PHOA209: Problems & Solutions - Week 3 - Weekly Readings & how they relate to YOUR WORK
Hi Class,
This week,
you'll be reading a lot about how to create a successful photo
portfolio. I want to draw your attention to the section titled
"Diversity of Imagery" from the Week 3 module as well as a portion of
your required reading from No Plastic Sleeves (Step Two: Branding).
In "Diversity of Imagery", you're asked to ensure that your portfolio shows a sense of diversity on many different topics:
It's important to keep these topics in mind when you're shooting one sub-genre of photography. The question may arise: how can you create diversity in your portfolio when you're working on one sub-genre of photography? If you haven't done so already, be sure to review the "Diversity of Imagery" section of our Week 3 module in depth and reflect upon your next step(s) for your upcoming W3A1.
With keeping the information from Week 3's module in mind, be sure to really focus on the following portion of No Plastic Sleeve - Step Two: Branding:
Once you decide on how to make your portfolio unique and diverse - as discussed in Week 3's module - you'll find that answering Volk's questions about your future become a little easier.
For example, if you want to be a child portrait photographer then naturally you need to photograph many different children to show your audience that you have experience. With experience comes clients booking you to photograph their children. With one client booking you - hopefully - comes positive feedback and the client may suggest you to a friend of theirs.
With that said: what you want to avoid is SO MUCH diversity that your branding becomes unclear. This mainly has to do with editing, lighting, use of color, camera techniques, etc. As Volk mentions above, your work as a photographer cannot be for everyone. One client may want to book a photographer who shoots bright and colorful portraits, whereas another client may look for a photographer who shoots dark and moody portraits. It's important for you to find your own "voice" and "vision" as a photographer and hone in on your craft.
In "Diversity of Imagery", you're asked to ensure that your portfolio shows a sense of diversity on many different topics:
- Subjects - photograph different people / items / etc.
- Location - choose different locations to photograph your subjects
- Lighting - show that you're capable of creating hard & soft light & use different light ratios
- Perspective - change your point of view while shooting
- Composition - experiment with different compositional theories
- Camera Techniques - consider adjust your focal length, depth of field, etc.
- Content / Subject Matter
- while maintaining your focus on one sub-genre of photography, your
images should show different content; tell different "stories"
It's important to keep these topics in mind when you're shooting one sub-genre of photography. The question may arise: how can you create diversity in your portfolio when you're working on one sub-genre of photography? If you haven't done so already, be sure to review the "Diversity of Imagery" section of our Week 3 module in depth and reflect upon your next step(s) for your upcoming W3A1.
With keeping the information from Week 3's module in mind, be sure to really focus on the following portion of No Plastic Sleeve - Step Two: Branding:
Reflect on Your Future
Ask yourself some key questions:
• What kind of work do you want to do?
• What kind of creative do you want to be?
• Are you doing the kinds of things now that you want to be doing in the future?
• If not, how can you position yourself to get to where you want to be?
• What kind of company or client do you want to work for?
• What kind of company would fit your lifestyle? Are there compromises you are willing or not willing to make (travel, moving to a different location, long hours, etc.)?
• Where do you see yourself in one, two, or five years?
• Is there someone in the field who you admire? Would want to emulate? Why? How did they get to where they are?
This is your opportunity to invent yourself for the first time, or reinvent yourself all over again. Think about where you'd like to be two years from now. How about five or ten years? People change jobs and even careers often throughout their lifetime. Now is the time to think about what you want out of your career.
By defining what you show based on what you truly are and what you want to do, you create a self-selection process: you are not for everyone. You are different. Be courageous enough to show that you see in a way no one else does.4
—Doug Menuez, Photographer (Volk 16-17)
Volk, Larry. No Plastic Sleeves: The Complete Portfolio Guide for Photographers and Designers. Taylor & Francis, 032010. VitalBook file.
Once you decide on how to make your portfolio unique and diverse - as discussed in Week 3's module - you'll find that answering Volk's questions about your future become a little easier.
For example, if you want to be a child portrait photographer then naturally you need to photograph many different children to show your audience that you have experience. With experience comes clients booking you to photograph their children. With one client booking you - hopefully - comes positive feedback and the client may suggest you to a friend of theirs.
With that said: what you want to avoid is SO MUCH diversity that your branding becomes unclear. This mainly has to do with editing, lighting, use of color, camera techniques, etc. As Volk mentions above, your work as a photographer cannot be for everyone. One client may want to book a photographer who shoots bright and colorful portraits, whereas another client may look for a photographer who shoots dark and moody portraits. It's important for you to find your own "voice" and "vision" as a photographer and hone in on your craft.
