I've only been developing as a photographer for 1.5 years but have participated in 4 portfolio reviews already as a learning process. I don't feel like I've learned anything conclusive from the process.
This biggest observation for me is how "job interview" they are like. This leads me to wonder if both sides could do more upfront to improve the quality of a review. I prepped ahead but they all still had mostly a "crap shoot" feel to them. Only one went a bit further into what she was viewing and we had a few follow up emails on her thoughts and suggestions. I found that very valuable.
I just wonder if there is a chance to improve the dialogue both before and after a review, which would increase the quality of the portfolio review process?
I already have 1000s of 'Keepers" and have shot likely over 50k images in my first 1.5 years so I really have no idea what to put together to present. I make ICM / abstracts across a gamut of genres because I feel like I have the ability to do so. It leaves me wondering if I've presented the best according to the reviewer because I'm working across many genres. I did attempt to put together a set of images based on research of the reviewer.
One other question - re: a digital portfolio, is it best to send the images as a set or PDF in an email or do the reviewers have the expectation of being sent a link for images to review?
Love the portrait work by the way! I don't do portrait but if I did I'd like to do it the way you make it. You elicit great emotion in it.
It's really on the photographer to research the reviewer and make their choices beforehand. You can potentially ask friends to look over your selects to help you with their impartial unattached eye, but that is about it. The reviewer has a track record and a career, you are there to benefit from their experience but that is as far as their responsibility goes. If a reviewer chooses to engage with you further post-review that is generally an exception, they are busy people and their time is valuable, so I would say you were lucky with that one specific reviewer and that is awesome.
PDF vs link, it depends on the person, there is no real universal answer for this. I prefer a link, but many others prefer not having to download anything outside of the email.
Also, mostly I recommend being much more selective about your work, which again can involve other folks helping you go through your current set of keepers to bring it down to maybe 50 max for the moment.
Ansel Adams said that if you made ten good pictures in a year, you had a good year. That said, thousands of keepers in a year and a half? You must be one helluva a photographer. Or...
I'm sorry to say that you aren't going to learn much about culling from what are really short portfolio reviews. Each reviewer will have his/her own set of values. There is a time issue from their point of view which also translates into money. If you really want mentoring you might ask the one you started to work with what it would cost to take you on as a client. Or, you could find some body else. This is important because you want them to see your progress. I'd suggest you do this. Ask yourself why do you want to cull your work? Are you portfolio building? Are you building a collection to show to galleries? Or, are you trying to build a stock collection that you will market yourself or through an agency? If you are showing your work for jobs/gallery you really have to vary your images if you work in ICM or the reviewer's eyes will glaze. About 20-25 images is about right, with a back up of about 20 more than you use to tailor your work by specific client/gallery. One more thing, if you feel really good about an image trust your gut.
Wonderful insights into the gallery scene.
And beautiful portrait work.
Just beautiful.
Agreed. Some really strong work. 👏
thanks Neil!
Thanks so much Don! Means a lot that you love it and found it useful
Valuable info, thanks!
Thank you :) Glad you dig!
(And enjoyed the images as well. 💜)
This is great. Thanks for creating this.
I've only been developing as a photographer for 1.5 years but have participated in 4 portfolio reviews already as a learning process. I don't feel like I've learned anything conclusive from the process.
This biggest observation for me is how "job interview" they are like. This leads me to wonder if both sides could do more upfront to improve the quality of a review. I prepped ahead but they all still had mostly a "crap shoot" feel to them. Only one went a bit further into what she was viewing and we had a few follow up emails on her thoughts and suggestions. I found that very valuable.
I just wonder if there is a chance to improve the dialogue both before and after a review, which would increase the quality of the portfolio review process?
I already have 1000s of 'Keepers" and have shot likely over 50k images in my first 1.5 years so I really have no idea what to put together to present. I make ICM / abstracts across a gamut of genres because I feel like I have the ability to do so. It leaves me wondering if I've presented the best according to the reviewer because I'm working across many genres. I did attempt to put together a set of images based on research of the reviewer.
One other question - re: a digital portfolio, is it best to send the images as a set or PDF in an email or do the reviewers have the expectation of being sent a link for images to review?
Love the portrait work by the way! I don't do portrait but if I did I'd like to do it the way you make it. You elicit great emotion in it.
Thanks for the kind words Joe.
It's really on the photographer to research the reviewer and make their choices beforehand. You can potentially ask friends to look over your selects to help you with their impartial unattached eye, but that is about it. The reviewer has a track record and a career, you are there to benefit from their experience but that is as far as their responsibility goes. If a reviewer chooses to engage with you further post-review that is generally an exception, they are busy people and their time is valuable, so I would say you were lucky with that one specific reviewer and that is awesome.
PDF vs link, it depends on the person, there is no real universal answer for this. I prefer a link, but many others prefer not having to download anything outside of the email.
Also, mostly I recommend being much more selective about your work, which again can involve other folks helping you go through your current set of keepers to bring it down to maybe 50 max for the moment.
Ansel Adams said that if you made ten good pictures in a year, you had a good year. That said, thousands of keepers in a year and a half? You must be one helluva a photographer. Or...
My “keepers” but that’s part of what I’m getting at.
More quantitative review and feedback to learn how to cull and select better.
I'm sorry to say that you aren't going to learn much about culling from what are really short portfolio reviews. Each reviewer will have his/her own set of values. There is a time issue from their point of view which also translates into money. If you really want mentoring you might ask the one you started to work with what it would cost to take you on as a client. Or, you could find some body else. This is important because you want them to see your progress. I'd suggest you do this. Ask yourself why do you want to cull your work? Are you portfolio building? Are you building a collection to show to galleries? Or, are you trying to build a stock collection that you will market yourself or through an agency? If you are showing your work for jobs/gallery you really have to vary your images if you work in ICM or the reviewer's eyes will glaze. About 20-25 images is about right, with a back up of about 20 more than you use to tailor your work by specific client/gallery. One more thing, if you feel really good about an image trust your gut.
Co-signing this note by Ray