Putting together my first portfolio.

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As the end of my first year at AIB draws to a close i have decided to start to put together my first professional portfolio 'book' . Having met and worked with a diverse range of industry professionals over the past 12 months, Ive come to realize that while websites are the first port of call for anyone wishing to research a specific photographers work, a printed portfolio is still the only way to take that next step and present yourself as a bookable professional photographer, especially within the commercial sector.

Bearing this in mind have spent the past few months collecting as much advice and information about the best way to put together my portfolio. AIB has been fantastic in this regard providing great advice and support as well as bringing in a broad range of leading industry professionals such to give advice on how to put together a great 'book'. We've met art buyers agents, photographers and creative directors including notable talks from the likes of fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø, photo agent Mark George, Art Director Alex Jenkins and ex Magnum creative manager Jessica Crombie.

Having gathered as much advice as I can here is a rather lengthy list of do's and dont's when looking to purchase your first portfolio.

• Your best image should be your first image, open with a bang.

• Your 2nd best image should be your last image, make sure they remember you.

• Buy a folio that matches the majority orientation of your work: If all your work is landscape, get a landscape folio etc...

• All images should be mounted in the same orientation- whether your images are landscape or portrait you shouldn't have to turn the book round to view them, your book should be as easy to view as possible with the minimum amount of fuss.
  

• Your book is a workhorse not a precious work of art, it should be sturdy enough to take a lot of wear and tear without looking messy and be easy to dust off.
  

• Don't go for a cheap ring binder folio, remember your folio is a reflection of your professionalism and quality, the better it looks, the better you look. Fixed screw post books are generally considered top of the line.

• Aim for at least 15-20 great images.

• Don't put include sub-par work simply to pad out your book, quality is always more important than quantity. That said less than 10-15 images is a little on the thin side even as a student.
  

• Print big, the bigger your prints the better they will look. 14 x 11 inches is the industry standard book size although many now prefer A3 given that the cost and quality of inkjet printing has dropped significantly in recent years.

• If you are going to present your prints in protective sleeves avoid textured materials such as PVC vinyl, textured sleeves will tend to distort the print quality of your work. Try to use Polyester acetate or Polypropylene sleeves, both are great choices although Polyester has slightly better transparency and fade resistance ( as well as being slightly more expensive).

• Get a book that is easy to update and expand, its likely that as your progress as a student your will want to show more and more work. Also, each client is different and you may need to quickly edit your images to maximise your appeal. Fixed sleeve folios should be avoided for this reason.

• Choose your portfolio colour and finish carefully, the majority of books are black in a leather or leatherette material. This is a classic design and looks and feels very professional; it also blends in alongside every other book from every other photographer a client is considering. Try to stand out with a coloured book or book accents that echo your branding or photographic style. Leather books are considerably more expensive than other material choices although several alternative materials exist at a fraction of the price.

• Put your name on the cover, blind embossing on leather materials or laser etching on metal are both great options providing a fantastic level of finish and are widely available as options from most manufacturers.

• Invest in the future, portfolios can be expensive items to purchase, with custom leather books often running into the hundreds of pounds (sometimes thousands). Don't be put off by the initial expense, A quality book will be with you for years and will ensure that your work is presented in the best possible light. By the same token don't go overboard, remember that your book is a workhorse to be used not fawned over.

With this lot in mind I ventured online in search of my perfect book. Several UK sources presented themselves:

House of Portfolios- US manufacturer providing a wide range of folios and a variety of colours at competitive rates ( be sure to check exchange rates).
Silver Print- Limited range but provides a great starter books.
Plastic Sandwich- Known for their signature one piece leather books, expensive but the quality speaks for itself.
Portfolio Plus- The online face of Cowling & Wilcox Art Stores. Wide range of folios covering in a range of styles and finishes including a selection of metal and acrylic folios from Pina Zangario.
The Wyvern Bindery- unique bespoke service, perhaps out of the price range of most students.

I hope these resources are of benefit to students in a similar position to my own, watch this space to see what I decided to go with.