How do I put together a portfolio?

Question

I want to start putting a portfolio together for my photos, but I don't know what I would need to do so. I had thought about just buying a binder and putting some clear sleeves in it to house my photos, but I don't want them getting ruined. Help!

Answer 1

Art supply stores have archival portfolio's in many different styles .. one of the clerks can help you choose the right one for you.

Answer 2

My suggestion would be to go to Costco's website and get a photo book printed.  You get to download an application that helps you with the layout and then they will print it for you and mail it.

Pretty cool!

The only problem?  You have to be a Costco member

Answer 3

I highly recommend the book "Photo portfolio success," by John Kaplan. It can definitely answer all your questions and more. I've read the book three times now it's so informative. The book will tell you everything you need to know about choosing your photographs, basic placements of the photographs, etc. Pretty much anything presentation related.

Here's some tips in case you don't purchase the book:

1.Choose only your absolute best photographs.

2.Categorize them according to subject.

3.Your portfolio should only be one subject. Example: Nature. Then take a variety of photographs consisting of nature.

Example: You're into portraits. It is your strongest point. Take all of your portrait pictures and choose the best. Then, categorize them according to the type of portrait they are. Take a few photographs from each category and put them into your binder. A portfolio should be minimum of 10 photographs. Most places and companies want less than 20.

You can buy a Portfolio Binder at any arts store. They range from $10-200+. (Before purchasing the binder though, you need to decide what is going into it).

Also, if you do not know which pictures to choose -- only the best ones, though -- ask for people's opinions and go from there.

Also, for inspiration I would highly recommend getting a Flickr account. I find new things everyday on there!

Here's my account to give you a feel of what it is about:

www.flickr.com/ShortyDB43

Good luck!

Dana