From the Pros: How to get the perfect portfolio

Photography consultant Jim Colton recently published part 1 of a 3 part series called "The Perfect Portfolio: A Photographer's Guide." Colton was the photography editor of Sports Illustrated and has previously worked for the Associated Press and Newsweek.

He stressed 10 key points to focus on to achieve the ultimate portfolio. The biggest dilemma is creating a portfolio that is marketable and showcases their "photographic soul."



1. Be original. Show creativity in your thought process to be different from everyone else. Colton stresses that "imitation is NOT the sincerest form of flattery."

2. Content is King. Make sure your content is better than anyone elses. Since nobody wants to buy an inferior product, make sure your work reflects you and is your calling card.

3. Editing. “Your portfolio is only as good as your weakest picture!” With that in mind, keep your emotions out of it and only show your best work.

4. Quality. You need to follow the basic rules and make sure all your photos are appropriately exposed, toned, cropped, and captioned.

5. Personal Project or story. This part of the portfolio is key because it shows the photographer can tell a story all the way through with a beginning, middle, and end. Also it shows that the photographer can shoot a subject with variety of lenses and angles.

6. Portraits. Portraits are a key part of a photographers portfolio. If you are good at all portraits, sports, business, daily life, then it will help you land more freelance opportunities. They should be an equal balance of creativity and newsworthiness.

7. Clips. You should have PDF copies of publications that your photo ran in. It shows what editors think of your work and how they play them on a page. A 6 column photo says more than a 1 inch photo that ran the size of a postal stamp.

8. Promo Cards. Promo cards are an underutilized tool when it comes to promoting your work. Cards should have all of your contact information in an easy to read format.

9. Digital vs. Print Products. Both your hard copy portfolio and website need to be equally strong and impactful. They should both easily convey the strength of your work and be able to get you a job.

10. Keep it Current. Your portfolio should always be changing because ideally you should always be producing better work. Don't become emotionally attached to photos and know when it is time to replace one.

David Guttenfelder wins International Center of Photography award

Associated Press photojournalist David Guttenfelder, recipient of the International Center of Photography Infinity Award for Photojournalism.

Today the International Center of Photography awarded David Guttenfelder the winner of the photojournalism category in its 2013 Infinity Awards. Guttenfelder is the Cheif Asia Photographer for the Associated Press. He is most notable for his astonishing photos taken from inside North Korea. He was granted special access and has visited the country over 20 times since 2001. Since there is no information coming from North Korea, Guttenfelder decided to focus on the country to help tell its story. He strives to make photos that show everyday life from the country. He has also been a seven-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

"The very best pictures are the ones you can't describe in words, [you] just hold it up and...woah"

In the video Guttenfelder talks about how he got started and how he documented Afganestan for 10 years after 9/11. He discussed about how certain events, such as documenting family reunions between North and South Korea, changed him as a photographer.

"I saw mothers and sons see one another and just gasp."

Preparing your portfolio

The New York Times photo blog, Lens, recently published a video, seen here, of Santiago Lyon of the Associated Press giving a talk on Preparing Your Portfolio at the New York Portfolio Review. The talk was sponsored by the New York Times and was hosted by CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

Lyon stressed that students need to recognize that your portfolio is your calling card.

He highlighted the four main points he is looking for in a portfolio:

1. Strong News photos, 12-25, maybe 30.  They don't have to from big stories. No matter what you have to prove you can document a fast-moving situation under deadline and keep your cool.

2. Sports. In the US 75% of an AP photographers time is spent shooting sports. There needs to be a solid mix of action, fans, and atmosphere.

3. Standalone feature photos. Try to be original and show your creativity. The goal is to show the ordinary in an unordinary way.

4. Long term feature story. 12-20 photos. This shows the photographer can establish a relationship and tell a story. Find your beginning and end to the story first and them everything else will come together.

You need enough photos to show them what you're capable of doing. You shouldn't have too many for an editor to get bored but not too few to make them think you don't have enough.

Personally the note I found most helpful was to photograph passionately but edit dispassionately. Separate yourself from what you went through to make that photo. You can bring in other people if necessary so you don't become emotionally attached to your photos.

And finally you need to always be on assignment. Even for yourself. Shoot something your interested and keep yourself "visually fit:" You need to be as comfortable using your camera as a musician is using their instrument and constantly producing content.