As a photographer, you’re out there taking lots of pictures. Inevitably, you’ll want to show off some of those pictures to your friends and family. Perhaps you’ll want to do more such as sell copies. To do so, you need an enticing presentation method. So, how do you make that presentation method? With a portfolio. So, today we’re discussing different portfolio presentation methods available to photographers.
Now, when discussing photography portfolio options, we’ll look at several. We’ll incorporate classic methods as well as more modern approaches to portfolios. We’ll also discuss a few pros and cons to each method.
The Binder Portfolio
This is a very common portfolio approach. It involves using a binder (sometimes a 3 ring binder and sometimes with more than 3 rings) and either punching holes in displayed paper or using plastic sheet protectors to hold unpunched sheets of paper.
Pros
- You can create your own portfolio quickly with a trip to an office supply or art supply store
- Add as many or as few pages into your portfolio as you please
- You can quickly edit the images you choose to display in your portfolio by simply adding, re-arranging, and removing at will
- You can easily find/make additional or replacement pages for your portfolio
- Sheet protectors allow you to display on both sides of a page
Cons
- Binder rings are known to fail and warp over time
- Pages and sheet protectors may rip out of the rings
- Not all binder-related products are acid-free
- The ease of creation lends a feel of less-than-professional to a portfolio
- Binders can be bulky compared to other portfolio presentation options
The Book Portfolio
I’ve seen this approach to portfolio presentation before. However, it’s a bit less common. It involves making up and binding a specific book (usually hardback though paperback versions exist too) and filling it up with your photos. You may choose to orientate it in landscape or portrait orientation.
Pros
- Much nicer overall presentation style for a portfolio
- Book binders often have access to higher grade materials than office supply stores do
- You may choose a hard-back or paper-back binding for your portfolio
- Cover design and many more customization options available
- Order a portfolio online from the comfort of your own home
Cons
- Once created, you cannot edit the book portfolio
- You may need to fill minimum or maximum page count requirements in order to bind the book properly
- The uneditable book portfolio may quickly become outdated as your photography progresses
- Book portfolios are more expensive overall to create than most other currently available portfolio options are
- Book portfolios are difficult to repair if damaged
Websites
Many photographers these days choose to display their portfolios online using a website. Some choose this method almost exclusively. Website portfolio presentation options range from a simple contact sheet-style portfolio display to elaborate options including slideshows, e-commerce, social media integration, blogs, lighbox integration, and more. WordPress is perhaps the most common website portfolio presentation method although there are others like Squarespace and Zenfolio which are big names in the industry.
Pros
- Websites are completely editable and customizable at any time
- Tons of template and hosting options out there allow you to find just the right portfolio presentation website for you
- The backlit screens of computers and other electronic devices often render your photos looking their very best
- You may integrate e-commerce into your portfolio
- Websites don’t take up any physical space
Cons
- Websites require an internet connection to access
- Website hosting incurs recurring costs
- All-in-one website hosting packages, like Squarespace, are pricey
- DYI website options, like WordPress or coding your own, have learning curves
- Websites can be hacked, co-opted, and corrupted
Social Media
Many photographers choose to display their portfolios exclusively on social media platforms. There are many to choose from, but some popular options include Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, 500PX, and DeviantArt. Each platform has its own rules of operation and what they will allow a user to display.
Pros
- Popular social media platforms are often robust with high load speeds and automatic backups
- Most social media platforms allow for quick edits and updates
- Social media platforms allow you to accumulate fans and followers to immediately give feedback on your work
- Most social media platforms are free and allow you to set up your account and portfolio quickly
- Many popular social media platforms offer geotagging and/or hashtagging which allow non-followers to discover you and your photos much easier
Cons
- As with other websites, social media platforms require an internet connection to access
- You do not own the platform so you are subject to the changing terms, interface, design, and whims of the social media platform(s) you choose to display your portfolio on
- Algorithms prevent most of your fans and followers from passively seeing your latest photos in their feeds. Algorithms also highly favor current content, making older content practically impossible to find without effort
- Most popular social media platforms are ad driven: meaning your fans will see lots of ads in their feed and potentially miss your latest photos and also you must pay for an ad if you want higher visibility on the platform
- Using social media exclusively gives off a less-than-professional presentation to your portfolio
Custom Apps
One of the recent additions, but lesser used options, for portfolio display is the custom app. You can create an app for your phone, tablet, or other smart device which will display your photos. Custom photo portfolio apps require using exclusively digital files.
Pros
- Custom portfolio apps are quick and easy to set up and edit
- Easy recovery from damage or corruption
- Allows for unplanned and spontaneous portfolio presentation and display
- May allow viewers to zoom in on a sample photo for better viewing
- You may use the same app on multiple devices at the same time
Cons
- Some portfolio apps require an internet connection to work while others do not
- Storage size and photo count depend upon the platform
- Some features may be locked behind pay walls
- DIY options have a learning curve
- High use of the device display may drain the battery quicker
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, you can see there are several options out there for you to choose your portfolio presentation from. You may find that 1 or more of these options works best for you. I’ve tried all of them listed above with varying results. However, what works for me might not work for you. So, give them all a try to see which you like best to display your photography with.
So, which method(s) worked best for you? Why? Which method(s) didn’t work out for you at all? Why? Please leave your thoughts about what worked and also what didn’t work in the comments section below.
