Personal Portfolio Development 

This lecture offers advice on the things I need to be doing and thinking about to develop a portfolio tailored to my identity as a photographer and the path I want to be taking in my career.

Aims for portfolio:

clarity of voice: show intentions and my own identity as a photographer

Stand out from the rest: how do I do this?

be unique and concise. USP- Unique Selling Point.

an object you are proud of and that you can talk about

 sum up your practice in a few lines. have a niche.

Address the following questions: 

what sort of photographer are you?
where do you situate your practice in relation to past and contemporary photography?
what is the best way to present yourself to be true to your identity as a photographer?

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT POINTS 

SET ASIDE TIME TO DEVELOP OWN IDEAS- WHETHER COMMERCIAL OR PERSONAL.
DO YOUR RESEARCH WELL SO TO UNDERPIN YOUR IDEAS EFFECTIVELY AND HELP TO GENERATE AND MATURE IDEAS AND APPROACH.
HAVE A REGULAR SLOT IN THE MONTH TO EVALUATE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR AND PLANS FOR THE NEXT STAGE.
USE SPACE TO CURATE A SELECTION OF YOUR STRONGEST IMAGES.
THINK ABOUT VISUAL LANGUAGE AND HOW YOUR IMAGES RELATE.
VARIETY OF EDITS FOR A VARIETY OF SCENARIOS (I.E: THINK ABOUT  DOING AN EDIT BEFORE HAND WHICH IS TAILORED TO THE PERSON YOU ARE SHOWING THE PORTFOLIO TO)

NICHE/ SPECIALISM COULD BE: 
A SUBJECT MATTER
A STYLE
A TECHNIQUE
MARKET/ CLIENT AREA

Find examples of portfolios 
examples:
webber represents 
vue photographers agent 
lisa pritchard 
flowers gallery 

Avoid the generic add pictures that have weight and value. if i know my portfolio is good, it will, in turn, make me more confident with reviewers.
 if you focus on one area you are more likely to become an expert.
You can concentrate your efforts in one area and not be distracted- although be careful not to be too specialised.

demonstrate clear intent:
Reviewers respond to work that show focus, integrity and direction.
ask your peers to tell you how they read your work and decide if it matches what you are trying to say.
be aware of your audience- different people like different things, don't take things too personally.

Use my current network and aim to build a larger one.

print portfolios are important for:
Face to Face meetings.
publication commissions/ jobs. they will want to see prints and how your work looks in print publication.
if your end products are prints. (framed, photobook?)

when is a digital portfolio appropriate?
travelling abroad- easy to carry, logistical, on the go.
online magazine: print won't be important if the publication is predominately online.
digital agency
videos/moving image.

Commercial Portfolio: one portfolio; digital or printed 30-40 images, clever editing showing versatility yet a definitive style, show what suits the client.

Portfolio Presentations:
first page: memorable title a few words/ synopsis.
careful editing
slant it according to the reviewers like and wants.
size A4 or A3
Include business cards and contact details.
label and protect the copyright if submitting images.

The Photobook:
photo books are a good addition to a portfolio.

Rob Horsta: Pitcture Perfect

after graduation: do what you want to no and do it well, no one to tell you what or how to do things which is scary but liberating.