How do you update and showcase your portfolio?

As a photographer, I'm always looking forward to learning about new trends, adapting my style without losing my identity...it's not just what I like to shoot, it's about becoming better and creating a greater impact.

I am continually working on improving my craft, whether it be improving my skills at finding the best natural light, visualizing the final image when taking the shot, or experimenting with studio and OCF lighting. Some of this is trial and error, but I also seek knowledge from other experts in the field. I have found that one of the best ways to improve my skills is by entering print competition and seeking and listening to the constructive feedback that I receive. After each session, I choose the best shots for my portfolio and cull images that I feel no longer fit my style and vision.

I update my website-portfolio regularly and once a year I make a PDF of the highlight works to send out to potential clients.

Most recently, I've been incorporating art and photography throughout my current employment at Mess's fireworks. Adapting, and evolving our on-site displays marketing and placement is just as important as maintaining and communicating our goals and vision to our target customer base through business website, emails, and flyers. During our 4th of July firework show, I cozied atop one of the container trucks. I was able to take some really interesting shots with my professional canon. This alongside pictures inside the store, gave me a new goal, and introduced a different perspective on what constitutes good, in demand photography, and the power it holds to excell success in a business.

Like any creative field, one of the hardest skills is learning how to edit and curate to only put forward what you consider the best representation of your work. Keep it current, keep it relevant, and like a bonsai- keep pruning it with time. Best tip: Even if you did something amazing, but you never want to do it again- don't show it. Only show work you would want to bring you similar work should be shown.

Being organized is imperative when you have tons of files and clients, naming files properly and saving them accordingly, will make sense when you have to search them back again, that will save you (and your clients) time and money

Organized data is a visual treat for clients. I imagine myself as a client while updating my portfolio, and arranging various files accordingly. It helps clients to understand you and your work better. And not just for my portfolio, I organise and backup all of my work data on 2 hard drives with proper nomenclature so that you can access it whenever you want very easily.

Having my website organized by categories allows my viewers and potential clients to easily find what they are looking for. A disorganized portfolio will often discourage people from staying on your site.

Before organizing your portfolio, clearly define your niche, goals, and the audience you aim to attract. This will guide you in selecting the most relevant work to include. Based on your niche, organize your portfolio into categories that reflect your skills and the variety of your work. Common criteria include genres (e.g., portrait, landscape), themes (e.g., nature, urban), or project-based categories. When uploading your work to online platforms, utilize tags and categories to organize your portfolio. This not only makes it easier for viewers to navigate but also helps in showcasing the breadth of your work

I have a different perspective on this subject. I used to have 3 different portfolios. Some images were commercial sports images so I wasn't sure if they should go in the commercial or the sports portfolios. A prospective commercial client may miss seeing your sports images, or portrait work, even though those images might have been relevant to them. I now have a single main portfolio. If a client needs to see more golf images for example, I will send them to a golf portfolio.

Online backups and cloud storage are not a new thing anymore, the world has changed and we have to stay tuned and roll with it, I use a platform that allows me to store and share whit my clients effortlessly and keeps my business updated

Optimizing your online presence is as good as giving an interview. I prefer putting links to all of my projects organised into various categories on a LinkTree and then sharing 1 link is very easy. It's extremely stress-free.

Choose a platform that aligns with your needs and aesthetic preferences. Options include Journo Portfolio, Squarespace, Wix, and Pixpa, which offer user-friendly interfaces and customization options.Ensure your images are of high quality and optimized for web use. This means balancing image quality and file size to ensure fast loading times without sacrificing the visual impact of your work. Opt for a responsive design that ensures your portfolio looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones. This enhances the user experience and accessibility of your work.

Title, description, metadata, alt-text are very important for SEO. Tools like Photo Mechanic by Camera Bits are excellant tools for photographers to add key metadata to their images to optimize them for SEO.

Anyone can take a photo nowadays, technology has made it way to easy, however, having a style, knowledge and, being able to connect with my customers and make them feel comfortable in front of a camera is a skill that AI cannot replace

I totally agree. Technology has made it so easy for just anybody to snap a image! It’s what that image, and how that style and technique tell the story to the audience. And whether your photography graphic design or cinematography, it all ties a story together, through that image! And it’s our unique skills, technique, style and creativity as professionals that has to be shown in the right manner for the audience to be attracted and relate to. It also helps to be easy to be found virtual and digitally.

