| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Portfolio Format
Michael R. Sisak, Student/Intern, Photographer
 |
Commack | NY | USA | Posted: 3:06 PM on 10.18.06 |
->> Hey folks,
I know this has been posted in various ways many times before, but I'm cramming to file some internship applications and was wondering about the latest and greatest techniques shooters are using to produce printed portfolios?
I need about 10 copies, all to go out simultaneously. I had considered my old standby — making 8 x 10 prints and filing them in clear plastic presentation sheets in a three-ring binder. I've also thought about creating a book through Aperture or some such program. As in any case, affordability, practicality and professional quality are a concern.
What are you folks finding to be the best print portfolio methods out there?
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Mike Sisak |
|
David Lucas, Photographer
|
Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
|
Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 5:25 PM on 10.18.06 |
->> Think of it this way, if you can find a "cheap and easy" means to display your portfolio, then you risk making the impression of being "cheap and easy"
Its the same with anything else in business, sure you can send out your resume on the cheapest printer paper around and it will save you some money, or you can have it printed on some high quality paper at greater expense and hassle.
Is high quality paper going to get you a job ? Not hardly but its definatly not going to hurt your chances either, and thats why you do it.
If your competition is all using the heavyweight paper, then I'd definatly want to make sure I am too.
Im all for being practical, dont get me wrong, but I personally dont think a portfolio is a place to cut corners. It can make you or break you so I'd try to make sure its as high quality and professional as I could, even if it means spending extra money and more time on it. |
|
David Guralnick, Photographer
|
Detroit | MI | USA | Posted: 5:33 PM on 10.18.06 |
| ->> What software do you currently have? Frankly one of the most convenient formats is .PDF and there are several programs that will save a .PDF file. In fact, Many OS X programs will save a .PDF just by holding down the option key while in the print dialog box. In theory you could use Microsoft Word to import one photo per page, write a caption underneath each image, and then save a .PDF from there. This is a poor-man's way of doing it, but as I recall, being a student wasn't exactly a money-making time of my life. |
|
Walter Calahan, Photographer
|
Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 5:44 PM on 10.18.06 |
->> Michael
Keep it simple, clean and elegant.
Try Hahnemühle Photo Rag Fine Art Paper
http://www.lexjet.com/lexjet/product_disp.asp?dept%5Fid=12400&pf%5Fid=HANPR...
It's a 460 gram paper which means you don't have to dry mount it. It hold its shape without flexing very much. This gives the viewer the opportunity to study each image without having to flip through pages.
It always amazes me how my prints are arranged after a potential client looks at my portfolio. Each arranges the sequence of prints to their needs. No two people do it the same way. This gives them the freedom to study you work at their pace.
Place the prints in a nice box. Light Impressions makes good ones.
http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com/servlet/OnlineShopping?Dsp=10000&PCR=...:180000:181000
Avoid covering your prints with the "Clear" plastic pages because the cover distract from the print quality. The 3-ring binders scream "cheap".
Personally I have a book binder make my portfolio boxes, but the Light Impression boxes are a great second choice. You can place a custom cover page over you selection of images with your name, address, phone number, web address, and e-mail address.
I also recommend putting you name on each page as well as your phone number or web address. I gray down the type to 50% so the type doesn't distract from the image. Solid black I find too heavy.
I put a 1/2 point black rule around the entire image. No drop shadow, but you can try it if you like the look.
Hope that's helpful. |
|
Gordon Grant, Photographer
|
East Hampton | NY | USA | Posted: 10:11 PM on 10.18.06 |
->> Walter-
Can you print on both sides of the Hahnemühle Photo Rag Fine Art Paper?
Anyone know of a heavy stock paper that can be printed on both sides?
Thanks in advance.
gg |
|
Walter Calahan, Photographer
|
Michael R. Sisak, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Commack | NY | USA | Posted: 2:57 PM on 10.26.06 |
->> Thanks for all the great advice, folks.
What size prints do you recommend, I see lots of people going 13 x 19, etc., though my personal experience has largely been with 8 x 10 or 8.5 x 11.
Thanks,
Mike |
|
Jody Gomez, Photographer
|
Murrieta | CA | USA | Posted: 10:37 AM on 10.27.06 |
->> This last weekend I went to a seminar given by Monte Zucker and Eddie Tapp. Not only was it informative, but they had Pictobooks on display. These were amazing! They were made of really thick card board pages (like the ones you see for toddlers) with a metallic finish, printed on both sides, and made an awesome impression. They come in several sizes too.
Here's a link http://www.pictobooks.com/html/index.php
Anyone have experience with these books?
Jody |
|
Kristina Barker, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Youngstown | OH | USA | Posted: 8:05 PM on 10.29.06 |
->> I just sent out all my portfolios the other day and I spent waaayyyyy more than I would have liked to and I wasn't even able to afford to buy a fancy box.
These are all great suggestions for presenting your portfolios, but I don't know about all you other interns/students out there, but these things are completely out of my price range.
I'm all about not cutting corners and presenting yourself in a way that will make you stand out from the pile of portfolios editors get... but I'd also like to pay next month's rent and fill my car up with gas this week.
But I'll definitely look back at these suggestions for the internships that I really want. Maybe spend a pretty penny on a few that I would really like to land. I'm going to keep those boxes in mind.. |
|
Michael R. Sisak, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Commack | NY | USA | Posted: 12:01 PM on 10.30.06 |
->> Kristina,
It's true. You've hit the pricey thing right on the head. It really gets expensive when all these internship opportunities have the same deadline and we've got boxes of prints or books going all over the country. It's a process of extremes. We can go with the flow, not stand out, and send out inexpensive CDs to those newspapers that accept them... or we can go the print route and mortgage the present for the future. Hopefully all the efforts work out and the paying pays off.
Sincerely,
Mike Sisak |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|