5 Reasons Your Portfolio Isn't Getting You Work

[TheTravelnLass]

So glad that you included the tip about demonstrating that you know. how. to. edit. - a.k.a. knowing how to CURATE, not technical editing but rather, hone down a series of images from the same shoot to 1 or at most 2 that are the BEST. It's a skill. As an admin for a large food photog FB group, it's disturbing (and annoying) to see folks post 6, 7... even 10! images from the same shoot, and ask for critique on them - "Which one do you like best?" Please. imho, it's up to you as the photographer to learn how to curate your images. It's a learned. skill. arguably just as important as composition, lighting, food styling, etc.

[AndyGoodstuff]

I really appreciate how straight talking you are, especially in videos like this. Some points you raise are mistakes I feel I am making, but that's why people like me need these videos so much. You're not slating what we're doing or attacking us for it, you're giving really balanced and backed up reasons as to why that isn't the best way to go about things and I respect the hell out of you for it. I'll absolutely be narrowing down the amount of photos I have from each shoot in my portfolio right away cause I definitely approach that stuff like a beginner right now.

[PaulBenjaminPhoto]

Great information here!

While the point of 'image sizing' is absolutely accurate, there are a bunch of technicalities which aren't correct here, most glaring the idea that DPI has any relevance to the web (it's just a meta-data tag which is ignored by browsers).

Happy to get into the details of compression and correct sizing for the web (and how serving responsive images is important) but also noone like the guy who writes an unsolicited essay in the comments.

Super great info once again!

[createtheimageuk]

I really agree with this - you will end up watering down your marketing, time & message when you try to cover everything. The best thing I ever did was stop saying I did everything, to I just photograph commercial work to help get businesses noticed.

Now I need to focus down even more for 2021 📸

[meaganharding]

Agree re comment about half naked girls. A girl in a bikini on a motorbike IS NOT FASHION.
A model does not need to be in her underwear for a test shoot.
Drives me crazy!

[molnaralexandru]

Hey Scott! Thanks for another great video and happy new year! Wanted to let you know that your videos are missing from my feed and can't wait for a new one! That being said, I encourage every content creator to take breaks whenever they feel like it, it is very important for me that you take care of your mental health and that you don't burn out. Please be aware that your videos are being missed without feeling any pressure to upload, your specific subscriber base will more than likely understand any situation. Have a great new year and love from Romania!

[javierdiez]

dpi's have nothing to do with image quality online

[dvdragon]

If you only show one style of photography how do you avoid pigeon holing/limiting yourself? What do you do if a company approaches you for a style that you are capable of but is not in your portfolio?
Thanks.

[vivekvishwakarma]

Thank you, it's an in-depth valuable piece of knowledge!

[vertusmatjaz]

Just found your channel I have subscribed to. I like your style of getting info out.
There is one thing just that bothers me, and I would like to clarify it in my head. Size of the image - you say 1200px or 2000px. I think that 72 ppi (dpi) don't matter. Because this is pixels per inch on the paper. So I guess this nr is irrelevant.

[DonGiannatti]

Good info,

Indeed, KNOW what the market is all about.

If you shoot fashion, you must photograph women who are super thin and over 5'8" tall. If you shoot short girls with big chests or half-naked 'hotties' you expose not only that you do not understand the market, you are unable to 'see' what fashion photography is about.

Still-life shooters making images that are flat, or creating some sort of HDR travel imagery means that the photographer has no idea on what the market is doing. I am not going to hire someone and then have to spend time teaching them what a travel shooter must do. Food shooters who don't know the difference between cuisine presentation and plated examples.

This used to be taught by working for another photographer. The assistant route. Very challenging to do these days. So the photographer must explore, research, develop contacts, and build a total understanding of what it is they are trying to get into.

A body of work versus a collection of images. One sells the other makes your mom proud.

[benharris]

Yes!! One thousand times yea to the creepiness of men with a “fashion” portfolio of half nude younger women. Never hiring that person.

[jerryriner]

Is there a name for what I do? I believe I am a "documentarian product photographer". I sell items online, therefore; my photos must capture truthful and accurate information about those items. I can express my own style of photography, but I am very limited in my editing toolbox regarding image manipulation and overall composition. My artistic flair is repressed. I am still determined to be the best I can be and out-perform others in my work. Conversely; I do not want to confuse the situation by inventing a meaningless job title for myself that will interfere with people being able to understand what I do and that I do it at a high level of proficiency. Does that make sense? Can anyone share their thoughts here? I may have a niche and not even know it.