Basic portfolio for a newbie...?

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Betty

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Following on from my party tog thread, I really need to get some sort of basic portfolio together.

Is it wise to use a simple A4 folder with my best photos just slipped in? Or should I spend some money and get something more professional?

Or can anyone recommend anything else? Cheers you guys :love:
 
That was freaky...I'm sure I just read "following on from this thread" with a link to nowhere...

Need to get my eyes tested..
 
I am in a similar position at the moment Betty. Want to put a nice little portfolio together but worry that if I spend a lot of money on something nice looking then I wont want to update it any time soon :(

I am leaning towards some large(ish) A4 prints done myself bound in some nice looking folder that I can alter and add too later on. I think......dunno :( lol
 
I would suggest mainly large HQ prints in a quality binder that can be expanded on easily as your master folio for showing people but also have a smaller sized binder with smaller quality prints for leaving with the more important clients.

That way they've seen your work in full quality but also have a decent quality reference for making a decision.
 
Thats my thoughts Jimmy, a simple A4 folder that you can chop and change when you want would be ideal, rather than have one made that you cant change yourself, what if you have one other really awesome photo, and you cant put it in without spending loads to get a new portfolio?

Babble babble :D:D

mattyh said:
how about getting a photobook printed? :shrug:
Click to expand...

Pretend you're talking to an idiot, and explain what this is ;)
 
gman said:
I would suggest mainly large HQ prints in a quality binder that can be expanded on easily as your master folio for showing people but also have a smaller sized binder with smaller quality prints for leaving with the more important clients.

That way they've seen your work in full quality but also have a decent quality reference for making a decision.
Click to expand...

Spot on!!!!!!!!!!! That's what I do when approching galleries.
 
Betty said:
Thats my thoughts Jimmy, a simple A4 folder that you can chop and change when you want would be ideal, rather than have one made that you cant change yourself, what if you have one other really awesome photo, and you cant put it in without spending loads to get a new portfolio?

Babble babble :D:D



Pretend you're talking to an idiot, and explain what this is ;)
Click to expand...

Here:

http://www.photobox.co.uk/static/product-photo-book.html

Disadvantage is that you can't change the pages :)
 
Not bad for £20 though, thanks for the link :thumbs:
 
If photobooks are the way forward, Ill certainly shop around :)

But thanks for the replies so far :)
 
Not at all :) Just after opinions first and foremost :)
 
If you want folios, this is the place to go. They also have three stores around London, and you can go and have a look. They are not going to be cheap, but you can modify most of them as you need to, and the people in the shops know about inserts that won't degrade your prints.

This is just about the prettyest folio I have seen so far, and you can expand it to take up to 50 sheets. The finish is very much Apple Macbook.
 
^^^I wont write that one off because of the cost, my budget will certainly stretch to £50, thanks :thumbs:
 
If I was to buy one with extra inserts, can I take them out? As I may only start with a small number of images, but add to it in time :)
 
Betty said:
If I was to buy one with extra inserts, can I take them out? As I may only start with a small number of images, but add to it in time :)
Click to expand...

If you are talking about the first one I linked you, then they are a metal screw post, that you put your inserts into, which you can adjust, and add or remove them as needed. It is a great system, and looks very very professional and stylish.

BUT BE WORNED. The first folio I linked is going to be about £70 for an A4 one with the inserts, and protective sleve. Not cheap but worth it. (I have the brown one in A3 size).
 
I don't know if this place is any good to you but I believe they do mail order:
http://www.atlantisart.co.uk/

They're based in the East End but generally have good prices and should be able to advise on the different quality sleeves available (ie: archive quality, etc.) I've used them a lot over the years for fine art and printmaking stuff :)
 
I had been recomended to have a look at Bob Books Linky here. I had a look at them at Focus and the quality is smack on.
 
Thanks everyone, Ill see how much birthday money I have to play with :)
 
I've got to get a portfolio sorted for my Uni interview. I asked them for advice on putting one together and they said the best thing to do is buy an A3 Black portfolio with rings inside so you can put proper plastic wallets in and then mount each picture you want in it on Off White Acid free paper. Link

You can get ones that don't have an easel bit and are abit cheaper, but thats the sort of thing I'm talking about.

I know this advice is for a Uni interview but it still looks professional might be useful for approaching galleries and such like.
 
I found that a photobook worked particularly well for me. People take you very seriously when your work is so nicely presented, they see that you've spent time and money presenting your work and that hopefully conveys that you'll do the same for them.

Due to the fact you can't add images "as and when", it forces you to really carefully consider what goes in and what doesn't. Now I've been living with mine for 3 months or so, I have a clearer idea of what to bin and what new stuff to put in and aim to update it twice a year. It will also serve as a nice memento of my progression through the years.
 
In digital photography (last month - I think)
there was someone offering a free photobook - 15/20 images if I remember right

I'll have a look when I get in and put the link up

(unless I just imagined it :thinking:)
 
Thanks redeye, would be nice to update twice a year and see how your work progresses, good thinking :)
 
I use an A3 zip around artist portfolio for my work.

I had it first year of my photography course in college. At the end of each project we'd get a black piece of card and prit stick the pictures to it. Later we could put them in properly once we decided on our final, final pictures. I don't think I'll change it, I quite like it, plus I can do what I like to it, change the pictures around, add too it as much as I like as their all in polly pockets.
 
Watch out that the plastic sleeves in the presentation folder are chemically stable and don't react with the surface of the photo prints.

You may want to prepare (a few copies of a) CD with the photos from that portfolio at full screen size (but practically unprintable), maybe in a slide show, to leave behind. Include your copyright claim and details, and you have a digital portfolio.

Have fun!
 
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