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Styling of the ‘Book’
Personal preference does enter into what you want your portfolio to look like. A portfolio is your physical representative and you want it to speak for you and your work when you are not able. Portfolios are personal in many ways although you must be prepared to have your personal taste picked apart. No two agents or editors want the same thing in a portfolio so what one may rave about, the other may hate.
In general, the book should be in keeping with the style of the photography. If you specialize in ultra modern architectural photography, an ultra modern look to your book makes sense. Of course the style goes beyond the cover – pages, colors, even the folder or bag it slides into should continue the imagery.
Keep in mind, however, that by the time the agent or editor sits down with you and your book, they probably have met with hundreds of photographers and thumbed through thousands of books. Agents are not impressed by over done, over worked or overly cutesy ideas. They prefer simple books based on intelligent and creative ideas.
Size of the ‘Book’
Books come in all shapes and sizes but what is going to convince an agent or editor that you are the one for them? Again, it depends on the work you do. Previously published editorial work i.e. a page from a magazine, should be in the size it was originally published. Wedding portfolios should be in 8×10″ because that is usually the maximum size people have their wedding photos enlarged to when hanging them on the wall. Most other portfolios are 11×14″ or larger. ‘Big’ better shows off the images and lends a ‘larger then life’ feel to the book.
If, like many new photographers, you must travel or mail your book to agents, 11×14″ may seem too big and too expensive to mail. But think about this – the agent will have already seen your work either as a few 8×10″ images you sent with a letter of introduction and/or your website. They are interested in your work and they have asked to see your book – they know exactly what they are asking and would not do it if they were not keenly interested in taking you on as a client. Is this the point where you want to pull back and not present your photography to the best of your ability?
Most companies that produce portfolios for artists and photographers also sell shipping boxes custom fit for their covers. It is well worth buying the box as well. When you send the book, do not send it the slowest, cheapest way possible. Agents are fickle and easily distracted and if they are hot on your work today, they may not want to wait three weeks while your portfolio wanders from one end of the country to the other. Insure the heck out of it and send it as fast as you can realistically afford. First impressions are everything and make sure you are always presenting your work in its best light and yourself as a professional.
How Many Words are Too Many?
As beginners, we all want to explain our work. It is human nature to be nervous, to want to speak for our images and to attempt to explain how or why we took that shot. Don’t. Your portfolio is not a place for words; it is a place to let your images speak for themselves. Nothing says more then your picture standing alone and leave captions for your Facebook page.
Final Thought on ‘Books’
Last year I met a prominent Dallas based photographer at a wine and cheese party hosted by an agency for new fine art photographers or photographers interested in breaking into the fine art market. This prominent Dallas based photographer had done almost entirely editorial work for magazines at this point in her career and proudly displayed her book for an equally prominent agent. The agent thumbed through three pages and declared ‘the images are wonderful but the book just won’t do!’, much to the embarrassment of the photographer. She had designed the book to impress magazine editors – there were words under the images and a magazine style design to the pages! Even under her personal work, she had explained the images because in her experience, that is what magazine editors preferred.
Thankfully, the agent gave her a second chance – bring me a new book sans words and plain pages, then we can talk.
Moral of the story? Always be prepared with a backup plan, know your subjects and do not be discouraged when your first attempt fails to impress, there is always a second chance.
Published By PicturePhotosonCanvas.com
Author Anne lockly
Copyright ©2008 picturephotosoncanvas.com
