Transform Your Business with a Powerful and Stunning Portfolio
Learn How to Build a Portfolio That Attracts the Kind of Clients You Want
When I started on this journey of a life in the creative arts, I had a Nikon camera, a 43-86 zoom lens, a flash, and a tripod.
I had been taking photos whenever I had the chance and was totally obsessed with being a professional photographer.
I photographed landscapes, girls, architecture, girls, still life, interiors, girls, and whatever and whoever I could get in front of my lens. I shot a lot of girls because, well, it was 50 years ago, and it was a good icebreaker.
I built a darkroom in my second bedroom. I obsessed over this lens and that camera and the coolest lights.
And one day my neighbor mentioned he was an art director.
I thought that was cool, but I didn’t know what that meant, so I had to ask around.
I found out that not only was he an art director at a local ad agency, but he was also a very highly regarded art director in town.
And he was my neighbor.
One afternoon at the pool, I asked him if he would take a look at my photography portfolio and let me know how great I was. (I was a cocky, somewhat arrogant young guy who drove sports cars and sailed catamarans, so I was pretty sure he was gonna just LOVE my work.)
I went back to my condo and grabbed the portfolio to bring back for my first-ever portfolio review by an art director.
I was pretty excited.
I had about three dozen prints in an envelope and some slides in plastic pages.
Yeah, man, I was rocking the portfolio of a moron.
He simply stared at me. His eyes got very wide, and he kept staring at me and the poorly printed photos of every damn different thing you could imagine.
And twenty slides in a slide page that ranged from a lion at the zoo to some iced tea glasses in the bright, glaring sun.
I sat down quickly and awaited the praise I knew would be coming my way.
What happened was more like a ton of bricks landing square on my head.
For nine full days, we sat there as he went ballistic on my naivete, my wasted efforts, and my impossible, nearly biblical terribleness.
OK, it wasn’t really nine days.
But it sure as hell felt like it.
I learned a lot that afternoon.
Structure.
Image quality.
Style.
Progression.
Flow.
Genre.
And most of all, the power of presentation.
I left stunned, dejected, and a bit less arrogant. OK, a lot less arrogant.
I had to decide if I was going to make images and be a photographer or keep making images just as a hobby.
I left town the following week for a 12-week gig on the road with my band. I hated being on the road, so I started making notes about my work, and remembering what he had said about the work.
I would spend hours in the Brick Googles (libraries) looking up and reading everything I could about photography, professionalism, and how to approach a career behind the lens.
And I made photographs. But this time I had a plan. I had read about Eisenstadt, Weston, Fusco, and Stern.
And I built a new portfolio every couple of months. They progressed from stupid ugly to not that ugly to kind of good (if you squinted), but I kept on doing it.
Ten years later, that art director and I shot a set of ads for Volvo, and he didn’t yell at me once that week.
About ten years after that, I owned an ad agency and was the creative director, overseeing a staff of creative professionals.
And I had photographers wanting to bring their work to me in the hopes of getting a job.
I have seen jaw-droppingly terrible portfolios, and I have been left aghast at great ones. I have seen missed opportunities, and along my own journey, I have made every mistake in the book. Hell, I probably made some that didn’t exist before.
But I now know how to put together a good portfolio, and how to develop a system to do that again and again and again.
And that’s the key: the system.
A system removes randomness. It keeps the flow going. A good system is like a secret superweapon that focuses on the work, instead of the lofty goal. Oh, the goal remains, but we look at the work, invest in the work, focus on the work… and the goal arrives almost without us knowing.
I am running the 30-Day Portfolio Slam again, starting in mid-April.
And you should be there.
Here’s my pitch…
Are you a photographer looking to showcase your talent and boost your career opportunities? As a professional mentor and art director with over 50 years of experience, I've seen many talented photographers struggle to find their place in the competitive world of photography.
I understand the importance of having an impressive portfolio to stand out in the industry. That's why I created the "30-Day Portfolio Slam," a comprehensive course to help photographers like you build an eye-catching portfolio in just 30 days.
As your instructor, I bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. My system has a proven track record of creating working photographers. I'll be sharing my insights, tips, and tricks to help you create a portfolio that makes a lasting impression on art directors, graphic designers, and magazine editors.
Whatever Portfolio You Need to Build
Perhaps you want to add a beverage tab to your website, or food, or a new approach to product work, that is a new portfolio. And it is better to get it done quickly, adding and modifying it later as you get gigs.
Joe Cosentino wanted to build a portfolio of coffee images for a group of businesses he was targeting. Dan Splaine needed to add an industrial tab to his portfolio. Ken Lamb was looking to do more kitchenware stuff, so that is where he focused his project. All of these portfolios were created in the last Portfolio Slam, and there are others to share as well. Like Jennifer Arce’s Beverage portfolio.
The 30-Day Portfolio Slam focuses on the system that works: Ideation, planning, execution, and editing. In other words, we decide what we want to do, we plan it as carefully as we can, we execute with fervor, and we edit with deliberate intention.
A powerful portfolio is your ticket to success in the photography industry. The 30-Day Portfolio Slam will teach you how to curate your best work and present it in a way that grabs attention. You'll learn how to choose the right images, create a cohesive and compelling narrative, and make your portfolio stand out among the competition.
Throughout the course, I'll provide personalized feedback on your work to help you refine your skills and grow as a photographer. We have small class sizes and the one-on-one attention ensures that you get the guidance and support you need to create a portfolio you're proud to show… to anyone.
Previous participants of the 30-Day Portfolio Slam have seen more success in their careers and are thrilled with the results. By enrolling in the course, you'll become part of a community of like-minded photographers who are passionate about their craft and eager to support each other on their journey to success. Our community is a super cool area to hang in, and is the best community on Facebook, hands down.
The 30-Day Portfolio Slam is more than just a course; it's an investment in your future as a photographer. With my guidance, expertise, and system, you'll build a stunning portfolio that showcases your unique vision. Don't miss out on this chance to transform your photography career – sign up for the 30-Day Portfolio Slam today!
I never want to slam your inboxes with selly-sell stuff, but in this noisy world, I have come to realize that I have to let people know what I am doing more than once. I promise to always provide value in return for your trust and patience.