How To Make A Photography Portfolio Stand Out! 7 Tips

A photography portfolio is your visual resumé, a curated collection showcasing the breadth and depth of your work. It's an essential tool for photographers to display their skills, style, and artistic vision. Whether for digital or print, creating a photography portfolio provides a platform to tell your story through images. 

When building a photography portfolio, don’t just focus on displaying your best shots. Remember to also convey a narrative of your evolution and expertise in photography. Considering where to begin with how to make a photography portfolio might seem daunting, but it's a journey worth embarking on for any serious photographer.

Photography portfolios can take various forms, each unique to the photographer's artistic voice. A digital photography portfolio often exists as an online gallery or a well-designed website. It can also be a physical book or binder showcasing printed images. 

When thinking about how to build a photography portfolio, consider your audience and purpose. Is it for client work, gallery showings, or personal expression? Your portfolio should reflect not only your best work but also the type of photography you want to pursue. Think of it as a curated art exhibit of your finest pieces.

A good rule of thumb is to include 15-25 of your best imagesThe number of photos in a photography portfolio varies, but quality always trumps quantity. A good rule of thumb is to include 15-25 of your best images. In the process of how to make a photography portfolio, this range allows you to demonstrate versatility without overwhelming the viewer. 

Remember, creating a photography portfolio is about showcasing your strengths, so each image should serve a purpose and add value to your portfolio's overall narrative. When thinking about how to put together a photography portfolio, find the right balance to keep the viewer engaged and leave them wanting more.

The first step in how to make a photography portfolio is creating content. At first glance, this advice seems obvious – but when you’re creating a photography portfolio, it’s easy to fall into a rhythm of consuming content in the name of “inspiration”. 

When you spend less time consuming and more time creating, the real magic begins.

If you’re a brand new photographer with barely any photoshoots under your belt, it’s time to begin. We all start somewhere! When making a photography portfolio, create mood boards, dream up your ideal shoot, imagine what you want it to encompass and then start taking photos. Sometimes this may be paid sessions for clients, and other times you may have to style your own shoots until the clients come. Regardless, don’t wait until the perfect opportunities arise. Create the content you want to shoot and you’ll begin attracting the clients you want to create for.

Whether you just got a camera last week or you’ve been a photographer for 20 years, there’s always an opportunity to learn something new. If you’re creating a photography portfolio…become passionate about refining your craft! Sign up for local workshops and online classes, seek out the advice of your favorite photographers, read books, visit art museums, and stay in-tune with the latest photography trends. Investing in your knowledge will only increase your skills as an artist. 

Along these same lines, find a community that can relate to your work and help you learn and grow. It’s so much easier to navigate the world of photography when you have fellow artists to answer questions and encourage your work.

Currently looking for a group of talented photographers and creative professionals? Look no further than REFINED Co. We help you showcase your creativity with presets and editing tools that save time and elevate your look with timeless beauty. Our Facebook Community is filled with 5k+ industry peers that we know you’ll love!

When considering how to make a photography portfolio, receiving feedback and constructive criticism can be painful, but it is well worth the discomfort. To pursue excellence in our work we must be willing to face up to the ways we can be better. Ask former clients and industry peers what they think of your photography and take notes– as artists it is possible to be “too close” to our work so that we can’t see the blind spots that are ultimately holding us back from becoming better. Receive the opinions of others with an open mind, but remember that at the end of the day it is your work. When thinking about how to build a photography portfolio, don’t forget that not everyone will see the world as you do and it’s important that you stay true to your voice. 

Between client communication, scheduling, and editing photos, the logistics of running a photography business can often make building a photography portfolio feel more like a chore than a passion. Burnout isn’t just a buzzword, but rather a real struggle for creative entrepreneurs who make a business out of their photography. But, take heart! Here are a few of our favorite photography portfolio tips to keep the spark alive and avoid burnout. 

If photography is your full-time job, you’ll need to take on shoots to pay the bills– but don’t forget to regularly set aside time to shoot for yourself! By reserving some creative energy for personal work you’ll be able to return to the passion you had for photography when you first started.

It’s a running joke that entrepreneurs quit their 40 hour per week job to work 24/7. The freedom to work whenever and wherever you want is great, until it backfires and you find yourself pulling yet another late night. Implementing boundaries will allow you to create work/life integration, boost productivity when you are working, and avoid burnout. It’s not good to think about work all the time- even if your work is something you love. Make plenty of room in your life for hobbies, loved ones, and time filling your own cup. You’ll be able to come back to making a photography portfolio with fresh eyes and more motivation than before.