As artists, there is one thing we all must present when interviewing for our dream job: a portfolio. Compiling your best work into a professional portfolio is stressful. You’ll searc through new and old work to make your portfolio the best it can be to impress your employers.
Narrowing down your work to only the best pieces is a difficult task. When choosing, look at how your style has changed, and if the pieces still reflect who you are now. Don’t throw in an overwhelming amount of content if you have a lot from a certain series or photo shoot. Choose the strongest ones that best represent the project itself. This selection process will slowly build up a strong portfolio.
Third-year graphic design student Courtney Peplin shared a few tips on choosing the strongest images for your portfolio. “I look for a good composition and strong focus when choosing my base photos. I begin to analyze them and, when editing, I really begin to love the images.”
If your portfolio is online, keep the layout simple. Clean, neutral tones work best and don’t clash with the colors in your work. The way your website is set up should highlight your work — not distract from it. If you are looking to make an online portfolio, there are many different website hosting sites — including SCAD’s own Webspace Portal in MySCAD.
Second-year photography student Sarah Kopkin said this when asked how she strengthens her portfolio — “I believe the best way to grow and improve yourself is to get many peoples’ opinions. Let them critique you and learn from their opinions.”
If you are having trouble compiling your portfolio, ask your professors for help. They can help you select your best work or critique your current portfolio. You can also make an appointment with your career success advisor to learn the basics of building a portfolio.
