BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Selling Your Photos

Rebecca C. Barnini		Portfolio: How to Put One Together? Hello there, I am looking to make a portfolio of my images. But I need help. I don't even know where to start or what to do. Any suggestions, helpful Web sites? Is digital better? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!! To love this question, log in above 0 June 22, 2007

John Rhodes		Hi Rebecca, Technically, a portfolio is a collection of your best work, tailored to meet the needs of whomever you are presenting it. Now, how to put a portfolio together ... I have done so in a couple of ways: (1) My BP Deluxe Web site; (2) matted and bagged images; and (3) presentation programs, such as an Adobe Lightroom slideshow on my notebook computer. How many images? Not so many that someone would get tired of looking before coming to the end, but enough to get your point across that "this is what I shoot". Since you did not identify your camera on your BP site, I'm not sure I understand your question, "Is digital better"? If you mean showing your portfolio digitally (computer slide show) versus actual matted images, that's up to you. Some sites such as Pro Lab Express and Mpix can put a very nice book together that presents your best work. Select carefully and consider having more than one portfolio if your interests lie in several directions - landscape, still life art, etc. Hope this helps, John To love this comment, log in above 0 June 22, 2007

Colleen Farrell		Also, check out luminous-landscape.com. There's a good article or 2 on that site about how to put a portfolio together. To love this comment, log in above 0 June 26, 2007

Andrea M. Smoak		I recently started a portrait business. I needed a website to display my work. I found photobiz.com. I love it. It is also a proofing website for clients to view their photos. The site is easy to set up, and looks great. There are numberous templetes to choose from. You may view my site at www.andreasmoakphotography.com. If you choose them, please tell them that Andrea Smoak sent you. Thanks! Good luck. Andrea To love this comment, log in above 0 June 27, 2007

dennis w. mcclain		there are lots of options available. you can have photobooks made. several; different companies do this. I have used photworks for my first one, and im planning on using mpix for my next one. they have a little stand alone program for designing your book. this gives you something else to offer clients. you can show off your work and a product option they might like. I always have a few actual prints for people to see and hold. this tells them that you have good prints made on good paper. not inkjet prints that wont last. I use 8x10 prints becasue its big enough for them to get a good idea about your picture and print quality. As for websites, and im not trying to pitch for betterphoto, im happy with my betterpholio. To love this comment, log in above 0 June 27, 2007

Michael A. Bielat		Even though digital is the way photography is moving, I feel that people still want something physical to look at. How many people do you know who bought even just a digital point and shoot only to have to keep buying memory cards because they 1.) don't know how to put them on their computer 2.) they never get around to it or 3.) never make prints of them... Having something in hand such as a portfolio album is a great way to showcase your work and actually show them EVERYTHING you are about. The presentation, the art (your photos)and even the display and print quality. When starting, I took my best work and kept a running record from there. I started generic and had every style and medium in the portfolio. When I got better shots, I replaced them with ones I didn't like as much. As I got into more specific areas and niches, I had enough prints to make individual portfolios for each genre. I also went ahead and upgraded my portfolios to be ones of a much larger size... Make your prints no less that 11x14, get yourself those professional portfolio books / or mount them and put them into a portfolio box and keep upgrading your work as you get more. Never stop upgrading it. To love this comment, log in above 0 June 27, 2007

Alexis		Hi Rebecca, I recently purchased some software called Pixtivity by a company called Tevity software for around $80.00 I'm a graphic artist and I've been trying to get my portfolio up online for the last 4-5 years...too busy working on other peoples websites to concentrate on my own!! I have approx 12 years of work that I need to upload and trying to figure out some kind of nice presentation was taking it's creative toll on me. I read about this software through National Association of Photoshop Professionals and decided to give it a try. You can download a free trial and see what you think of it. I've started to use it and put together my portfolio, but now I'm busy again it's going to have to wait till I have more time. The only problem that I found was that each screen design has different measurements so if you choose one that is 600 pixels and after putting some images in that design and then decide you dont like the effect the next screen design you choose may be a different size, and unfortunatley they dont have rulers on their interface. But apart from that, there are just a ton of designs to choose from and you can upload them to the web, send them to clients or embed them into your site as a flash file. It's certainly worth downloading the trial version to see what you think of it. Here is their link www.tivity.com Good Luck A. J. Burroughs To love this comment, log in above 0 July 02, 2007

Barbara V. Hinton		Heres what I did/do to show my images...copy and paste the addys below and see for your self. Its very cheap through lulu.com to self publish picture books(ie portfolios of one sort). AND you can sell copies via email and set your own price. It basicly ROCKS. If youve found this information helpful you can thank me buy at LEAST buying one of my downloadable version of my picture books for only like 5 bucks...thanks. Preveiws available. ................................. Nikas Photomanipulation Art Vol. 1 book Published on Lulu.Com 2006 http://www.lulu.com/content/585134 By OXO Nika OXO A book of 24 of my best photomanipulations todate. -10$ hardcopy; 5$ for download ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... And Nikas Print Art Volume 1 (88 of my digital art pieces) Published on Lulu.Com 2006 Nikas Print Art Volume 1 http://www.lulu.com/content/579672 By Barbara Hinton A compilation of 88 of the best visual print art work that I've created digitaly over the last couple of years. Landscapes, photomanipulations and photos. -28$ hardcopy and 10$ for a download ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Nikas Landscapes Book Published on Lulu.Com 2007 Nikas Landscapes http://www.lulu.com/content/927845 By OXO Nika OXO 17 Landscape Photomanipulation Digital Art pieces by Nika -10$ hardcopy and 5$ for a download .............................................................................................. Nikas Fractal Art Vol 1 http://www.lulu.com/content/939357 5$ downloadable ebook 10$ Hard copy Published June 17 2007 .............................................................................................. Nikas Fractal Art 2008 Calendar http://www.lulu.com/content/948089 15$ Published June 20 2007 .............................................................................................. Please note you can also download these picture books straight to your computer for half the price of a lulu printed,bound and shipped copy. So what chu waiting for! I'll be your best friend? Giggles. Also note that I hardly make anything off of selling these hard copy picture books.(only like 15% about on hard copies and 80% off of downloads) I just think its awsome that I can do it thou....online all by myself (meaning no preveiwer middle man/editor) and so quickly too. And so can YOU. If you've ever wanted to publish a book but thought it too involved you should give lulu a try. ~Nika A messege from Lulu.Com: Lulu.Com provides the creators and owners of digital content with control over how they use and share their work. Individuals, companies, and groups can use Lulu to publish and sell a variety of digital content, including books, photos, images, and music. ~Nikahinton@yahoo.com To love this comment, log in above 0 July 03, 2007

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