensive type of portfolio that is inconvenient or, rather, unsuitable for meetings outside the photo studio.

Photobooks

Advantages:

Comfortable. Most of the books are packed in "boxes", wooden boxes that you can take to a meeting or give for review. The format of the book is a value "according to taste and demand", which is also convenient.
Original. The book is, in a sense, an element of the brand. There are no restrictions on the layout or type of paper, the existing standards are a great convention, the restriction of those in whom there is no need to "find their own."

Flaws:

Collage. A photobook is not a photo album; there is no scene in it, understanding the plot is a snapshot and this is bad; we fill the space and create visual noise, it is not clear that this can be conveyed to the viewer. Photobooks are exclusively for serial filming.
Price. A quality product is expensive, packaging is even more expensive. The "paradox" is that the cost of printing is lower than the cost of manufacturing; the photographer does not pay for the view, his duty is to fork out for production. He needs a portfolio though.
Fragility. The print, for the most part, is of poor quality, but often the author does not know about it, because he will throw out the book much earlier, because the frame is outdated, how to update it? How to supplement your portfolio? That's right, printing is new.
Inconvenient format. It cannot be updated, it cannot be viewed together with the customer: the frame, even if it is on the centerfold, is not large, transferring it is by no means an easy task. You cannot hang it on the wall, which excludes the possibility of placing such a portfolio in the studio.

The photobook is a strange phenomenon. It is expensive and looks beautiful, but its main task, if you are "picky", performs badly. Sure, it holds a lot and, not surprisingly, is compact, but is this when you are working on photography out of time?

The printed portfolio is of high quality, solid and durable, but it has one common and unpleasant, at first, problem - what to do with outdated photos? Electronic photos, files on disk are easy to delete, but what about printing? I propose to give: to those who are in the frame and to those who are interested in these frames. From the photographer will not lose.

I understand that everyone has different genres and styles, but try to combine different formats, types and versions of the portfolio; consider the portrait of your target audience, so as not to make mistakes or to exclude in time the attention of those who will take time, but will not pay for the work. If you have questions - write letters, I will try to help.

Choice of design

Design starts with choosing a format. Optimal for handheld viewing is 20x30 (A4), and this, of course, applies to the printed portfolio. The basic design is a mat, but it is not always appropriate to use it, in most cases it is a folder (made of leatherette or leather) and there are transparent files in it for storing photos. There is ready-made solutions(on the Internet and beyond), but manual work is better, which does not limit the flight of imagination; the main thing is not to forget that the lurid design is bad, and not because ignoramuses are around - they cannot appreciate the "beauty", the photographer simply has to show photographs, for this and the portfolio.

I can't say anything about the design of the books, I didn't like them from the very beginning, and I use folders, in the near future - handmade because there is an opportunity and why not get away from the impersonal format.

An electronic portfolio does not need to be designed (that is its beauty) and, on the contrary, it requires cleaning: advertising on social networks distracts; on photo sites - extra buttons and ads; we spoil personal sites ourselves. Look again at the pictures and at the portrait of the target audience, think about what spoils the impression of viewing pictures and whether it can be corrected; Portfolio design, as well as its compilation, is not to show everything that you can, but to show what the client would like to see; what I would like to reproduce again, but for more high level; yes, portfolio design is a showcase of taste.

Update

A portfolio is not a static product. The photographer hones his skills, looks for new solutions - in the means of expression, and inevitably comes to the understanding: “Something needs to be changed!”. This is where self-criticism comes in handy, the ability to scribble oneself (as FM Dostoevsky said); but simply deleting the "old" to make way for the "new" is a mistake. “Date of manufacture” is not a selection criterion; the photographer must understand what pictures are missing in his portfolio, and what will change in his work if you make "corrections".

How often to update your portfolio

There are many opinions, but I believe that making a portfolio is necessary once and for many years. No, I'm not against minor edits, but if the relevance of the portfolio is rapidly falling, for example, from season to season, then it is better to rebuild the portfolio (and advertise it well). In the list below, I will list all the thoughts on this issue:

The frequency of updates is an indicator of the stability, completeness of the portfolio. If there is no, or almost no, day without edits, then the portfolio is made for a wide audience, and its goal is simple - to increase the reach. Its price is low, there is no value.
An update schedule is a mistake in the life of a photographer. A valuable shot appeared and a place was found for it in the portfolio - good; no - a reason to work further. A snapshot in a portfolio is not a fixed result, but a share of luck.
Updating a portfolio is about quality, not quantity. Sometimes, and there is nothing wrong with that, you add one frame and remove three, the portfolio shrinks and empty files appear (talking about printing), but the overall picture becomes clearer. That's the price.

Competent updates highlight the "backbone", the basis - photographs are timeless; show, attract attention, confirm the achievements, skills and experience of the author. Such photographs bring "their viewer", the customer who needs the author, and not his price tag.

How to select snapshots for updates

The opinion is not a dogma, but it may be useful to someone:

Ignore fashion, seasonal trends. The season of that ... the season of this ... do-it-yourself stupidity and Instagram. Consider the values (not material) of your client and publish timeless photos in which: you are confident, and the customer has found himself.
Durability is the main criterion. Passing pictures or sketches are not something that will live for years. Do not publish them even in social media, train yourself to see and discuss only what is not devoid of meaning, value (bypassing the price tag).
Add photos you have forgotten to your portfolio. Like the photo? Hide it from yourself for a month, or better - six months or a year, so that the emotions, feelings, thoughts with which this frame is associated will go away. After a while, the shot is interesting - publish it, no - in its trash can.

Instead of a conclusion

The portfolio of a businessman is a work book.

not loud words, but meek truth.

Updated 01/05/2018

Peace to all, and passing light on the places of photographic battles.
Your,
Andrey Bondar.