The world’s most celebrated photographers have mastered not only their craft but also the art of showcasing it. Building a photography portfolio is absolutely essential for anyone pursuing a professional or artistic career as a photographer. Whether you’re creating your first portfolio or revamping an existing one, the process should be creative, intentional, and, with these tips, fulfilling.
1. Determine the goal of your portfolio.
Before selecting the images that will go into your portfolio, start by determining your primary goals. For some, a portfolio will be an artistic résumé, allowing potential clients to see if you are the right fit for their needs. For others, it is an online gallery that allows photographers to see their work as a whole and move toward a specific artistic direction. What work do you love and want to create more of? What type of photography jobs do you want to land?
2. Consider your photography focus.
You should also determine the type of industry you want to focus your photography on. A photographer pursuing a career in portraiture will have a very different portfolio than one who shoots nature and landscapes. While you may have experience with various types of photography, try to choose a focus based on what you want to work with moving forward. An easy way to define the goal of your portfolio is to decide who you want to see it, such as:
- Businesses (if you are a commercial photographer)
- Couples (if you are a wedding photographer)
- Editors (if you are an editorial photographer)
- Gallery curators (if you shoot high art photography)
The audience and the artistic voice you specify in this step will help you determine which photos to choose as you create your portfolio.
3. Pick your form.
Another initial component to consider is the form in which your photography portfolio will be created. Most photographers these days opt to create a digital portfolio through a website. This is the best option for maximum visibility and accessibility. An online portfolio can be shared anywhere in the world in a split second and can be constantly developed and refined. However, it does require some sense of digital design and an understanding of user experience to create a compelling website that cuts through the noise of the internet.
Print portfolios in the form of a book or zine are less common, but they are a bit more special precisely because of that. However, these are more costly and less accessible since sharing them has logistical challenges.
4. Choose your photos.
Hone in on a style. “The best thing that you can do as an aspiring photographer is to identify a style that represents you well, develop within that style, and keep shooting to perfect it,” advised adventure photographer Chris Burkard, in an interview with Wilder. “It’s super important to have your images be recognizable by editors and others who are looking at your work.” You may have shot weddings, but if you are looking to shoot more fashion photography, you may not want to include your wedding shots in your portfolio.
Learn from the cuts. Selecting photographs for your portfolio can be a difficult process as you will have to make a decision on which to cut. Start with an initial cull. Go through your work and remove the photos you do not wish to include. They may not make the cut for technical reasons—or they may be redundant, inconsistent with your artistic voice, or outside the type of photography you want to shoot.
Remember, analyzing the work that doesn’t make the cut is also valuable. Why is it not making it into your portfolio? What aspects of these pieces do you want to move away from, if any, and what have you learned since shooting them?
After the initial cull comes the hard part: removing photos beyond any technical quality issues. This is where understanding your perspective as an artist and the sensibility you would like to be known for is incredibly important. Which images are inconsistent or weaker in expressing your artistic voice? When confronting the inevitable “keep or not keep” photograph, ask yourself: What does this photo say within my portfolio? Has it been said through another photograph already? Which says it more strongly?
There are plenty of great technical photographers out there, but what do you bring to the table? It’s not a greatest-hits collection—it’s a curated body of work that creates a story. Consider pacing and make sure to present photos that are in the sweet spot of the medium you like to work in, the subject matter you’re drawn to, and how you can capture it.
Know how many photos to include. Giving yourself limitations will also help you create a stronger portfolio, so strive to prioritize quality over quantity. While photo counts in portfolios can range drastically, you may have preferences as to the size of your own. Analyze other portfolios and determine what you prefer, whether it’s in the 15–30 range or the 50–100.
If you do want to include a larger amount of photos, make sure your choice is justified. For example, iconic portrait photographer Platon has photographed some of the most important figures in culture and history, making a strong case for a large portfolio that ranges from photos of Bono to President Barack Obama.
On the other hand, restraint in a portfolio can also come across as confidence. Think of a music album: One has seven songs, but each one is a hit. Another has about 20 with only seven songs that are hits. Which feels more cohesive and stronger? Being concise in your portfolio will create clarity for anyone who looks at it, presenting a stronger artistic voice that is not diluted.
5. Organize.
Once you’ve chosen your assortment of images, it’s time to decide how you want to present them. This means organizing them in a way that showcases both a cohesive voice and simultaneously a dynamic range in ability and subject. Here are some ways you may consider organizing your photography:
- Theme or story: Organizing your photography by thematic or story-driven elements allows you to connect work taken at different times and locations. For example, street photographer Daniel Arnold divides his portfolio by subject, including women, men, children, pets, locals, and “walkers.”
- Project: You can also organize your portfolio according to project, which could be defined by different brand campaigns, narrative concepts, or subjects. Fashion and editorial photographer Adrienne Raquel arranges her portfolio by celebrity subject.
- Medium: If you’re a photographer who likes to shoot a variety of photography types, you can also organize by medium. You can group your images by 35mm film and digital, color and black-and-white, or even by different camera looks. Continue to refine your portfolio to create a strong collection that can help you learn how to land more photography jobs.
6. Create your bio.
Those who view your portfolio will often be curious about the photographer behind the work. A concise (yet robust) biography section will provide insight into who you are beyond the lens.
- Professional history: Include your photography style(s) and gear, who you have worked with (such as brands or companies), and where your work has been showcased (such as galleries or magazines).
- Personal story: Consider diving into the creative side of your work, such as your inspirations, photography styles, and process. Learning how to shoot photography is a different journey for everyone—don’t be afraid to share yours. In his portfolio biography, for instance, Mário Macilau briefly contextualizes how long (and how strong) photography has been his passion: “Macilau started his journey as a photographer in 2003 from the streets of Maputo, becoming professional when he traded his mother’s cell phone for his first camera in 2007.”
- Contact info: Lastly, include your general location, social media handles, and the ways people can reach out to work with you.
7. Allow your portfolio to evolve.
You’ve put together a portfolio that you’re happy with and that represents you as a photographer—congratulations! Just remember that it’s not set in stone. Think of your portfolio as a living document and refine and update it accordingly.
Don’t be afraid to seek feedback from peers, mentors, and editors, and allow your portfolio to evolve as you do. The most valuable feedback will come from initial impressions. Is the portfolio cohesive? Does it have a strong voice? Does its organization make sense? Your sensibility and research will lead you in the right direction.