What should you include in your photography portfolio besides your best work?

Don't fall into the trap of sharing every photo you've ever taken. It's all about knowing your audience. Potential clients don't want to sift through a chaotic mix of styles in an endless gallery. If you photograph in different genres, create separate tabs for each one. This way, you can guide clients straight to what suits their taste. And when it comes to showcasing your work, stick to the best of the best—around fifteen top-notch photos in each genre should do it. It's enough for clients to get a feel for your style and decide if it resonates with them.

I consider extremely important to include personal work. There are millions of good photographers in the world and what sets them apart is their unique and personal vision. What an editor wants is to know the person behind the photos.

The most important is to feel your own passion, for where your passion is, will attract the clients and what they need. There are so many photographers and art creators out in the world, but to find your own unique style and passion is the most important. This is how you build your portfolio, you attract with your passion. And it takes time, give it time and consistency and it will come to you rather than you have to chase.

I only take and sell photos that are different, unusual, yet are part of my daily life, a life that few other humans have had. smuggle a raccoon, a falcon, a cougar, an ape......on airplanes across the world, sitting in a bald eagle nest with two eaglets in my lap, strolling through cities with a raccoon scampering behind me, sitting under a hair dryer at a salon bottle feeding a cougar with three other customers also sitting under dryers feeding bottle feeding cougars on their laps. Etc.

Of course! You should always display your work, this is your offer that you need to get eyes on in anyway you can. Portfolios should be easy to use and access on any device.

A well-crafted photography portfolio serves as a visual narrative of an artist's skills, creativity, and versatility. Beyond showcasing one's best work, a comprehensive portfolio should incorporate various elements to provide a holistic view of the photographer's capabilities. Firstly, consider including a diverse range of genres within your portfolio. This demonstrates your ability to excel in different styles and environments, showcasing adaptability and expertise. Whether it's portrait, landscape, macro, or documentary photography, presenting a spectrum of work highlights your versatility as a photographer. In addition to the final images, consider incorporating behind-the-scenes content.

There is definitely a balance to this. You don't want to overwhelm or crowd your portfolio but it should represent the work you do. If you are trying to show strength across a variety of subjects, be sure to include a photo or two that highlights this.

Wenn du dein Portfolio zusammenstellst, ist es klug, deine besten Seiten zu zeigen, aber auch eine Bandbreite deines Könnens. Das bedeutet, dass du verschiedene Arten von Fotos einbringen solltest - von ganz nahen bis zu weit entfernten, spontanen Schnappschüssen bis hin zu inszenierten Szenen. Denke auch an unterschiedliche Lichtverhältnisse, Orte und Themen. Es ist wichtig, dass deine Zuschauer nicht mit zu vielen ähnlichen Bildern gelangweilt werden oder sich in zu vielen verschiedenen Stilen verlieren. Konzentriere dich also auf das, worin du stark bist, aber präsentiere eine Vielfalt, die interessant bleibt, ohne zu überwältigen.

While highlighting your strengths is crucial, demonstrating a range of skills and styles can be equally impactful. For example, in portrait photography, display not only traditional headshots but also candid moments that reveal personality. In landscape photography, showcase diversity in settings, lighting conditions, and compositions. Striking a balance between specialization and versatility communicates that you can handle a spectrum of photographic challenges.

If you photograph regular people (weddings, families, babies, seniors, etc) it’s a good idea to showcase full sessions, in addition to your highlights gallery. It will give potential clients a good indication of what they can expect from their own session, and shows that you’re able to create high quality imagery consistently, rather than just getting lucky with one good shot from each session.

I'd consider telling a real challenge and how you solved it. Use a classical story structure to do so. Context -> Conflict -> Resolution. These moments usually define / explain one's work the best.

Dein Portfolio sollte mehr sein als nur eine Ansammlung von Bildern. Es ist deine Geschichte als Fotograf - eine Möglichkeit, deine Vision, Persönlichkeit und Werte zu zeigen. Wie machst du das? Nun, du kannst Bildunterschriften, Titel oder Beschreibungen nutzen, um deinen Bildern Kontext und Bedeutung zu verleihen. Oder du ordnest sie in einer logischen oder thematischen Reihenfolge an, um einen roten Faden zu knüpfen und eine Verbindung herzustellen. Vielleicht fügst du auch einige Behind-the-Scenes-Fotos oder persönliche Bilder hinzu, um Einblicke in deinen Prozess und deine Leidenschaft zu geben. So entsteht eine Geschichte, die zeigt, wer du bist und was dich antreibt.

Transforming your portfolio into a narrative elevates it from a mere collection of images to a captivating visual journey. Use captions, titles, or descriptions to provide context and evoke emotions. Consider the flow and arrangement of your images to create a cohesive story. Whether it's showcasing the progression of a project, a thematic series, or the evolution of your skills, storytelling adds depth and engagement to your portfolio.

