NOTE: If I sent you here to answer the three questions, you might want to go here instead. Really. Stop reading.
I warned you.
This page will be updated continually. I have created three questions (some call it 8) that can be answered by advanced professional photographers and talented beginners. (some say these questions cannot be answered.) Most professionals already know how to market themselves and probably know their audience. Many younger photographers probably understand how to use new technology, but they have not found their voice or audience.
I want the three questions to be useful to every respondent, so that we can explore if the photography portfolio is still useful. Is the portfolio still the gold standard?
Last March, I created a Writers' Project. I interviewed writers and photographers and explored how people overcame writer's block. I met many wonderful people; I learned about their writing strategies. I shared their work with others.
This year, I am creating a photo based project. I am going to ask photographers three basic questions:
1. How do you organize your portfolio?
2. Has social media changed how you organize your portfolio? Do you have more than one portfolio? Do you create online albums or galleries? Are your galleries similar to portolios?
3. Does your portfolio represent your unique style and vision, or do you feel there are better outlets for promotion? With all the socail media applications, how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd?
There are several reasons I want to ask these questions. First, I enjoy meeting people and sharing work. I also struggle with these questions, just as I struggled with writer's block. I know I will learn from the other photographers. The more I learn, the more I will be able to help others.
For several years, I have taught photo journalism students how to create, organize and market their photography portfolios. At least two times a year, Mark Murray and I teach at JEA National Conventions. In April, Jim McNay will join us. (Jim helped me create the session when I still worked at Brooks Institute.)
When Mark and I first taught the session, we instructed students about the importance of a clean matte board... much has changed in a short time.