I've gotten a few questions lately from photographers about how I select the images I use on my website and blog. I love this question. The images you select for your website portfolio, blog & to send to publications say just as much about you as a photographer as HOW you take those images. You define yourself by the subject matter you choose to photograph and how you photograph it (lighting, perspective, composition) but you define yourself EVEN FURTHER in the image selection process.
What causes you to pick one photo out of a bunch when another photographer would pick a completely different image? Do you ever go through another photographer's blog/website and think, "That image would never have made my cut let alone my portfolio," or "I would never have chosen that image but I see what they were going for and I like it"? Each photographer defines their style not only with their shooting technique and editing but also by which images they select to represent them.
Think for a minute about how you select images for your portfolio.
For me the selection process involves a gut reaction. I don't agonize over it; I just react. While I'm culling each wedding I rate my favorite images (generally 80-100) and those are the ones that make up the slideshow that I link to from the wedding blog post. They're also the very first photos the client sees in their online proofing gallery and the images that form the basis of the album design. While I'm color correcting my favorites I select from them my very favorites that I blog (around 30 images). And after blogging I will grab the very best to post to my website (generally only 3-5 images per wedding). Each decision is a gut reaction. I choose what I love. Over the years I've become increasingly critical of my own work. And I think that's a good thing. The more choosy and critical you are, the better your work appears. Don't water down the images on your website with anything you think is o.k. Just show your very best work.
Also, choose the images YOU like rather than what you think a client would like. If you choose what you like for your portfolio rather than what you think others want to see, you will draw the right client to yourself. At every wedding there are photos I take to please my client. These shots need to be taken. But they don't excite me. You can shoot with your client's needs in mind but when it comes to your portfolio, select for yourself. If you show only images you love on your website and blog you will get clients who like you for YOU and in the end the two (what you chose to present of yourself & what your clients want) will be synonymous.
If you found this tip helpful, click here to find out about other resources I offer photographers!
What causes you to pick one photo out of a bunch when another photographer would pick a completely different image? Do you ever go through another photographer's blog/website and think, "That image would never have made my cut let alone my portfolio," or "I would never have chosen that image but I see what they were going for and I like it"? Each photographer defines their style not only with their shooting technique and editing but also by which images they select to represent them.
Think for a minute about how you select images for your portfolio.
For me the selection process involves a gut reaction. I don't agonize over it; I just react. While I'm culling each wedding I rate my favorite images (generally 80-100) and those are the ones that make up the slideshow that I link to from the wedding blog post. They're also the very first photos the client sees in their online proofing gallery and the images that form the basis of the album design. While I'm color correcting my favorites I select from them my very favorites that I blog (around 30 images). And after blogging I will grab the very best to post to my website (generally only 3-5 images per wedding). Each decision is a gut reaction. I choose what I love. Over the years I've become increasingly critical of my own work. And I think that's a good thing. The more choosy and critical you are, the better your work appears. Don't water down the images on your website with anything you think is o.k. Just show your very best work.
Also, choose the images YOU like rather than what you think a client would like. If you choose what you like for your portfolio rather than what you think others want to see, you will draw the right client to yourself. At every wedding there are photos I take to please my client. These shots need to be taken. But they don't excite me. You can shoot with your client's needs in mind but when it comes to your portfolio, select for yourself. If you show only images you love on your website and blog you will get clients who like you for YOU and in the end the two (what you chose to present of yourself & what your clients want) will be synonymous.
If you found this tip helpful, click here to find out about other resources I offer photographers!
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