Melissa Rodwell’s exclusive step-by-step video tutorial on how to showcase your Photography Portfolio and the importance of Branding, Presentation, and Promotional Materials.
Presentation and Portfolios from Melissa Rodwell on Vimeo.
55 Responses to “Presentation and Portfolios”
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Thanks Mellissa. its a real good lesson
and new thing for Sri Lankn models and photographers
Such a beautiful book… the 11×14 size really makes them pop!
I just couldn’t stop ooh-ing and ahhh-ing as you were turning the pages…
~love~
Thanks again for sharing Melissa!
=)
Nice that you add what you like and don´t like about some of them.
Always glad to find out there is a new post on your blog!
hi Melissa!
Nice work
it was a good lesson…
Thanks for sharing!
Photographers and agents – we’ll always disagree but at the end of the day they’re objective and we’re more subjective. I suppose you don’t buy a dog then bark yourself. I do like the acrylic portfolios but have to say they look more like a weapon than the traditional type and that in itself leaves a mixed message with the client.
As ever, thanks for sharing.
So Helpful! Thank you! FAB work
Thank you for sharing. As always the information you share is invaluable. Thanks again =)
Thank’s Mellissa. Great portfolios !
and I would like to see it with a first photo on B&W print, showing one of your favorite model with silver jewels … hanging from a silver chain ?? no, the chain perhaps it’s too much !! 
) but … i’ll try that !! 
I like the “Case Envy” one ! metal and “glass” … ouiiiii !
What kind of paper do you use?
Hi P,
I use Epson Premium Photo Paper Glossy 11×14… Only reason for this is that I have the epson R2880 Printer
M
Hi Melissa, i only could watch half of the video and it kept bugging ! really want to finish it tho cause the info you are giving are GOLD !! Love your work and i have to say that it’s an impressive portfolio !!
i have one question ! do you retouch your photo by your self or you have people taking care of it ?
Ditto with impressive portfolio, and thanks for sharing a lot of useful information. By the way, from what I saw in your portfolio your photos are very sensuous and very flattering to your models. A nice standard to aspire too!
A
As always amazing work on the video’s and you already know I am a big fan..
-Rome
Hi Melissa,
I’ve watched your tutorial, and you’ve given lots of useful information to me!
Next few weeks I’ll let a friend create some business cards to handover after a shoot or on events.
Now it’s time to make a physical portfolio, and your tips are valuable to me.
Kindest regards from The Netherlands,
Niels
Thanks Melissa!! That was very helpful!
Very useful and interesting. Thanks again.
The Epson 2880 is a very good printer. It’s also great that it has the advanced B&W mode. Ahh, B&W’s without that color tint (unless you want to add one). Ultrachrome inks are a plus as well. Keep up the great work Melissa!
Thank you, very nice tutorial!
Thank you for the tutorial. I liked the film very much!
Oh no, I wonder why I can’t get it to work past 1:41? Maybe I need to try again later.
Melissa,
Thank you so much for your blog and now the videos. I’ve really learned a lot from both and enjoy them immensely. I’ve been thinking about my portofolios and updating them. This video was so timely.
cheers,
Mike King
A nice informative rundown of your portfolio with a few gems of information there about the way you went.
I must say the glass and the glossy portfolio’s didn’t really appeal to me either. Sure it’s nice to hold something different in your hands every once in a while but I’m more for practicallity. (I probably don’t sit to well in the ‘fashion’ industry in that sence)
thanks for posting another vid melissa…always interesting and informative to hear and see what those with knowledge have to say and show.
i’ve never seen any of those non-leather portfolios before, they seem kind of like something i would’ve thought ‘cool’ to build in shop class back in high school…something shiny and different, but not necessarily all that functional. i guess some people like them. personally i’ve just started thinking of putting my own together, and it’d definitely be the soft tactile feel of something leather.
one other thing i did enjoy in an odd way was seeing how meticulous you were when flipping through your book…wiping off what i’m guessing was dust or lint off pages as you turned
looking forward to the next vid. thanks again. cheers.
Thanks for noticing, Roger! Yeah, it’s like my baby! Always taking care of it!
you are my IDOL! Thanks for the great advice! I can’t wait until I have 48 images I am proud of…
This is good stuff. I enjoyed your walk-through and the information I learned. 5.5×8.5…. didn’t even know that. I’ll be back to view this again as well as your site. I found the site via twitter as you followed me.
Great explication. Thank you Melissa.
From Portugal you admirer.
Great Blog!
I linked to your Site and your Video!
http://www.photovideotuts.com/2009/04/presentation-and-portfolios/
Keep up the good work!
All the best,
Tom
Thanks for Sharing Melissa
interesting and very informative! it really helps to learn from a pro as to how to do small little things that puts you in a very different league!
thank you
Vineeth
I just purchased an 11×14 portfolio to print some of my work just to have this throwback kind of feel… an actual physical tangible portfolio. With everyone having a website, it is pretty important to show that the images you shoot can look good at that size and not just everyone’s monitor resolution… my 2 cents.
thanks for the insight again.
