The Importance of Portfolio Reviews
© Larry Padgett, PhotoBizGuru.com

Portfolio reviews provide you with dispassionate, objective commentary and critique of your work. Reviews offer you insight that is very difficult to obtain by personal observation.

Who should review your work?
There are many very qualified people who can provide constructive feedback. Here are a few filters you may wish to consider when selecting reviewers:

Are they actively in the photography business in a capacity that keeps them current with the trends and markets?

What are their preferences for styles of work? If your work is mostly architectural and the reviewer has little experience or interest in this genre, you will be better served to look for another reviewer.

What is their reputation for providing constructive criticism? Unfortunately, there are a few reviewers who lack tact and sensitivity in the process. Don’t hesitate to ask for references and talk to others who have been reviewed by the person you are considering.

What should you do to prepare for a review?
First, decide how many portfolios representing significantly different styles of work you wish to have reviewed. Three portfolios is typically the practical limit for one review session, if time allows.

Edit each portfolio of work to between 15 and 20 pieces of your very best work. This is the time to show only your A+ work. Otherwise, the reviewer’s impressions of your capabilities will be somewhat skewed by the different qualities they view.

Print all your work to professional, exhibition quality, at 11x14 or larger format. Allow for a 2 to 3-inch white border for handling of the prints.

Prepare to present your work out of any protective sleeves or coverings. You want your work to be viewed without any distractions, such glare and reflections. If you transport your work in protective envelopes, remove them before you meet with the reviewer.

Prepare a 2 to 3-minute introduction to each portfolio. You are there to hear what the reviewer has to say about your work. Very few reviewers are interested in hearing on-going commentaries as they look at your images. If they have questions, and they should, they will ask.

Prepare a leave behind, a CD with an image from your portfolio on the surface, 4x6 cards with mini artist’s statement, business card, or print.

If your review session is outside of a conference setting, ask the reviewer for his or her preferences.

Reviews can also be done online or by sending your images to the reviewer. Check with the reviewer to determine how they would like you to prepare your images.

When I conduct reviews, I look for continuity within the body of work, the quality of your prints and how compelling the images are, both singularly and within the body of work. Then we talk about how adjustments will strengthen your presentation and better appeal to you markets.

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Larry Padgett founded The Center for Fine Art Photography and now provides business, marketing and sales consulting for commercial and fine art photographers. For more information, visit PhotoBizGuru.com or email larry@photobizguru.com.