First of all not everyone knows how to take a picture that becomes art. That’s your job. Second, we have always had cameras, 35mm, 110, Polaroid, instamatics and so on. So having a camera in your hand is not a new idea, just because Uncle Charlie has a new Iphone that doesn’t mean he knows how to take a true portrait. As for having customers feeling comfortable if you’re not comfortable then they won’t.

Your portfolio should reflect your personal brand. Experiment with customized color palettes, fonts, and layouts that align with your aesthetic and personality. Avoid generic designs that fail to distinguish your work. Engaging Headlines and Descriptions: Craft engaging headlines and detailed project descriptions that provide context around your work. Highlight the objectives, your process, and the outcomes to give viewers insight into your creative approach.

In this world of behind-the-scenes - documenting the process seem important because we really do live in the matrix. Prospective clients want to know as-much-as-possible about your working method and therefore, you. I have begun my own ultimate, step-by-step documentation and behind the scenes media of the latest campaign with a ground breaking actual, real portfolio. That will be revealed soon. Be a craftsman. This is art, not just business.

I am always working on my portfolio, taking time to edit and curate depending on who I’m pitching too. I battled with this idea for a while as I wanted to make sure I was authentic but the bottom line is that it’s all still me, certain work has certain audiences. It also takes a lot of time, it’s not a one size fits all or a mass email that goes out, it’s personal.

As you grow in your photography, you will eventually outgrow your current portfolio. It’s bittersweet to look back at former portfolio pieces that you were once proud of and no longer feel that sense of pride for in the current moment, but it’s how you determine when you need an update. Personally, if I don’t feel the need to update my portfolio with current work after a year or so, then I have to take a hard look at where I’m at and consider if I’ve been lazy or am not doing work that is fulfilling. I should be continuously learning and experimenting with photography to expand and polish my skill and my portfolio should be able to demonstrate that.

Never shy away from an opportunity to take photos, especially for subjects that interest you. The more photos I take, the more I "accidentally" teach myself about photography.

I regularly update my portfolio. When I take a portfolio-worthy image, it quickly goes into my on-line portfolio and replaces my weakest image.

Its natural to keep updating your portfolio with the latest tech or lighting. The portfolio is only an extension of the photographer/cinemaphotographer. The portfolio lies in the mind, pursuing your ideas by drafts and storyboards. The real portfolio lies in the heart of the restless, reckless romantic who has no choice but to craft with his/her hands that which must be brought to life. It's the fire inside you. If you have that; if you have that eccentric drive to keep making, creating, dreaming and living...you can easily learn the tips, tricks..get the bigger camera, what have you. The plethora of goods in this market is endless. There is only one you. And only some have that real fire.

As photographers, we tend to get lazy and expect the others to be awed by shear volume of the portfolio and quality of the images (organisation as described above is great, but clients usually don't have time to browse through categories and in the end - it might look to them like you're just jack of all trades who just jumps from one thing to the other). Client just wants to know solution to their problem and if you're the one who is the right fit. Niche down with your portfolio for a specific needs of a client and show only what is related to them. Additionally, case study with story attached to the image or series of images will make much bigger impact then images by their own.

With so many technological and technical advances, with manipulation and applications, images must finally transmit a personal, human and emotional "touch". As much as in the end a portfolio wants to sell and please clients, I personally look for the impact of something that surprises and excites me. Everybody moves today with a camera on their cell phone, but an image that excites goes beyond tricks.

Consider that Linkedin is soliciting users on its platform for their time and expertise to build for them a library of "Collaborative Articles" while offering nothing in return. Also consider that your time and experience hold value and should be treated as such, even when you get a nice DM from a Linkedin employee asking you to give them up for nothing. Consider joining a non-profit or professional photography group (like American Photographic Artists or Professional Photographers of America) where you can connect with other people in your community. At the very least know that joining one of these organizations won't result in them collecting large amounts of content from unpaid contributors.

As a Talent, I update my portfolio by posting on #LinkedIn including the #selfie that got the job, and callbacks. I believe my photos are unique from each other with differentiating circumstances in angle, lighting, hair and makeup.