Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

zoe08 · **Portfolio -** 03-07-2007, 11:45 AM

I am in a senior portfolio photography class this semester. We are just about to start our portfolios, and he is probably going to talk about them today so I don't know all the details yet. But I would like to know where to buy the book for the portfolio? And what are the best ones and about how much do they cost. I want to stay under $100 for the book for sure, cuz I still don't know how much it will cost for printing if we don't do them at school.

Also I want to be a portrait photographer. Studio and outdoor. So right now I don't have studio lights, so won't be able to make a studio portfolio. But I am interested in shooting familes, kids, senior pics, couples, pets, things like that. Should I have an example or 2 of all of them in the portfolio. Or just the people pictures and a separate portfolio for pets? I know one portfolio is about 12-15 pics.

I am sure my teacher will have opinions, but he is an art photographer, not studio, so I just wanted to get opinions from those of you who are portrait photographers.

brad · 03-07-2007, 11:52 AM

You can find some nice art portfolios at Aaron Brothers for relatively cheap (under $20).

Teachers will tell you 12-15 pics.. and that's great if you are showing to academes or photo editors, but if you are trying to get real clients.. the more the better. (I went through a stage where I thought I was doing it "right" by having 15 images... only to encounter over and over and over the question from customers: "Is this all you have?")

That said, you *must* make sure the images included are your absolute best work. One lousy or even mediocre image will drag down the entire portfolio.

adirty1 · 03-07-2007, 12:24 PM

If he's an art photographer you might end up mounting and cutting mats for your images. you need to ask him what kind of portfolio he wants beforey you buy one. if he doesnt care what you get you can always go the cheap route and get a nice box for 50 dollars and then mount your images on a bigger board. if your images are 8x10 then mount on 11x14. that's usually pretty standard for a portfolio class. Ours was 16x20's flush mounted

srwatters · 03-07-2007, 01:23 PM

I have an 11x14 book from House of Portfolios in NYC. If you want the best, then it's Brewer Cantelmo.

Neither are cheap as the local Aaron Brothers or craft store, but they will display your work for years to come and look excellent doing it.

zoe08 · 03-07-2007, 05:26 PM

Seeing as this is my first portfolio, it is probably not something I will even want to be showing 10 years from now. We can choose however we want to present it. Today he showed us a box with 11x14 matts. The pictures were inside 2 boards and the top had the frame cut out. I have no idea how I would even be able to do that.

I thought that a book or binder might be a better idea since it is more for studio/portrait work. It's not going to be some big agency or gallery or something that I am showing it too. I know when I went with my sister to look at wedding photographers they had books.

I don't know what Aaron Brothers is? Is it a store or do they have a website?

Also do you recommend 8x10 prints for a portrait portfolio?

brad · 03-07-2007, 06:38 PM

Aaron Brothers is an Art and Framing store.. usually around malls, but you may not have one up in the panhandle.

zoe08 · 03-07-2007, 07:31 PM

As far as I know we don't have one. I have never heard of them.

bondarnes · 03-07-2007, 08:16 PM

I used to have an 11X14 portfolio which I never used. I will look around for it. If I can find it I will send it to you for shipping + $5.00 for dust removal.

It looks brand new and was not cheap. Also you should contact Mark McCall as soon as he gets back from convention. I know he would be glad to help you out. Tell him I sent you. I had a Tech intern three summers ago and she had no idea how much she learned until she got back to school and the new projects were all a piece of cake for her. She even set up the departments new film scanner because she had been using mine. The prof. was impressed.

Daniel Bates · 03-07-2007, 08:31 PM

Thanks for bringing up the topic, Kalee! I've been looking into portfolios myself (though I'm not quite "there" yet image wise).

zoe08 · 03-07-2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I used to have an 11X14 portfolio which I never used. I will look around for it. If I can find it I will send it to you for shipping + $5.00 for dust removal.

It looks brand new and was not cheap. Also you should contact Mark McCall as soon as he gets back from convention. I know he would be glad to help you out. Tell him I sent you. I had a Tech intern three summers ago and she had no idea how much she learned until she got back to school and the new projects were all a piece of cake for her. She even set up the departments new film scanner because she had been using mine. The prof. was impressed.

