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How to Make the Best Portfolio

Portfolios are an important part of any artist's work life. A portfolio is used to exhibit an artist's best work in a concise manner. A good portfolio will display the artist's talent in the most flattering way. If a portfolio is made poorly, it can make an artist appear unprofessional. The image and selection of the images will play a major role in making the best artist's portfolio possible. Because portfolios are generally used as a means to represent the artist professionally, many choose to have their portfolios put together by an expert; however, knowing a few tips can make it possible to assemble your own high-quality portfolio.

Things You'll Need

  • Photographs of your work
  • Blank portfolio book
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take photographs of your work. They need to be high-quality images that are taken in well-lit areas so that the colors, textures and dimensions are clearly visible. The photographs should display the works exactly as they appear in person. If you cannot produce professional-looking photographs yourself, enlist a friend or professional who can help you.

    • 2

      Sort the photographs of your work into three categories: excellent, good and unusable. Be very stringent on the photographs that get accepted into the excellent category. These are the photographs that will be used in your portfolio and they need to be the very best images you have. Also, be choosy when deciding between the good and the bad photos as well. Look at them with an unbiased and critical eye. Solicit the advice of an outsider if needed.

    • 3

      Select the 20 best photographs you have sorted. Use photographs from the excellent category first. Only after you have depleted the excellent photographs should you begin to select photographs from the good pile. Never use photographs from the unusable category. If you do not have enough excellent and good photographs, take more photos until you have a usable amount.

    • 4

      Write a descriptive "About the Artist" page. Include basic information about yourself. This is a great place to mention any awards you may have won, your education, as well as your inspirations. Include a good-quality portrait of yourself. Add your contact information including your email address, telephone number, links to your social networking accounts and your website. Proofread and edit the paragraphs as necessary.

    • 5

      Place the "About the Author" in the first page of your portfolio book. Use the following pages for you photographs. Give each photograph of your work its own page. Place the descriptive artist statement directly beneath each photograph.

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