Storytelling in photography enables photographers to connect with their audience on a personal level. By conveying a narrative or capturing a moment that resonates with viewers, photographers can create a sense of empathy and understanding. A nice portfolio with a story behind can be used to communicate a specific message or concept. Whether it's raising awareness about social issues, documenting a cultural event, or conveying a personal experience, storytelling through photography can be a powerful tool for communication. Behind the scenes content also in photography has become increasingly important in today's digital age. I honestly believe it offers several benefits for photographers and their audience.

Keep it as simple as possible and with a flow of connection. Telling your personal story and vision is always there inside the pictures. A picture says more than words can describe and that you have a story to tell. Sharing your stories is always valuable.

Du könntest dein Portfolio noch aufwerten, indem du Feedback von früheren Kunden oder Kollegen einbeziehst. Das können Meinungen oder Bewertungen sein, die zeigen, wie gut deine Arbeit war. Warum ist das wichtig? Weil es potenziellen Kunden Vertrauen gibt - sie sehen, dass andere mit deiner Arbeit zufrieden waren. Es zeigt auch, wie professionell du bist und wie gut dein Kundenservice ist. Außerdem kannst du zeigen, wenn du für deine Arbeit Anerkennung oder Auszeichnungen erhalten hast. Das alles baut Glaubwürdigkeit auf und zeigt, dass deine Arbeit anerkannt und geschätzt wird.

I believe if you have done a great job you will be recommended. If you need the validation for your work, for getting more costumers, maybe. The less you need to prove, the better for your portfolio and trust for your clients.

Yes, it’s important to reflect and refresh your portfolio. But also value in old work as new work. It shows your story,value and progress. New work is always good to put in so the clients can see that you are still passionate of your work. And only keep old work, if it is the best.

Dein Portfolio ist wie eine lebendige Geschichte deines Wachstums als Fotograf. Es bleibt nicht stehen, sondern entwickelt sich weiter. Deshalb ist es wichtig, es regelmäßig zu aktualisieren. Warum? Um deine neuesten und besten Arbeiten zu präsentieren und sicherzustellen, dass es immer frisch und relevant bleibt. Indem du es regelmäßig überprüfst, kannst du auch veraltete oder weniger gute Bilder entfernen. So passt du dein Portfolio an deine Ziele und dein Publikum an und zeigst immer deine besten Werke. Das ist wie ein Update deiner besten Geschichten, damit sie immer spannend und aktuell bleiben.

When creating your portfolio, select images that resonate with you and reflect your identity as a photographer. Trust your instincts and don't overanalyze. As you compile your work, you'll notice recurring themes and styles emerging – that's your unique "voice," and it's what will attract clients to your distinctive vision.

When making any portfolio, especially a photography one, there has to be a good balance between the amount of photos and any text you want to add. If there’s a lot of photos, only write a few lines of the theme and context of the photos. It’s also good to section out the photos depending on when they were taken and/or the theme, and only put up the work that best showcase your skills.

A simple portfolio design puts the focus on your photography itself. By avoiding cluttered layouts or distracting elements, you allow your images to take center stage and speak for themselves. This minimalist approach can enhance the impact and visual appeal of your work, making it easier for clients to appreciate your talent and artistic vision. Also a simple design ensures that your website is accessible to a wider range of users, including those with slower internet connections or using different devices. By keeping the design lightweight and optimized, you can ensure that your portfolio loads quickly and is easily viewable on various devices, including mobile phones and tablets.

Always include your email address and cellphone number so I can reach you. If I don’t see them readily in your site, and I have to dig for them, it is likely I will move on no matter how good your work is.

If your clientele is primarily local, don't forget to include your city! It's amazing how many photographers give no clue to where they're located anywhere on their website!

Explicar al cliente cual es tu proceso de trabajo con ejemplos es vital para confirmar tu valor como fotógrafo y eso te ayuda a ser percibido como profesional

A funny cat may result in millions of audience, good photo can only be noticed by several, it is Your choice. Practice and go Your way, Your style.

Es ist wichtig, dass dein Portfolio leicht zu verstehen und zu benutzen ist. Du willst deine Zuschauer nicht mit einer Überfülle an Bildern, Text oder Funktionen überfordern. Stattdessen konzentriere dich darauf, nur die besten Bilder auszuwählen, die deine Fähigkeiten und deinen Stil zeigen. Qualität ist hier wichtiger als Quantität. Dein Portfolio sollte ein klares, einheitliches Design haben, damit es auf verschiedenen Geräten und Plattformen gut aussieht und funktioniert. Denk daran, weniger kann oft mehr sein - ein einfaches, leicht navigierbares Portfolio hilft deinen Besuchern, sich auf das Wesentliche zu konzentrieren: deine großartigen Fotos.