DAY 357

FASHION & BEAUTY

Your Book, Your Future

THE PORTFOLIO BOOK PRESENTATION

Despite our presence in the digital age, a print book still stands supreme. In addition to a website, a well-executed presentation in book form is a must for all photographers. A book consisting of prints from a lab or photo printer is more true to color, detail, and density than images online since most screens display at 72 dpi.

The art buyers and photo editors who work in print media value printed photographs in a book that one can hold and experience. Traditional books that display images in separate pages allow for the switching and updating of your book. This is the best format for beginning photographers. One-off print books have become affordable and offer high quality, with various size options and bindings.

Go with the biggest presentation size that best fits your needs. If you want something handy to travel with and less expensive to send out in the mail, an 8 × 10-inch book is an appropriate choice, whereas 11 × 14 inches is typically the large end of the spectrum.

Resist the urge to fill up a book just to make it thicker. Ideally, 30 images should illustrate your unique style and comprise a standard professional portfolio. As a novice, set your goal at 20 images so you can start getting feedback and in the habit of talking about your work.

A book should represent the personal style of a photographer without the presentation competing with the images. You only have one chance for a good first impression so make it count. —MR