The importance of a good Portfolio

A massive part of a photographers arsenal is there portfolio. A portfolio practically sums up the photographers body of work. It is one of the main sources a client will look upon in order to see if they are choosing the right person for the job. The portfolio is the main medium in which to show the work you've created. A true portfolio is a collection of your best works, which are categorised, arranged and presented in an organised manner. I have found a website offering some tips in created a good portfolio: 

Know your audience

When making your collection of photos, stop and think about your target audience. Who is going to be looking at these the most? By specifying a certain demographic, you can alter your portfolio to fit their specific interests.

Show only your best
A portfolio is a medium to display your best photos. It shouldn't be a place to vent your emotions, but rather to show off those pictures that are especially well done.

Put them in order
Instead of randomly throwing photos in your portfolio, it's best for your audience if they're in some type of logical order. They can be grouped together by concept, format or even chronologically. It's also best to pay special attention to your first and last photo, as those are most often the most memorable.

The first and last pointers of these three key factors of creating a portfolio were something I hadn't thought about in the past when attempting to create my own portfolio. Knowing your audience is a key part in making a client trust your abilities in the types of photography they are looking for. Also putting the work in order never past my mind before. I thought a portfolio was work placed in a folder for people to view and see whether they like it or not. 

There are two different types of portfolio: Printed or digital. It is important to have both, but in the ever growing world of the internet a digital portfolio can manage to show the world your work which may lead to new clients which would never of viewed it if it was printed.