Rex Photography
How should I start a portfolio?
I am starting a small event photography and videography company doing weddings, bar-mitzvahs, etc. How should I get a portfolio started before I have any gigs?
Public Comments
- If you've taken other photos that you feel are of a high quality and will showcase your talent, use those as your portfolio until you start getting gigs and are able to include actual wedding photos.
- Hi my friend is starting a similar business, so congrats to you too. I suggested to her to get a portfolio together. They should contain your best shots in general, but also contain shots of functions. (since you are wanting to do weddings, bah mitzvah's, etc.) Take your camera to every family or people function you attend. After taking the shots (even if they are family) make sure you tell them they may be in your professional portfolio. Most of the time they don't care, but if someone protests a bit too much, don't include them in (saves you in the log run). Anyway develop your shots they way you would normally, and then if there are a few that REALLY stand out to you. Maybe enlarge them to see how that detail stands out. change it to B&W or Sepia to see how they look. Also play around with photoshop or whatever you use. Skin tones play a MAJOR role in how people like shots. You need to be able to photograph all different ones. Nothing like taking a family shot of darker toned people, where the lighting is too dark, and for some all you see are eyes and teeth (no face). Or vice versa, taking a picture of someone rather pale in the sun, and they look washed out. There are ways to fix it BEFORE it happens (which is easier than trying to recover it AFTER it happens). Action shots are wonderful, give people a chance to see if you can capture the dress moving, but it not look blurry. Other shots - pictures of things you like. Trees, plants, animals...therefore you are adding to your 'photography repertoire' and adding credibility to yourself. Good luck and Have Fun! I just did a quick search and here are four sites I found.
