Learn to edit, organize, and present your best work--and become a
better photographer in the process!
Once a photographer has learned the fundamental techniques of
photography--the basics of exposure, composition, and focus--their work
often improves over the course of a few months or years. The world is
full of wonders to photograph, and photographers can be pulled in many
directions, excitedly chasing the light and the moment. This approach
can certainly yield wonderful photographs, but over time the
photographer's progress often begins to slow, and eventually, it can
stop altogether.
The reason for this is simple: creativity begins with image-making, but
true progress comes with learning to edit and organize your work in ways
that reflect your unique style and perspective, ways that offer you
insight into how you can improve your work moving forward. In short, the
key to becoming the best photographer you can be is to create an ongoing
portfolio (or multiple portfolios) of your work.
Based on an eight-week course taught by renowned photographer and author
William Neill, The Photographer's Portfolio Development Workshop
provides the tools and skills you need in order to create a methodology
that allows you to create a tightly edited portfolio of work, no matter
your end goal: a box of prints, a book, an online presentation or
website, or even a gallery exhibit.
A portfolio is simply a collection of photographs with a consistent
theme and consistent quality. In developing such a body of work, you
will learn what your specific passions are, find focus for your work,
and begin the iterative process of creating better and better
photographs over time. By constantly working within a "feedback
loop"--where you carefully assess and edit your images, note and learn
from mistakes, then go out and create more photographs--you'll develop a
portfolio that is constantly gaining in strength, quality, and impact.
It's no surprise that you'll also become a much better photographer.
No matter the photographic genre you work in, this book will teach you
to objectively assess your work on both technical and aesthetic levels,
establish a personal standard of quality, focus your efforts on new
work, and become a better photographer. The book features eight lessons,
along with assignments at the end of each lesson to propel you and your
work forward. Throughout, Neill uses his own photographs to illustrate
the process he has used for years to create multiple portfolios and
books.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lesson 1: Find Your Focus
Lesson 2: Thinking in Themes
Lesson 3: Editing on a Technical and Aesthetic Level
Lesson 4: Grouping by Quality
Lesson 5: Adding New Work
Lesson 6: Improving Your Portfolio
Lesson 7: Where You Can Go From Here
Lesson 8: Putting It All Together
