Setting forth on the journey of creating an impactful photography portfolio starts with creating a story. It is no secret that a reliable method for crafting a persuasive and beautiful portfolio is having stories to showcase and share with clients. Storytelling allows photographers to bring to life the projects they have worked and showcase their unique style, which can be easily forgotten and overshadowed by the technical aspects of the finished product.
In today’s market, photographers have to stand out in order to find success. There are endless images available on the web, and a variety of places to showcase your work. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on you as the photographer, and how you can create an impactful portfolio that will help you build your personal brand.
First and foremost, let’s address the importance of storytelling. Storytelling is unique for each photographer and can continuously evolve. It can be as simple as creating a narrative of the locations of shoots as well as the jobs you’ve completed. For example, if you take photographs for a wedding, you might document the candid moments experienced between the bride and groom.
Storytelling is also about relations and partnerships. If you have a business partner, have stories to tell about your collaboration. Showcase the products you have worked on together, where you’ve filmed, and any special projects you’ve taken part in.
Storytelling also adds a sense of history to your photos. It helps to provide background information that adds an emotional connection to the viewer, further enriching the piece and creating an impactful experience. This can be as simple as adding a description of when and why the photograph was taken.
Now that we have explored the overall importance of storytelling, let’s talk about the different types of storytelling you can use in your portfolio.
1. Personal Narrative – Using your past experiences and locations to create a narrative that is appealing to viewers and adds an emotional quality to your photographs.
2. Showcase – Showcasing different products you’ve created or projects you’ve taken part in.
3. Series – Telling a story through a series of photographs, starting from an idea and developing it into a long-story.
4. Environmental – Capturing the natural settings and textures of a particular place or a series of places.
Now that we’ve addressed the different types of storytelling, let’s take a look at how you can implement these techniques into your portfolio.
1. Patience is key – Take your time to capture each scene, each emotion, each atmosphere carefully. Be thorough, be creative, and take responsibility to make each photo tell a story.
2. Details – Capture the minutiae of the locations, the products and the people you are learning from or photographing. The small details can make the difference in creating an impactful photo.
3. Setting – Consider the setting of each photograph carefully. Each photograph should be taken in a manner that reflects the story you are trying to tell. Is the shot taken in a studio? A forest? An office? Each of these settings will create a different atmosphere, and should form a part of your narrative.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for creating impactful portfolios. It allows photographers to present and share projects with clients in a meaningful and unique way, showcasing their own style and personality. Taking some time to consider the storytelling aspect of your portfolio will greatly benefit your work and relationships with clients.
