5 Tips for a Killer Portfolio
A professional photographer is a dream career for many, especially if you genuinely enjoy snapping pictures, whether it’s of your family and friends, wildlife, or landscape. When you’re beginning your new career path, the best way to attract clients is through the use of a portfolio. This essential aspect showcases your work, helping potential customers see your work and what you do well. Nowadays, it’s recommended to feature your portfolio online, and including the right features in your online portfolio allows customers to get a closer look at what you do and the kind of photographs they can expect if they choose to hire you. How do you create a killer portfolio? Below are five must-know tips to help you on your way.
1. Think About Your Audience
As you become a more experienced photographer, your style and audience may well change. However, to begin with, you need to think about whether there’s a niche market you want to explore or whether you’d prefer a more general approach. Whether you’re applying for a photography job or looking to attract new clients, there will be a particular type of photographer they’re looking for. You need to be able to provide relevant examples of your work; a client who wants interior photographs for their letting agency isn’t going to want to see the same samples of your work as a motoring magazine, for example.
2. Choose the Right Platform
There are a wealth of different portfolio platforms to choose from, and many will offer low prices, super efficiency or a range of various features. You need your online portfolio to be easy to use with a number of customisable and flexible templates when you are beginning your professional journey. If the site also has unlimited photo proofing, this is a great bonus. You’re going to be uploading many images to your site, and it will be preferable if you don’t have to pay for each one. The platform also has to be easy for your clients to navigate, whether they’re looking using a desktop, tablet or smartphone. Responsive design is essential. If you’re planning to run your own photography business, an e-commerce function is something else to look out for.
3. Choose the Right Photographs
It’s highly likely you have thousands of photos to sort through, so how do you decide which ones are the best? A smart approach to take is to have a selection of portfolios which you can tailor for a specific audience. It might also help to look at the collections of other photographers to see how many images they have and what works well for them. Whatever you choose, it’s essential you only showcase your best work to build a killer portfolio.
4. SEO
There’s little point in creating a fantastic website and then just leaving it hoping new clients will find it! SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is vital because it means potential clients will be able to find you when they search online. It is possible to utilise SEO yourself, but turning to a reputable company to do it for you is also worthwhile.
5. Is There a Place for a Printed Portfolio?
In the digital world, is there still a place for a printed portfolio?
Yes, there is, although it’s not quite as important as a digital one. There are countless benefits to having a digital portfolio; you’re able to leave a digital version of your collection with potential clients, for example.
When beginning your dream career path, you may be feeling overwhelmed simply because there’s so much to think about. Don’t be put off because it is perfectly possible to create a killer portfolio in just a few days with the above tips!
