For Portfolios, Less is More

Viewing a portfolio that contains too many images and lacks a theme is like listening to someone talk endlessly without a point. Don't be that person.

One of the hardest things for a photographer to do is edit for their portfolio. Getting down to 50 or so images can be a relatively painless process. It's whittling down to the final selection that can be difficult, stressful, even paralyzing.

Photography is a service, but it's also an art form. It's a job but also a reflection of who you are and what you have to offer. This dual nature can make the editing decisions for your portfolio especially difficult. From a marketing perspective, you want to show a clearly identifiable style so the client will know what to expect if they hire you. As an artist, showing work in only a single style can feel limiting and artificial. But the bottom line is that if you're an independent professional photographer, then you're also a business. This means you need a clearly identifiable brand in the eyes of photo buyers so they can distinguish you from everyone else.

Most photographers have a hard time being objective about their imagery. You may have emotional favorites that have meaning to them but don't rate well against their best work. You may come to believe that some images are so identified with them that they can't imagine not including those images in their portfolio. Sometimes we're so close to things that we can't see them with proper perspective. We are blinded by what an image means to us and don't see them through the eyes of others.

Here are 5 guidelines for photographers to keep mind when editing for their portfolios:

1. Have a Theme

The images should look like they all belong together. Photo buyers want to know what they can reasonably expect if they hire you. If your portfolio shows vastly different styles and approaches, you're not giving them a reason to hire you instead of someone else.

2. Less is More

Attention is the most precious commodity these days. Too many images in a portfolio can be irritating to wade through and can cause resentment and even hostility on the part of the audience, especially busy professionals. The fewer images you have the more powerful each becomes. Normally 15 - 20 images will show what you can do without overtaxing the audience's attention. The first rule of entertainment applies here: "Always leave them wanting more." If the design of your Web site allows for it, you can include additional images but they should be accessible only to those who choose to take a deeper look at your work and not in the main portfolio area.

3. Ask Others

Getting fresh, knowledgeable eyes to review your edit is invaluable. Demand honesty and put your ego in check. The goal is the help you make tough decisions in order to present your most compelling message to photo buyers.

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