How To Make An Excellent Looking Portfolio

No matter what type of photography you do, you want people to find your work and love it. So, here is how to make your portfolio look incredible. Increase your photography bookings and sales by doing so. This article is written to be informative. However, for full transparency please note that there is an affiliate link for SmugMug in the article. 

Your Portfolio is Key

You want people to find your work. So, your portfolio is key to making it happen. Photography customers look at your work before hiring you. At least, they should. So, to make sure they see great work you must organize your portfolio. Plus, you need to make sure that your portfolio is hosted on a quality platform. In fact, this is essential to making sure that it loads quickly, reliably, and shows high quality versions of your work.

What Is A Photography Portfolio

Your photography portfolio is a sample of your best work. Use it to show clients the following things. First, the type of work you do. Second, the quality of your work. Finally, to show potential clients what to expect from you visually.

How Clients Use Your Portfolio

Clients are looking to hire a photographer. As such, they're generally interested in three things. First, do you do the type of photography they're looking for? Second, what is your price and does it fit their budget? Third, what does your work look like and do they like it?

Are You Their Type (of Photographer)

Your portfolio needs to be organized. If you do different types of photography then make sure that your portfolio is broken down into sections. Stop wasting their time leaving them unsure if you photograph what they need photographed.

What Does Your Work Cost?

Price shouldn't be the first thing they're looking at. In fact, if price is the only factor the client is using to hire you then you're both in trouble. Price is important. However, it can't override the type of photography you do. Nor should it be more important than the quality of your work. That said, it can come down to your ability to fit within their budget. Of course, the quality of your work should be higher on their list of why they're0 choosing you.

How Does Your Portfolio Look

The look is critical to landing photography clients who appriciate your work. In fact, if your work isn't well organized you're not going to get many clients. Additionally, those you land will be judging you only on price. Ultimately, this isn't what you want. Therefore it's massively important that your portfolio looks amazing.

What Goes Into My Photography Portfolio

Only your best is shown in your photography portfolio. In fact, it's critical that you make sure your showing only the most interesting samples of your work. This is because we're inundated with photos these days. Of course, you want to stand out. Therefore, feature the very best attention grabbing work and only that work.

What Doesn't Belong in my Portfolio

What you exclude is just as it's important as what you include in your portfolio. Never include photos that lack technical proficiency. For example, don't include blurry photos unless it's intentional motion blur. Too, be sure that your exposure is correct. Show your work to others who know photography. Get their honest opinions. Then, take their advice.

Of course, one thing is impossible to control and that's correct color. This is because different monitors and phones show colors differently. However, make sure you're using a calibrated monitor. Ensure that the colors look natural (unless that's not the type of work you do).

Finally, make sure to size your images large enough but not too large. Then, control the size that your photos appear in your portfolio. Portfolio websites like SmugMug will automatically resize your work when displaying it. Just make sure you've uploaded a high-res photo to begin with. If you use WordPress then use the proper size of the image from your gallery. Alternatively hire a web designer.

Where To Host A Photography Portfolio

There are choices of where to host your portfolio. Personally, I have incorporated my portfolio into my website. That said, I'm an experienced web designer. As such, I manage and maintain my own website. Of course, this isn't the easiest option. Don't try to do it all. Instead, hire an expert.

If you're looking for an all in one solution then explore services like Wix or Squarespace. Alternatively, choose to host your portfolio on a specialized service provider like SmugMug.

Not only does SmugMug offer hosting but they are a great choice for order fulfilment.

Therefore, you can host your portfolio. Plus host your client's photos there. Then allow clients to download or order prints right through SmugMug. If you're interested in learning more check out this coupon for Unlimited High-resolution Photo Storage at SmugMug.

In Conclusion

To reiterate, your portfolio is incredibly important. It's how people see your photography. As a professional photographer this is vitally important. If you have questions about building a portfolio check out this article on organizing your photos with Adobe Lightroom. Additionally, read this article on creative ways to choose the best photos for your portfolio. Finally, be sure to check out my portfolios.