Digital Photography - Portfolios

Super Secret Project time again, this is where I give you digital photography tips that will help you grow as a photographer. This week I wanted to talk about the importance of having a portfolio. Your portfolio be it online or printed out is extremely important. In fact its one of the most important things for a photographer to have. How else would someone know what your work is like and decide to hire you?

What is amazing about photography is you let your work speak for itself many times, a resume is just that, a piece of paper that doesn't fully represent what you do. A degree is great to have but that does't mean you are better than someone who doesn't have one. It all comes back to your portfolio, he has what the employer is looking for will get the job. I also have an Ipad which is great for showing images and many other things. But there is still something to be said for having a physical photo in your hands, the look the feel of a real print. Sure the Ipad is cool and looks pretty good but your not turning the pages. I love my work to stand out when someone see's it, I like larger prints and when I hand someone a book that has 12×18 full frame prints in it they go wow!!

We are always building our portfolios, they are always changing, taking images out putting images in. I personally have 5 or 6 different books showing different styles of work from sports to weddings to music. I bring out certain books for certain situations depending on the type of job I am trying to get.

In this digital age you need to have an online representation of your work but you can not rely on just that. You also need to have a physical representation of your work to hand to someone in person. There is still something to be said for physical prints of your photos, it just feels better and looks better when done properly.

I have many different ways of showcasing my portfolios in the past, from prints in a box to laminated images to Itoya portfolio books. About a year ago I started to look for a print company who made a photo book using real photographic prints. The problem I was running into was that most companies were doing what are called press prints. These are basically large photo copiers pumping out your pages on slightly thicker paper than normal. An example is a company like Blurb or Mpix Press. I looked at both companies along with some samples. As soon as I opened up the packages they sent me I knew that product wasn't for me. Thin pages, four color prints, I could see the dots of that made up the images, they just did not pop.

I finally came across AdoramaPix and their "high quality photo books". I read every piece of information I could in their FAQ section to determine if I should test out their product. I even called customer service a few times to get even clearer answers to my questions. I found out that the photos were all printed out on REAL photographic paper meaning they were not ink jet or press prints, they actually went through chemicals. I could put a horizontal image all the way across the page without having to cut the image in half and trying to line it up with the gutter like I had to do with other companies. AdoramaPix even has a very simple to use photo book building online software to walk you through the process of building your book.

What ultimately sold me on the book's from AdoramaPix was they were running a 50% off sale. Without ever seeing or touching a sample book, based solely on my research and one day left on the sale I placed an order for 6 books. When the books arrived I was more than pleased, they were exactly what I wanted to represent my work. Something nicer than just prints from the store, an actual photo book that makes people say wow when they see it.

[TofuFGC]

Loving these Super secret project videos

[lukasgisbert]

Agree iPad is the way forward, photos looked so much more alive than a book or album.

[CardboardStories]

Thanks for this tip Jared! The book idea is really neat.

[DanKPhotography]

Great video, love the idea using adorama pix book as a portfolio (might try it my self for my first portfolio. I'm currently working on my first portfolio trying to spread my name out now and get my first few gigs in photography. Im only in high school so thanks for your advice love your videos mate.

[froknowsphoto]

its always going to be darker when you print because there is no backlight on your prints.

[froknowsphoto]

@earliozz Honestly not sure, drop it in full frame scale it down than see what looks right without cropping.

[ConaMooreDesigns]

Yeno what, cant believe i never thought of that haha. Thanks mate

[froknowsphoto]

@kmarriner that is pretty close, i do that because i do not crop my images and want to show them full frame.

[Ronny_Dahl]

With those photo books how does the image line up when putting a landscape across two pages??
I have used blurb through Lightroom a few times before and putting images a cross two pages has not worked at all, about 1/4 of an inch is lost in the join!

[froknowsphoto]

@alzjcz i have that to but its not the same as physically seeing large size images and turning the pages of the book to see what is next.

[froknowsphoto]

@xbrandonolsonx I have an ipad as well and it is good for showing work but there is still something to be said when you hand someone something physical in the book form that makes them go wow. When they open up to a two page spread and boom they get hit with a full frame full page print 12x18 that makes an impression. I have a whole gallery portfolio of work that is 30x45 and 40x60 real prints real freaking big.

[mmontgomeryy]

when he says the pictures are full frame, does it mean the camera has to be full frame ?

[xbrandonolsonx]

I've seen a few other comments addressing the same thing but no response so I'll ask about it as well.. What do you think about electronic portfolios? Example the iPad? I have an iPad and I carry it in a nice leather case and it looks very professional and I have all of my respectable photos on it. Going to start a business in 2011 and I am thinking of using it as my portfolio. Pros? Cons? Your thoughts?

Thanks again Jared for everything you do for us!!!

[xbrandonolsonx]

Hey Jared, I've seen a few similar comments but no response so I'll ask it as well. What do you think about electronic portfolios? Example: The iPad. I am starting a business in 2011... going to go legit!! And I've been thinking of using the iPad as the way of showing my work. I know some studios use a big flat screen on the wall to display and sell their work. Well this is just a mini portable version of that.... What do you think? Pros? Cons? Let me know!

Thanks again Jared for all you do!!

[heywillwong]

@xarte jared usually recommends an affordable f/2.8 lens, either sigma 18-50 or a tamron 17-50 as a general lens

[froknowsphoto]

@kharrison1095 your going to want a longer lens with a fast f stop like a 70-200 2.8 sigma which runs $800 US but will allow you to capture sports extremely well.

[PurKiwi]

lol Jared i had one of those clocks, i think i still have it in my toybox

[kmarriner]

@JaredPolin
I realize you don't crop, I don't either. I was just asking because in a 12x9 page I could drop them in at 8x12 but it wouldn't look goo with only the black showing on one edge, so I am trying to figure out how much border I should use.

[earliozz]

Hey Jared! Nice informative video on portfolios man! I'm currently in the process of getting my portfolio printed. I'm getting the same size book as yours at AdoramaPix (9x12). what is the actual size of the Vertical pictures in your book? i don't want to crop my vertical pictures..Thanks for your input bro! - Earl

[TheawesomeAmy]

On the website under the price list the book you have is the second one to the bottom one, correct?? the 12X9