1) Yes, I have a number of portfolios.
2) I have web-based portfolios on my recently started website, but for many years have organised my prints into loosely formatted portfolios based on a number of themes. Most usually, these are along the lines of images from a particular trip, a ‘best of year’ collection etc. The web-based portfolios are based on geographic themes according to the type of landscape they were made in. E.g. mountains, moorland, rivers etc. I have put together some more concept-based portfolios for use in environmental campaigns as well.
3) I think you have the cart before the horse here. The purpose of a portfolio depends entirely on the photographer. Most of mine are simply handy collections of images that I may want to show to an audience. Others, such as the environmental portfolios, were shot to order, and the images collated according to the brief. So the purpose of a portfolio is not ‘good’ or ‘of value’ in itself. The portfolio may be ‘good’ or ‘of value’ if the images fulfil the reason for its creation.
4) This depends on the brief – for example, you may be asked to put together a portfolio of 50 images on a particular theme. However, I have found if you go beyond 25-30 prints, viewers tend to get tired and switch off.
5) What is the purpose of the portfolio? Without this clearly defined, nothing else can be done. Once this is decided, then images can be selected that best fit the brief.
6) Unless it is an open-ended portfolio, never! Otherwise, when I have an image that fits the brief and is good enough to be worth including.
7) You should always consider the audience for your portfolio, and have a good understanding of the brief. So, yes, I would adapt my offering to fit, and if the client wants to be involved in the selection of images for the portfolio, then that’s fine by me. (Think of wedding albums for instance…)
8) To be brutally honest, I’m not sure my portfolios do stand out. I think I have some good images, and try to present them in a coherent and pleasing way, but beyond that, I’m not in a position to judge.
9) www….!
10) The key thing for me is being clear about a portfolio’s purpose. I have found the process of putting portfolios together to be very enjoyable. It has taught me to be more critical and selective about my own work, and also when working to a brief sometimes, to take a different approach to a subject than I might for my own work. Showing portfolios to an audience can be a bit daunting initially, but as with all things, practice helps build confidence.
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