How to know what to take out of your portfolio?

Deadlie

So I'm just wondering when you should take something out of your portfolio.

At present the portrait section of my website is divided - 'Colour' and 'Black & White'. The former has 24 images, the latter has 20. Conventional wisdom tells me, that's a lot. Too much, probably.

I've tried to whittle it down, but as always I'm never sure what to take out/leave in. I have some shots that I see as my best and obviously, they stay in. Others demonstrate I have the ability to do something a bit unusual and others are just portraits of famous musicians, that while not technically impressive, are interesting in their own sense.

So the question is - what is your criteria for putting images into retirement?

kelly1

Are you self-critical enough?

Maybe ask the people here in the forum what do drop, if anything?

gloobag

Here's what I did, and what I need to do again, now that I've accumulated a lot more work.

• Print out all the images you're considering as cheaply as possible (I used the cheap all in one printer we have at home).
• Stick them up on an empty wall that you spend a decent amount of time standing or sitting in front of/walking past.
• Over time look for patterns or similarities in the images (these can be as simple or as abstract as you like) and start to group them together. Discard images that don't adhere to the patterns or break up the flow of the images as you move from one to another.
• Aim for about 20-30 images in total for a main portfolio, and get plenty of opinions from others on how it's looking as you edit.

It took me a about a month of playing photo Tetris on my studio wall before I eventually had something I was relatively satisfied with (although I will never be fully satisfied).
I was surprised at some of the choices I ended up making. Images that you might not consider all that amazing on their own, can end up working very well in a series.

Deadlie

I'd like to think I am. But I think that to the casual viewer, a semi-decent shot of The Horrors is ten times more interesting than a technically great shot of a local band! I'm not sure if I should just please myself, or try and please potential customers!

Deadlie

gloobag wrote: »

Here's what I did, and what I need to do again, now that I've accumulated a lot more work.

That's a really, really good idea. Gives it more cohesion too - if they all work together!

almorris

gloobag wrote: »

Here's what I did, and what I need to do again, now that I've accumulated a lot more work.

• Print out all the images you're considering as cheaply as possible (I used the cheap all in one printer we have at home).
• Stick them up on an empty wall that you spend a decent amount of time standing or sitting in front of/walking past.
• Over time look for patterns or similarities in the images (these can be as simple or as abstract as you like) and start to group them together. Discard images that don't adhere to the patterns or break up the flow of the images as you move from one to another.
• Aim for about 20-30 images in total for a main portfolio, and get plenty of opinions from others on how it's looking as you edit.

It took me a about a month of playing photo Tetris on my studio wall before I eventually had something I was relatively satisfied with (although I will never be fully satisfied).
I was surprised at some of the choices I ended up making. Images that you might not consider all that amazing on their own, can end up working very well in a series.

That's exactly what I need to do, while keeping one eye on my future direction. ie shooting more wide open.

melekalikimaka

look at the folio as a story, there needs to be a flow with the images, you've more than enough good shots to put in, the difference is when the viewer flicks through you want each image to lead into the next to keep them focused.


well thats how i did mine