Want to learn how to create a photography portfolio? This may be more challenging than actually creating your photos because you have to do something that most creative people don't want to do.

You have to kill your darlings.

Why Should You Create a Photography Portfolio?

Maybe you're not into photography for the money. It's a hobby you enjoy, but you're a serious enthusiast. Do you really need a photography portfolio?

Yes.

If you're in business as a photographer, this is a no-brainer. You need to earn business, and potential clients want to know more about your vision and artistic capabilities.

You need a photography portfolio.

Your portfolio tells the world what you can do as an artist. It isn't just about earning business. It's about earning the business that you want to do, rather than doing the work you have to do just to make ends meet.

A photography portfolio can open doors, even if you aren't in business. Having a good photography portfolio demonstrates that you're a cut above the other hacks with a camera.

Your portfolio makes a statement about you.

Photography isn't just about snapshots. You're achieving results and you want to share those results with your clients, peers and subjects.

Having a photography portfolio can open doors for you. When you show someone what you can do, they take you seriously. Even if your work or style isn't right for a potential client or trade, they may still refer you to someone else if your work fits a need.

Just going through the process of creating a photography profile teaches you a lot more about your own work, and about the audience that wants to see it.

What is a Photography Portfolio?

On the surface, the answer is obvious. A photography portfolio is a collection of photos.

As you start working on your own portfolio, you realize that there is as much of a craft to creating your photography portfolio as there is to creating your images. You're still telling a story, but now you have to include new elements to tell the story.

Do You Understand Your Audience?

If you're like most of the photographers that I know, you may have a passion for more than one genre. Portraiture is my favorite photography genre, but I also love travel photography.

As it happens, my travel photography earns much more than my portrait photography.

That means I have two audiences, and I need more than one photography portfolio. If you visit my portfolio, the first thing you'll see are my portraits. You can use the left/right arrows to scroll through them.

Press the down arrow and you'll find my travel photography portfolio.

So why do I have two photography portfolios if my money comes from travel photography?

It's because I enjoy portraiture and want to continue creating more portraits. Having the portrait portfolio gives me a tool I can use with potential subjects to show them what I can do, and it's very helpful when I want to collaborate with someone on a new portrait session.

Your portfolio is a tool for persuasion, whether you want money or collaboration.

Choose a Theme for Your Photography Portfolio

A photography portfolio isn't just a collection of your best work. It needs to convince someone that you can do the kind of work they need. In essence, your portfolio is a resume.

Just as you create a different resume tailored to the job you want, you craft your portfolio for the kind of work that you want to get.

Ultimately, you may end up creating a portfolio many times as a means of persuading your way into a photo session.

Just as you create a different resume tailored to the job you want, you craft your portfolio for the kind of work that you want to get.