Picking Portfolio Pieces
One thing that I have a really hard time doing is picking out my 'best' photos for showcase on my website. I can critique others' work all day long, but when it comes to things for myself (both design and critique), I can lose focus fast. Does anyone have resources, recommendations, ideas, etc. on how to best choose the 'best foot' to put forward when trying to woo new clients? I have a much easier time choosing my graphic work but I just want to show so many photos (and cannot chose between them). And I don't want to overwhelm clients either.
One thing I am trying to figure out now is how many genres of photos to post. My site features graphic design, web design, and photos so I am trying to keep it simple and regularly updated with recent good work, whether that be with a high profile client or work that I just find will attract clients. In my photo section, I find myself wanting to segment out architectural, commercial, landscape, animal, and equestrian (I have WAAAY too many of these to choose from). One part of me says to show how versatile I am and another says to pick a few from each category and put them all in one gallery.
What do you guys think? Any input would be appreciated.
I think this is something every artist struggels with.
When I am in this situation I use a five rule. I have five images only and that is it. I have more in the car or on my computer so if they ask I can show them but I pick just five.
Now how I choose them, sometimes I choose badly. If I am going to be in a very informal setting I choose images that have a great story to them that makes them not just an image but a story about the image as well so I can discuss that witht he people in th eroom. If it is very stuffy and very formal I tend to choose images that are a very complete unit. Now I know all the good images have a story with them but you know what I am trying to say. Now I also have a great relationship with the guy who does my framing and I go ask him and his wife and the owners of the interior design shop nextdoor. I get other input.
Other than that I guess there is some chicken blood and voodoo chants but that is how I choose my work...
Sorry if that is not the booming voice from the sky answer.
Good Luck
Chippy
Chippy -
Thanks for the input. Right now, I have twelve pieces in each of several different 'categories', but I like your idea of keeping it small. If someone asks to see more pieces, you can always have them handy, but it seems like a bad idea to overwhelm people with too many pictures.
I LOVE the idea about picking a piece with a story if you are going to have a good opportunity to share that. I've found the whole portfolio thing to really be a learning experience and I'm just learning as I go. I also find it hard to pick pieces since as a photographer you get attached to pieces that may not really be your best work.
One more thing, does anyone have a printed portfolio on hand or do most people just do digital ones? I'm thinking about putting together a printed portfolio to have on hand as well, and I'm thinking about using Blurb or something like it to print up some portfolio books - they are cheap enough that I won't worry about having the portfolio set up to switch out photos, I can just print another one. That would also give me more options as well when showing clients work.
The whole portfolio thing IS a learning experience as far as I have found.
I always have at least 3 portfolios of my work in 3 categorys. I have 3 different themes to my portfolios. I have a set of Landscape fine art whatever you passion is, a set of commercial and a set with a smattering of everything incase I am not sure. I know that is redundant but...... I also make sure I have both or possibly all 3 portfolios when I am in a face to face meeting. Any digital work I turn into a slide show and send on DVD that can be played on any machine so they can watch it on thier computer or the TV in the conference room. Thought being that whover received it likes it and then takes it to the conference room and watches it on the Big screen tv in there. Ok that is my theory I do not know if it works but hey. I also have a couple of these in my bag so I can leave them if I need to. There are loads of Portfolio people out there. If you are a member of PDN go through their resources page on the web they have loads of them to choose from. Sorry I am in Australia so I am not up to date on the US printing sceen at the moment.
The only other thing I would say is if you are doing a face to face and need print work do as much reasearch as you can on who you are meeting and what their previous client work has been. Try and match your portfolio to their taste and then throw in an image or 2 that might just have them go "oh I like that they fit our mold but I like what they are doing here on the creative edge"
Ok it is a gamble and crap shoot! Just what I have learned by failing a lot.....
Let me know how it goes.
Chippy
One more thing
AS far as your web site goes get it all up there.....
Just organise it into small groups so people are not flicking through hundreds of pages. Thumbnails are the key.
Again just my opinion but with something like the web who knows who is going to see it what they are looking for!