where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
Hi guys,
So in few weeks time, I will be going to a media job fair. My aim is to possibly get signed up as a freelance photographer from one of the media outlets. I need to create a portfolio book to showcase my work to the recruiters. What are some tips that would help me out in making a killer portfolio book and hopefully landing a job.
On a related note, I am also planning to contact photo departments and send them my resume. But first I need to set up a website.
There's a book that I came across at Barnes and Noble that covers this. I thumbed through it and it looked useful, though I didn't pick it up just 'cause I don't need it just yet. It's called No Plastic Sleeves: The Complete Portfolio Guide for Photographers and Designers. If I remember correctly, it covers both a print portfolio and also web presence. Another book -- this one I have -- is David DuChemin's Vision Mongers, which covers quite a bit of ground in terms of going pro with your photography, and goes into not only the portfolio stuff, but also other best practices when it comes to the business. Barnes ought to have that, also.
Good luck with the job fair!
Thanks, I will look into them as soon as I get a chance.
Poster it really depends on who you are catering to. For example newspapers usually want to see somekind of cohesive photo essay. They don't just want a bunch of random "nice" shots. They need to know you can tell a story visually. If you want work at a fashion magazine then don't show them a bunch of street photography or landscape shots. If you want work at a studio then show them shots with strobes. Etc. Etc. Try not to group color photos next to B&W. Go for either all color or all B&W. Don't put a vertical shot next to a horizontal shot. Try to keep things well organized and flowing.
It's actually best to have several portfolio's characterised by who the audience is you are presenting to.
The big thing nowadays is to have a portfolio on a computer/ipad but you need to have a printed portfolio too. Some places only look at printed works while others only have time to view jpegs or pdfs. Some places will look at your online images first and if they like what they see then they will request a printed book from you. So don't have the same pictures online as you do in your printed portfolio.
Invest in an actual portfolio, not some cheap photo album or three-ring binder. Size is important too. Some places have specific size requirements but usually 8X10 or 11X14 will do. Just make sure the print quality is excellent. Get your shots printed on "real" photo paper and not just from your inkjet printer.
Think long and hard about your photos. Unfortunately just because all your flickr comments might say "awesome" or "great photo" doesn't mean they are portfolio worthy. Prepare yourself for lots of rejections. It's part of the process so don't get discouraged. And for god's sakes man, don't wear the beanie or mirrored sunglass to any interview!
Good luck :^)
Niko thank you for sage advice.
I would definitely fell victim to those bad practices, ex. mixing BW and colour shots, vertical next to horizontal.
Thank you that helped me a lot. I definitely wouldn't print from an inkjet, especially if I have Adorama at my disposal.
that's a very good point about having different photos in a photobook and on a website. I will definitely do that.
I will be mostly applying to newspapers and news magazines, so photojournalism photography will dominate my portfolio.
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And yes, I will dress in business attire and leave my beanie and shades at home.
LOL what if I don't have any flicker comments? I am screwed. ;p
Thanks Niko for the help.
Hi,
I think that NikoDoby has given some good advice.
Depending upon where you are applying and what they need, you'll want to make sure that what you have is technically perfect. That's harder than it sounds.
Part of what you might want to put together is a self assignment of a single photo essay - something to complete fruition - so you can show exactly what you can do. You can make it something local, just cover it as a reporter should, but using the camera. You need to know what that means.
The technically perfect part is the hard part. Exposure is pretty simple, but subject and placement of focus, DOF, clipping, and the other hundreds of things you'll need to get absolutely right aren't so easy.
You'll also have to balance the digital darkroom's ability to enhance images with the press's credo to present the news unbiased. If the photos are 'processed' that will be a huge reason to dismissive of your efforts.
Good luck and my best,
Mike
Hi Mike,
What do you mean by the images being "processed". You mean like the scene was set up by me? Or highly photoshopped?
I only convert them to BW and maybe do some burn and dodging. And I would never set up a scene.
poster said:
Hi Mike,What do you mean by the images being "processed". You mean like the scene was set up by me? Or highly photoshopped?
I only convert them to BW and maybe do some burn and dodging. And I would never set up a scene.
Hi Poster,
Anything that you might do in the digital darkroom would have to be carefully considered. I'm not sure that I would even provide B&W unless you felt compelled to do so for some reason. That isn't the choice of the novice shooter.
Have you not taken any photojournalism classes?
Here is a link from the National Press Photographer's Association that might help:
http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/students/entering_the_job_market/
I don't recommend going into a combat zone. That segment could have been left out; it doesn't serve a purpose.
My best,
Mike
Thank you Mike.
No I haven't taken any classes on photojournalism. Sadly I can't afford it. I am a polsci major by the way.
Thanks for the link. I have been meaning to pick up a few books on the philosophy of photojournalism and more technical aspect of the shooting style. I just never got around to it.
Well there are pretty much only one reason why I treated some images to BW.
1. I love BW photography and I think the color distracted too much.
No elective credits left, Poster? Or does your college not offer the classes, meaning you'd have to take them elsewhere?
aslightdelay said:
No elective credits left, Poster? Or does your college not offer the classes, meaning you'd have to take them elsewhere?
I am paying for my college all on my own so I am trying to take only classes that are relevant to my majors. Had I have financial aid I probably would end up staying in school 24/7.
I have spent an awful lot of time with photo albums, making limited edition print books etc. I have invested in photo album and pro portfolio books and built them myself. The nicest single album for the price and the quality I have seen is from an outfit in Ohio. McKinley Leather makes a leather portfolio which zips up and have a three ring binder which when you print archival photo prints and hole punch them and put them into mylar page protecters they also have it is a very nice made in the USA pro book. I use the 1" ring size but would use up to 2" or beyond if they were available. 11x17 in Texas has a 11x17 binder that can make bigger prints sing. I did try to stimulate Dereck Williams at McKinley leather to make one of those for me in cognac brown genuine leather which can be debossed with your title or even your logo for a price that is quite wonderful even in ones or twos I would do 1/2 dozen when I get a great leather cover with the right color and the right stamping. The process I am describing though would require a month turn around time. I personally print my pages using InDesign (Adobe) and they even impress book editors who are pretty jaded.
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