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Tell me about your portfolio : Chatty Tuesdays.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Posted inALL,BUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

So … what does YOUR portfolio look like? Do you update it often? Is it busy with lots of different styles? Or clean and compact? Let me know in the comment section below – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

And yes, it’s the beginning of the month – and no! I didn’t forget haha! Here’s your very own free calendar for your desktop/ipad/iphone! <3


Desktop. iPhone. iPad. Rock it!

Posted inALL,BUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

  • http://www.lizannephotography.net Beth

    Thanks for this, Alex! I enjoyed this video a lot! I’m still in the process of building my portfolio…but I mainly just use my blog to showcase my work. I do LOVE the idea of having my portfolio on my iPad. I think I’ll definitely be doing that! :)

  • http://www.cocoskies.com Philippa

    Setting this as my desktop background right now! :)
    xxx

  • http://www.michaelkormos.com Sophie

    Wow. That is STUNNING!!

  • http://www.nicoleomohundrophotography.com Nicole

    Hey Alex-

    I have a website that I try to update often. I basically pull down older images and put newer ones up. I know I will always be growing as a photographer, and when I feel like some of the older photos are not up to my personal standard (of what I am currently producing) anymore I replace them. I plan on getting a wordpress blog very soon so I can post photos from all my sessions. I find sometimes I want to showcase so many of my photos, that my portfolio on my website may be overwhelming to some viewers. A blog would be a much better place to showcase my current sessions. Although I do think that even when I start blogging I will still update my website with my current work, or favorite images.

  • http://www.alibeephotography.com Ali

    Loved this little video. I would say my portfolio is all online. It varies really. Before I used to be laid back about it and upload whatever. But I created a new Facebook page and updated my website and have been trying to upload only my best work. Great thing about having your portfolio online is when you no longer view something as your best work, you can just simply delete it. But I try and be careful with that. I like to see what people are attracted to. Sometimes people will know you for a certain image. And that is a goal of mine! I want people to see particular images and be like, that’s been done by Ali Bee. Another issue I run into though is re-editing. I learn new tricks or I go back and see old images, and I’m like wow, I can so edit that better now to make it look better.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Ali!

    I’m so happy you enjoyed the video. I think online portfolios are great, my only issue with them is that they do tend to look different depending on the screen. For example, my mom has an older MacBook and my photos look so lacking on her screen, whereas on mine they look perfect. But there’s nothing you can really do to escape that, now is there haha. I like what you said about wanting to be known for a particular image. This is why I think that a possible continuing portfolio like flickr is great, because nothing ever really disappears. But for a “proper” portfolio as such, I’ve been thinking to maybe split it into years? This was my 2010 portfolio, my 2011 portfolio etc… Because you’re right – sometimes you create an image that people don’t forget, and while you may not want to have it in your current portfolio, it’s always nice for people to have a place where they can look back and remember you for an image they love. In that sense I guess I’m thinking of a portfolio as an “album” as such. Musicians have multiple albums, and just because they create new work doesn’t mean they ignore the old work – you know?

    Whoa! This has turned into such an awesome topic haha! Really interesting to think about.

    Big hugs to you, Ali!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Nicole!

    I just checked out your website, and I had to tell you that you take some beautiful photographs! My personal favourite part of your portfolio is the Seniors section :) So great! I also looove the nature section – you sure know how to capture beauty!

    Anyways, thank you so much for your comment! It is hugely appreciated as I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this. I know many photographers have a rule of thumb that your portfolio is as strong as your weakest image, some so much so that they only have about 5 or ten images in their portfolio. I kind of admire this. One of my favourite photographers, Laura Ferreira (http://www.flickr.com/photos/laura_ferreira/), only ever releases one or two (if we’re lucky) images per shoot. I don’t know how I would ever choose just one image to share, but I think it works in her favour because she ALWAYS leaves me wanting more, you know? It adds a sense of mystery and scarcity. It also shows the huge number of shoots she has done because there is not the same person in her portfolio over and over, if you know what I mean?