Thank you soo much! I really appreciate that! If the portfolio is 11x14, I should have 8x10 prints right?

I don't think I am going to do an internship cuz I don't really think there are a lot of options for photo interns in Lubbock, and I can't really go anywhere else. I would like to get a job in a studio, but I don't think working in Penney's or Sears will really help me all that much.

bondarnes · 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoe08

I don't think I am going to do an internship cuz I don't really think there are a lot of options for photo interns in Lubbock, and I can't really go anywhere else. I would like to get a job in a studio, but I don't think working in Penney's or Sears will really help me all that much.

You won't get far in photography with that attitude. Have you even checked out the intern options in Lubbock. My intern got online and contacted several studios in her home area and I was the first to respond. Maybe she was a little more driven to succeed????

By the way some of my best training in setting up lights and posing people quickly and getting great expressions came from a travelling job with a church directory company. So don't knock Sears or Penneys. They will also teach you how to sell your work, which some photographers never learn.

zoe08 · 03-08-2007, 01:12 AM

My thing is I'm not really wanting to work in Lubbock or Dallas or Houston. I am going to be living in a small town where I already know everyone, and know I am not going to have a problem getting business. And I don't want to spend time working on stuff that I cannot use, because I really need to be working on stuff for my business since I will be graduating in December. And I need to get a job by this summer, and I can't afford to do a non-paid internship for sure, cuz I really need to be earning money to save up towards my business stuff, plus I'm going to be looking for a wedding photographer soon for my own wedding, and that is going to cost me a fortune, cuz I am going to be really picky about the photos.

I have gone to Sears and Penney's for portraits. Now from my experience, Sears is better than Penney's, but I also know people who work in those places, and they don't really have much to do with the lights. They pretty much always have the same light set up just change backgrounds/poses. Plus if I work for Sears or Penneys, wouldnt the photos I take be their property?

Right now it is just most important for me to concentrate on creating my portfolio and getting through school and getting the business side of stuff prepared.

srwatters · 03-08-2007, 08:00 AM

Kalee, just a suggestion, but you might want to listen to the voice of experience here. Don has been in the business for many years and has given you the name of an extremely well know and respected professional who could do more for your success than everything you have been taught in school.

Where you want to work has no bearing on what you could learn from Don, Mark, or another real professional. You may think the 'cookie cutter' lighting at a department store isn't worthy, but take a look at how much business they do and ask yourself if you can afford to let that slip away from you in your small town. As far as your own wedding goes, don't you think that networking with some of the high ranking and successful photographers in the state could lead to a benefit for you?

I don't want to sound like a dad (even though I am

), but you might re-consider Don's advice. Or not. Of course it's all up to you.

Best of luck with your wedding and career.

photobykim · 03-08-2007, 08:11 AM

I agree with Scott. Don is a great teacher and the professional that he mentioned to contact is a really nice guy. He has helped me so much with various business things...not photographic...but business things that i've had questions on. He is very honest, too. There has been a couple times that I've asked about something and he's said NO dont do that, here is a way you can do that without chopping your arm and leg off. There are several members here on the forum that are up your way.

Feel free to ask questions around here. And dont knock the cookie cutter places. several of us have worked at kiddie kandids or the picture people. Something you do what you do for the money until you can do it for your passion. Maybe find a location that is more creative like glamour shots, kiddie kandids, picture people, studio one to one....can't think of anymore that are usually in the malls. But they're all less "traditional" and possibly more the direction you're wanting.

Also never underestimate how quickly a small town can grow. We moved to where we live now...a small town that no one ever heard of and in the last two years there has just been a huge growth.

anyway...that's my 2 pennys to rub together!

DeLeon · 03-08-2007, 09:48 AM

I agree with all of the above, the guidance form the people on this forum, and a few of the local pros here in Amarillo, has been invaluable to me. If your just in it for the short term...then jump in....if you want to learn the craft and the business, and stay in business...then i suggest taking advice from people who have very strong businesses.