How do you make a portfolio?

How do i make a portfolio?

• This may sound like a dumb question, but it is an honest question. How exactly do i make a portfolio? I have never seen a photography portfolio before. Is it just a photo album with a collection of your best pictures? OR is it more like a scrapbook style. And what size should the photos be? Should there be more than one photo on each page? How many photos should be in a portfolio? Can you mix b/w photos with the color photos, or should you do a portfolio for each?

• Answer:

  There are many ways to approach this issue, but you can never really go wrong if you do it as if you were going to be doing a presentation at one of the major portfolio reviews such as at Photolucida: http://www.photolucida.org/critique.php?... Do not place photos in any kind of book. Mount them on mountboard and with mats. A good size is to print at 11 x 14 and mat to 16 x 20. You can get ready made mats in this size at hobby / craft stores such as Hobbly Lobby. Do not use fancy colored mats, just basic white or cream color. Be sure all mats MATCH. You do not need an excessive number of photos, only about 15 to 20 at the max. It is MUCH better to have this amount of really stunning photos rather than 50 mediocre shots. You are always ahead of the game if your portfolio consists of a series of photos relating to a subject or theme or mood. Random shots that have no relation to each other will NEVER have the power of a series of related photographs. A series of photos show you had a vision, you had the skill to realize that vision, and that you MADE the photos rather than just TOOK photos randomly like an amateur. You can purchase carrying cases sized to fit these 16 x 20 overall size photos. You want a case that zips closed. Follow the above steps and you will have a PROFESSIONAL portfolio that will be impressive and make a statement about who you are as a photographer. steve