How to Build a Strong Photography Portfolio? - Tips from Chatz Schwab

Regardless of your level of experience, becoming a successful photographer is no easy feat. It takes dedication, perseverance, and most importantly, a business plan. Whether you’re a hobbyist or professional alike, building a strong photography portfolio is the first step to becoming successful in your field. These six practical strategies will help you create the ideal visual representation of your work and put you on the path to success as a photographer. Below, professional photographer Chatz Schwab takes a look at the steps every photographer should follow when putting together a personal portfolio.

Award-winning photographer Chatz Schwab specializes in capturing special events and natural beauty. He graduated from Ohio State University and has been a freelance photographer for 13 years. An array of well-known media and educational outlets have featured his award-winning images, timelapses, and videos. It is his intention to create images that will take viewers on a relaxing, inspirational journey and help them appreciate the beauty of nature.

Create a digital site

Without a digital presence, you’ll have a very difficult time reaching potential employers or clients. Even if you don’t want to start a blog, you can always create a basic website to showcase your work. Once you have a website up, you can effortlessly send out your portfolio as a link via email, send links out to your social media, and include links to relevant blog posts and articles. A website also allows you to easily add images and information about your prices and services. While some people don’t need a website for their photography, a professional portfolio site will help you stand out from the crowd. Having a website is especially important if you’re looking to start a business. Online portfolios are the most effective way to get your name out there.

Include printing

When you’re done creating your digital portfolio, it’s a good idea to also include printing services. If you have a printing service on file with your suppliers, you can easily add a printing option to your digital portfolio. As an industry professional, Chatz Schwab has come to the realisation that you should always be ready to include printing services in your pricing. Keep in mind, many clients will request printing as part of the deal. Including printing services in your prices will help you to stand out from other photographers and will be a constant reminder to your clients that you’re ready to serve their needs. While it’s not essential, printing your work is a great option for creating a physical portfolio.

Pick a subject matter

You can attempt to display any and every piece of work in your portfolio, but this is a bad idea. When you’re just starting out, your goal should be to pick a subject matter that is easy to shoot. Additional goals should be to pick a subject matter that will allow you to steadily build a clientele and gain experience. Many photographers try to cover too many topics, and as a result, they end up with a portfolio filled with unorganized images that have little to nothing to do with each other. It’s too easy to fall into the pattern of showing off every photo you’ve ever taken. Instead, Chatz Schwab recommends picking a subject matter that will allow you to organize your photos and create a strong visual representation of your work.

Edit and always seek outside opinions

When creating your visual portfolio, be careful not to edit your photos too much. Although you should edit your photos to meet the requirements of your printing service, editing too much will appear unprofessional. When creating your visual portfolio, always keep in mind that it will likely be viewed by potential clients. As such, your visual portfolio should display a style that is consistent with your brand. Depending on your subject matter, the visual style of your work should be consistent with your brand. You’ll also want to edit out any photos that don’t meet standards such as colour balance, exposure, and sharpness. When editing your work, also keep in mind that you should be looking to remove any unnecessary elements from your images.

Stay consistent in your message and imagery

When creating your visual portfolio, you should stay consistent with your message and imagery. You don’t want to create a visual portfolio that is full of images that don’t relate to each other or that contradict each other. If you’re just starting out and are trying to build a clientele, it’s essential that you stay consistent in your visual representation.

Final thoughts

When it comes to building a strong photography portfolio, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your approach will depend on a number of factors such as the type of photography you do, the subject matter you choose, and the level of experience you have. But no matter which strategy you choose, it’s important to keep in mind that a strong photography portfolio is the first step to a successful business. From there, you can continue to build on your portfolio by networking with clients and employers and leveraging online marketing strategies.