    But then there are other photographers whose style I never used to appreciate, but they post new photos to Facebook regularly – and seeing their work so often has made me love them even more. Bizarre haha. But I think a FB portfolio is different to your actual one.

    Anyways you should DEFINITELY start blogging! I am a huge blog lover, as you could probably tell ;). Let me know when you start yours so that I can follow along!

    Big hugs
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    :) I hope you love your new desktop background, Philippa! Let me know when you have some art pieces for sale :)! <3 xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Beth!

    I’m so happy you enjoyed the video, it’s such an interesting topic to me because everyone has a different approach with their portfolio! I am a big fan of blogging and using it to showcase your work, but I do think it’s also important to have a static place where people can quickly see through your best work and decide whether they want to hire you or not, you know? I think visually it’s just best for people to be able to see all of your work together :). Do you not find it really matters for you? I guess the fact that people can scroll through your blog or look at categories says it all?

    I checked out your blog and LOVE it. Your work is absolutely beautiful and I love the design and layout of everything on your blog – stunning! I’m also now following you on Pinterest & Facebook! (YAY for your awesome and easy social media links – big A+ from me haha!) Keep up the fabulous work! :)

    xoxo

  • http://simplynaturalphotography.blogspot.com Ariana

    Thanks for sharing & opening this discussion. I used to think my portfolio had to be a fancy album or the like, but now I realize that’s not true. I’m strongly considering revamping my Flickr to be my portfolio, & having an album on my Facebook page. I’m recreating my business/brand right now, so this is definitely something to think about!

  • http://www.mariedonnphotography.com Marie

    Fab video, as ever!

    I’ve had a portfolio for one entire month – I relaunched my branding at the beginning of April, and with it introduced a static front page to my blog, plus galleries of my portfolio for the first time (boy was that a nervewracking business, but like you’ve said before, it’s helped me see my ‘voice’ for the first time!).

    Now obviously there have been LOTS of things going on in that past month promotion-wise, but splitting aside the stats on visitor numbers, people are staying on the site 14% longer, bouncing 8% less. Looking at the flow people are still tending to go from homepage to blog most often, but I’m really pleased with the portfolio gallery searches given they’ve only been there a month, and they are all in the top six pages visited after my homepage. So I’m driving the traffic at least!

    On a personal level, I love that my very favourite images have a home, and I don’t have to worry that people will only see the images at the top of my blog. I’m loving my portfolio!

  • http://www.lizannephotography.net Beth

    Thanks Alex! Your words are too kind! I really appreciate you taking the time to check out my blog and my work! And thanks for following me on Pinterest and Facebook! I follow you both places, as well! :) So far, my blog has been a good way to display my work, but I have been thinking about having a static place that people can view my portfolio. I just need to think about it more and work on something. Thanks again!
    Beth

  • http://yellowmelle.blogspot.com melissa

    Argh! that’s brilliant. I occasionally consider carrying something around with me, but the thought never sticks. Probably because I rarely ever GO anywhere! hahaha.

    I don’t have any cool tech like an iPad, but there are probably other ideas too. I met one artist who went to a self publishing site (like lulu) and printed a book of her own work, but it would be impossible to update. I think that was the day I was carrying around my 5×7 prints so that came in handy too. A photo album would be pretty cumbersome though.

    If someone has a wonderful colour printer, they could probably make a sweet “brochure” of sorts. That would be easy to update as it would just mean printing and folding another piece of paper.

    Oh and then there are Moo cards. Get 100 business cards, each with a different work of art on them. People could browse through the selection and then take their favourite!

  • http://paulettetphotography.blogspot.com Paulette

    awww now i’m bummed. i wanted to enter but since i’m going into finals this month i knew i wasn’t going to be able to give it my all. i could have entered after all. :( but i’m glad you’ll be taking your time to pick the winners. good luck!