AGDM
[...] http://fashionphotographyblog.com/2009/03/presentation-and-portfolios/ [...]
A lot of great info! TFS!
I like this vid you can pick up even the smallest detail about your portfolio. Which comes like a ring to my finger since i was just working on building up mine, one of the things i didn’t have in mind that i’m gonna consider is the 2 page printed photos.
Wish me luck cause i’m gonna show off my portfolio in about 2 weeks, i’m gonna try for an intership, would have tried L.A. but you are too far.
Thanks a lot Melissa for this sharing. Great inspiration on preparing to promote ourselves. Thanks a lot
Melissa… I just want to tell you how much I have enjoyed your videos. Your generosity is so appreciated! I have a question… your portfolio is 11″x14″ and you shoot 3:2… all but a few photographs were cropped 11×14. Is this something that you are accounting for on-camera?
I have thought about getting a focussing screen that has crop lines at 8×10 as my eye has not yet learned exactly where they fall.
Would really appreciate your thoughts on this.
Thank you!
Charles
Melissa,
This information is great! Thanks for sharing! Reading your newsletter I noticed we both have issues with pricing. My question to you is: Is there any website, book or else -THAT IS CURRENT- where I can find guidelines and or advice on this portion of the business? I never know how much to charge simply because every situation is different, so are the clients. I am emerging photographer. I decided I will go ful time on photography
Your advice would be be great!
Thanks!
Paulina
Thank you Melissa.
What an awesome post. As a young photographer trying to define my stlye and learn as much as I can about myself and about the business, it is so refreshing to see you post a video blog with some much USEFUL… REAL WORLD information.
Thanks a bunch!!
Tom
Invaluable info! Thank you for sharing and posting a great informative blog
Great information…..Thanks!
Thank you for the info. Especially about the portfolio recomendation. Really great work.
Hi Melissa,
What happens if you dont have an agency – is it easy to get work?
BTW i am a massive fan of your work and look forward to your writing about it!
fc
Hi Melissa,
Very thanks you for sharing:D
Hi Melissa,
I know this is quite an old post and you probably won’t see this, but worth a try.
I am about to buy a similar leather portfolio, but nothing I’ve seen lets the pages fall completely flat the way yours does. I am pretty sure I looked at exactly the same book from the House of Portfolios here in London, but all the pages seem to curve a lot and don’t really go flat, which is a bit annoying for viewing and a big inconvenience when it comes to lay out landscape pictures in a double spread.
Is it the way you trim the photographs that makes the browsing so seamless? By not having the picture fully to the edge, the plastic bends better? Do you also need to trim the inside black cardboard?
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and share with us.
Rock on,
Diego
Thanks so much for sharing this. Your work is just amazing.
Hi Melissa,
thank you sooo much for sharing your knowledge!
It’s portfolio time for me as well, and so I have a question..
I have quite allot of landscape format photos, more than portrait actually, and I am or sure about cutting them in half for double spread because the majority of the portfolio would be like that.
What do you recommend?
Shall I get a landscape portfolio and have the portraits in smaller size to fit the landscape format?
Or shall I print everything in the same size ad force the viewer to turn the portfolio as they look? (not sure about this one)
Thanks allot for your advise!!
Annalisa
Great lesson!
It is a very important step for anyone is to start in the world of professional photography!
Thank …
Thank you very much for your advice. Grateful for giving valuable information about the dos’ and donts’ of photography business especially … the portfolio
Glad I came across this. I was worried about image ratios not being the same throughout but as long as it is not themed I don’t see no reason not to mix now. Explained really well thank you. The business cards look fantastic also so commends to your husband as well! Money spent in this material shows for itself.
Thank you soooo much for the video. Really useful for me especially as someone who’s building up portfolio.
I wonder if 11×14 is the only accepted size for agents/clients in fashion photography world?
Melissa, Thank you so much for sharing this. My wife and I have been struggling with this exact subject of the portfolio and you’ve answered at least our first ten questions!
Thank for sharing and being such a wonderful guide!
Tim
Thank you for this very instructional video. I appreciate the time you take to offer advice to those of us just getting started.
[...] PREPARING PORTFOLIOSDo you know how many times I’ve applied for a campaign, exhibit, project or gig and had the client ask me for my resume after seeing my portfolio? Zero, ziltch, zip. Our portfolio is our resume. To help you prepare your “resume” here is an interesting post by Douglas Sonders about producing a professional looking print portfolio. And if you crave more than that, watch Melissa’s video on Presentation and Portfolios. [...]
[...] zu präsentieren, kontaktieren Sie mich bitte. Die Fotografin Melissa Rodwell erläutert in diesem Video nochmals die Vorteile eines solchen Portfolios. [...]