Traditionally, a photographer’s portfolio has been one of the most important assets for presenting work to galleries and potential clients. With so much work being done digitally these days, is it really necessary to maintain a print portfolio? Or can you get the same impact from a digital one? Like so many things, the answer is “it depends.”
Many galleries still want to see a traditional print portfolio with your work presented in 11 x 14 or 16 x 20 in. format (8.5 x 11 is another option, but in my experience the larger sizes have more impact and help your work stand out to the buyer or editor). Whether you use a book like the Itoya Art Portfolio from Light Impressions, or a portfolio box, the tactile pleasure of being able to physically handle a print and feel the substance and texture of your selected media can add that “wow” factor that you need to get in the door.
For many other uses, a digital portfolio will get your work in front of many more eyes than traditional methods would. And, with so much competition out there, the more views you get the better your odds are. For this type of presentation, the obvious choice is a website to which you can direct your prospects to view. While this is a good general way to have your work seen, I also use a portable digital album. I’ve found that the Portable Digital Photo Album from Digital Foci is a great way to present images while still giving your portfolio a professional look. The digital frame lets a gallery or client see your images as they might look if they were printed and displayed on backlit film. This type of presentation can help your work stand out from the crowd.
The bottom line is that at this point in time, there isn’t a single best way to present your work. Print, digital, and web portfolios all have their place and are the right choice in certain instances. Just as I wouldn’t go to a fine-art gallery and present my black-and-white work in digital-only format, I wouldn’t expect a client interested in stock or wedding photography to see only prints. Buyers of stock images or wedding photography are likely to be interested in using the work digitally, either exclusively or in tandem with prints, so it’s important to give them a preview of the options they’re looking for.
