Building Your Portfolio
Your portfolio is your shop window. It’s the very first thing a prospective client looks at when they land on your website, and within seconds, they’ll decide whether you’re the photographer for them.
They already have a rough idea of the style of images they want your job is to make sure what they see aligns perfectly with that vision. That means your portfolio has to do the heavy lifting, showing your best work, clearly and consistently.
Don’t Overcrowd Your Portfolio
One of the biggest mistakes photographers make is overfilling their portfolio. More is not better. In fact, it’s the quickest way to lose a client’s interest. If someone has to scroll through 50+ images, they’ll glaze over before they get to the end and worse, they’ll leave with no clear idea of your style.
Instead, curate. Hand-pick no more than 20–30 absolute standouts that showcase your style at its very best. If you’re tempted to add “filler” shots, stop. Remember: the weakest image in your portfolio sets the tone for the whole set.
“We’ve seen it time and time again — photographers doubling the size of their portfolio in the hope that more images will impress a client. It never does. What impresses is clarity, consistency, and confidence in your best work.” – The Training Barn
Consistency Is Key
A strong portfolio is cohesive. That doesn’t mean every shot has to look identical, but your style should be clear and recognisable. Consistency builds trust: clients know exactly what to expect when they book you.
If your edit swings wildly from light and airy to dark and moody, you’ll confuse your audience. Find your voice and stick with it.
Curating for Clients
The same rules apply when you’re presenting images to a client after a shoot. Resist the urge to show everything. If you’ve taken 10 nearly identical shots, only show 2. Clients don’t want to agonise over which version of the same image is best.
We usually suggest presenting around 120 images, with the aim of selling roughly half through albums, wall art, and framed prints. That’s plenty for variety without overwhelming your client.
Ruthlessly Edit
This might sound obvious, but it’s where many photographers slip up:
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Soft focus? Gone.
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Eyes closed (horse or human)? Gone.
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Awkward ears, odd mouth shapes, or anything distracting? Gone.
If you’re debating whether an image is strong enough, it probably isn’t. Only keep the ones that make you say, yes, that’s the one.
Final Thought
Your portfolio isn’t about showing everything you’ve ever shot — it’s about showing the very best of what you do. Think of it as your highlight reel. Keep it lean, keep it consistent, and keep it exceptional.
👉 Action Step: This week, set aside time to ruthlessly review your portfolio. Remove anything that doesn’t feel like a “hell yes,” and watch how much stronger your body of work feels.
