Hi Subscriber,
A portfolio presentation may be limited to a small collection, or it can show a wide range of work, depending on your objective.
Portfolio images can be used for many different purposes, including:
- Submitting to be juried into a competition, fair or festival
- Displaying your artwork on your website or another site
- Putting together a presentation for gallery or collector consideration
- Social media marketing
- Producing reproductions
- Other marketing or press outreach
- Your own recordkeeping
- Use in legacy planning
Regardless of the purpose, your portfolio images should show your art to its best advantage. That means excellent photography is a must. Images that are blurry, have poor lighting, sharp shadows, contain glare or use inappropriate backgrounds will typically be rejected by jurors, press members and customers. Your competition has portfolio shots that are outstanding, and you must as well.
Set the bar high for quality and only use photos you are proud to share. The best option is to hire a professional photographer, but if you
want to take photographs yourself, learn how to use your camera like a pro. There are plenty of tutorials available online to help you take your best shots, and some of them are free to access. Many cell phone cameras can produce high-quality results; a tripod, lights and other equipment can help you achieve them.
What types of photos might you include in your portfolio?
Jury Shots.These work well for competitions, or as product shots on your art website. A great set of photos will be cohesive and work together to tell a story about your work. Well-produced jury shots will stand out and grab the attention of jurors even when they have been viewing hundreds of photos.
Room Views.These photos show your work in an environment where they belong. Is your art perfect for a corporate setting? Is it appropriate in a kitchen, a baby's room or other particular place? Use room view photos to help your customers imagine owning your work. If you have sets or groupings available, place them in a room view photo to visually suggest that they viewer buy multiple pieces.
Detail Shots.These photos show the texture and intricacy of your artwork. They enhance your portfolio by adding additional visual information that allows the viewer to gain an enhanced experience of your work without seeing it in person.
Work in Progress Photos.These are excellent for visual storytelling and building excitement about a new piece of art that will soon be available. They are often used effectively in social shares and may even work to sell the piece before it is completed.
Cover Shots.There is nothing better than having outstanding images of your artwork that have the "Wow" factor. These stellar photos can draw visitors into your website or shoppers into your booth. Outstanding images of your art can be used many times, and who knows? They may even be published on a magazine cover.
As you produce work in the studio or in the field over time, you will build your portfolio as well. Review it regularly to make sure that it highlights the work you are currently doing and the direction you are going.
Sincerely,
