Portfolio review: 7 best practices
April 20, 2024⏰ 1. 20 min is so short! Make sure you outline your intentions at the beginning so you have 2 sets of eyes on the clock. Keep time for questions!
🎰 2. The most productive reviews are often not the ones you had all your hopes in. You can never predict how someone will respond to your work, or how you’ll click — stay open! People assigned at random can be an incredible surprise.
👐 3. Tailor the work to your audience. A breaking news editor might not want to see the same thing as a gallery owner.
👯♀️ 4. This is about building genuine relationships. All things equal (quality of work and professionalism), an editor will hire you because you’re someone they vibe with. Not everything is about photography — try to make a friend.
💬 5. Mingle with peers. This is your community — the people with who you’ll experience ongoing mutual support, who might think of you for a job they can’t take or for an assist. Who you’ll bounce ideas with for a project. Don’t be competitors. Be collaborators.
💌 6. Follow-up! A thank you e-mail is the bare minimum. Add a picture from your body of work so they remember who you are (the one they liked the most).
💡7. Come in with a pitch! It’s an efficient way to utilize this special 1-on-1 time. You might leave with an assignment in the bag.
Would you add anything to the list?