Photo by Jacob Lund Photography
In the world of photography, your portfolio is your most powerful tool for attracting clients and standing out from the competition. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, a strong portfolio is essential for showcasing your skills, style, and range. But how do you create a portfolio that will truly get you noticed?
Follow these 5 easy steps to build a photography portfolio that will help you stand out in this competitive industry.
Step 1: Select Your Best Work
The first step in creating a photography portfolio is to select the images that best represent your work. You may excel at multiple types of photography, but a focused portfolio is key. Identify the genres you’re most passionate about and categorize your work accordingly. This helps potential clients understand your specialty.
Curating your portfolio is challenging. Include only your strongest work that showcases your technical skills, creativity, and unique perspective. Aim to choose images that showcase a consistent style, from lighting to post-processing. It can be helpful to seek feedback from professionals or people who represent your target market. Their insights can help refine your selection.
These portraits by Avel Shah showcase a consistent style.
Step 2: Organize Your Portfolio
Once you’ve selected your images, it’s time to organize your portfolio. Consider grouping your photos by visual theme or type of photography (e.g. portraits, landscapes, weddings, etc.) to make it easy for viewers to navigate your work. Keep your portfolio concise and to the point – aim for 10-15 images per section, and make sure each image is strong enough to stand on its own.
These photos of ice cream by Yes Photographers show a visual theme in both color and subject matter.
Step 3: Choose a Platform
While social media is a great way to share your work, a dedicated website featuring your best photography is essential. An online portfolio is a must-have for any photographer. Consider what features are most important to you (e.g. ease of use, customization options, integration with social media) and choose a platform that fits your needs and budget.
Wix is a great option for its easy-to-build features. The basic plan at Wix comes at a great price point: free(!) with options to upgrade for additional features at any time.
Squarespace has beautiful layout options and offers many additional features, such as virtual storefronts, email drip campaigns, and built-in support for SEO best practices,. You can try Squarespace out for free with a 14 day trial.
Pixieset is a great option for photographers looking for options to build a photography business site. On Pixieset, you can easily build your website and share photo shoot galleries with clients with a free plan. Pixieset also offers online stores and studio management software tools to support your photography business.
Step 4: Design Your Website
Once you’ve chosen your platform, it’s time to design your website. Keep your design clean and simple to let your photos take center stage. Make sure that your portfolio is easy to navigate, with clear menus and a logical layout.
By including an about page on your site, clients and viewers can learn more about your background and approach. Be sure to include your contact info with your email, phone number, and social media links, so potential clients can easily get in touch.
Make it easy for people to look through your website by having simple headers in the navigation bar:
Step 5: Keep it Up-to-Date
A photography portfolio is not a one-and-done project – it’s a living document that should be updated regularly with your latest and greatest work. Make it a habit to review and update your portfolio every few months to keep it fresh and showcase your growth as a photographer. Your portfolio is your most important marketing tool. As you grow and evolve as a photographer, regularly update your portfolio to reflect your best and most relevant work.
Ceating a photography portfolio takes time and effort, but with these steps, you can build a portfolio that will get you noticed and help you achieve your goals. Remember to select your best work, organize your portfolio in a way that makes sense, choose a platform that fits your needs, design a website that showcases your photos, and keep your portfolio up-to-date with your latest work. With a strong portfolio in your toolkit, you’ll be well on your way to attracting clients and taking your photography career to the next level.
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