Uncover the secrets to an exceptional photography portfolio that will bring in trusted, high-quality clients and leave you confident AF.

Uncover the secrets to an exceptional photography portfolio that will bring in trusted, high-quality clients and leave you confident AF.

I like to see the portfolio as a representation of the skills and style you have, which are there to not only show everyone your gorgeous photos but, most importantly, be the entry point for your clients to see whether you two are a great fit for each other.

Only if you look at it this way will you be able to get clients who will end up being happy about your work and who will keep returning to you for more and more photos.

In this article, I gathered 4 of my top tips to apply today so your portfolio starts shining and bringing in those wonderful clients.

So, let’s dive right in.

Become comfortable with uncomfortable

My students would often say they are stuck in a rut and don’t know how to step up their photography. And it’s always because they are afraid to do something differently.

Embracing discomfort in photography is what pushes you to grow as a creative. It’s a process, and because of that, it takes time, patience, and persistence. By continuously challenging yourself, you’ll not only improve your photography skills but also develop a unique style that sets your work apart from the rest.

Two exercises to practice being uncomfortable

• Next time you schedule some time for a personal photoshoot, do some research beforehand. Ask yourself, which is the one area you want to be brilliant at? Is it a specific style of photography, the way you edit your photos, or a certain composition style…? Define it and find examples for inspiration. Then, do everything the same way as you would normally, except for that one thing you defined.
• Keep a journal. Document everything you learned during a photo session that pushed you over your boundary. Write down everything from what you observed to what your feelings were.

Get trusted feedback

Finding your mentor in the world of food photography can be a game-changer.

Seasoned professionals have an incredible amount of knowledge and insights, which makes it easier for you to determine what your focus should be and how you can create a portfolio that will talk to the kind of clients you want to be working with.

With the right guidance, you can refine your portfolio to perfection.

A great mentor offers constructive criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear. When I tell my students I’ll be brutally honest, they often get scared. But in the end, they are empowered to take action because they know exactly what to do.

So, don’t hesitate to seek out that guiding hand to improve your work and your photography portfolio. Your mentor can help you uncover nuances in your work that you might have missed.

Be extremely picky

It can be tempting to select photos we are personally fond of. And it’s hard to choose just a handful of images to display in your portfolio.

But the pickier you are, the more successful you will be at getting more clients and the type of clients you want to work with.

When choosing images for your portfolio, you need to consider these 3 things:

• Is it the kind of work you want to be doing?
• Are the photos showing your skills and versatility within your niche?
• Do clients you want to be working with search for these types of photos?

If not, it’s a pass.

If yes, then you have to do the hard work narrowing down your selection so your portfolio is not overcrowded.

Start and end strong

Think of your portfolio as a story. Every story has a banging beginning to captivate the reader or listener. Then it has a lovely narrative taking you through the story. In the end, it finishes with an unforgettable ending.

If you treat your photography portfolio the same way, you’ll have a much better chance for brands to actually check each image and see it as a part of a story.

Start with show-stopping photos, continue with your carefully selected photos, and then finish off with something unexpected and, again, show-stopping.