Portfolio question

[mXsifear]

Hi there,
I am currently updating the portfolio on my website. I took a few new pics over the last few weeks and thought they should be added. When I showed my old portfolio to a couple of friends of mine, they mostly said it was nice. But then we got into a small debate as to the order that the pics should be in. I have mine in a linear order, mostly from first taken to most recent, and organized in groups based on the subject. But some of them said I should have my portfolio set to random and that each image should be self contained instead of in a group. Is there any words of advice that you all can give me as to the order that images should be in a portfolio? Or is it just a personal preference kind of thing?

As an example, I have a link to my portfolio
Fifth Moon Studios | Portfolio

Thanks in advanced for the help,
Emad

[Redneck]

Your portfolio should show a VARIETY of your best work.

When I looked at your portfolio (at least at the first 8 or 10 images), I have to say it will probably chase people away. Nobody wants to see the same guy in black and white oever and over again. That's simply boring as long as you don't particularly tell a story.

So basically you need to get rid of similar motifs, choose only one out of a series.
I know it's hard. As a photographer you always think your work is great and should not be hidden.

[Tom]

I would put your pics in order of strongest to weakest, but holding out a strong photo for the last one or two.

I clicked your link and you had 158 pics in the slideshow that I am not going to watch. That is too many. Cut it down. Weak pictures take away from strong pictures so get rid of them. Don't have a dozen straight pictures of the same thing. It makes it look like you dont know what is good and what isn't. Have a pic, then move on to the next thing. Don't use the same poses with different subjects. If you are doing weddings, don't have multiple identifiable pictures from the same wedding. If you do portraits don't use multiple pics of the same subject unless they are completely different.

[mXsifear]

Thank you for the valuable input. I'm going to go over and remove some of pics that are repetitive.

[smalltrees]

ok... I am old-school, where your portfolio was a printed one... where the ideal number was 10-12 or even less, if it was going to an art director... must be a variety, without any repetition at all... from strong to strongest... as you want the viewer to want/need to change the page... Tom mentioned strongest to weakest... weakest should never be considered... I have always told my students to keep several portfolios that are always growing/evolving and can be aimed at any special purpose/style/genre...

[mXsifear]

Michael, so you are saying have multiple portfolios purposed on style/genre that has 10-12 photos or even less. That sounds like a good idea. On my tablet, I have several different portfolios that are split based on style. I just figured that for a website I could have a general portfolio that had several different pics from all my shoots.

Again, thanks to everyone for the valuable input. Is there anyone else who can educate me further on the basics of a portfolio?

[Tom]

Tom mentioned strongest to weakest... weakest should never be considered...

Even when you have 10-12, you can still rank those strongest to weakest. That doesn't mean the ones at the end of the continuum suck. They are just the weakest of the best. And you organize them in that order. If you have a picture in there that detracts from the portfolio or is noticeably weaker, you don't include it.

[tomdrink]

Originally Posted by Tom

Even when you have 10-12, you can still rank those strongest to weakest. That doesn't mean the ones at the end of the continuum suck. They are just the weakest of the best. And you organize them in that order. If you have a picture in there that detracts from the portfolio or is noticeably weaker, you don't include it.

+1
Well said

[texkam]

Multiples can be used (aggressively culled) as a set to show that you can tell a story (wedding), in addition to your other strongest images in that category, but I'd find a way to separate the set from the individual shots in that category. Only 1 set per category, i.e. only show one wedding set, newborn set, etc.

[smalltrees]

Originally Posted by Tom

Even when you have 10-12, you can still rank those strongest to weakest. That doesn't mean the ones at the end of the continuum suck. They are just the weakest of the best. And you organize them in that order. If you have a picture in there that detracts from the portfolio or is noticeably weaker, you don't include it.

just verbiage... I just would never use the words "weak/weaker/weakest" when discussing any portfolio... mine or anyone else's...

[Tom]

Originally Posted by smalltrees

just verbiage... I just would never use the words "weak/weaker/weakest" when discussing any portfolio... mine or anyone else's...

Ok. Order it from Strongest to Least Strong.

[texkam]

Lead with your strongest. End with your 2nd strongest. Show range of talent.

[mXsifear]

Ok, I dropped my portfolio images from 155 to 44. Tomorrow morning I'll go over it again and cut out even more until I have 1 image from each of my shoots which should bring it to around 13 -15. Again, thank you all for the great lesson. I learned today that no one wants to sit through over 100 pictures just to see if the photographer has the skill or not.

[texkam]

no one wants to sit through over 100 pictures just to see if the photographer has the skill or not.

[GoldenOrb]

Thats some good information that I shall also take on board