How do you organize photographs into a portfolio?

Question

1. Group your photographs into several rounds based on rating. Utilize Adobe Bridge to assign star ratings to your photographs, ranging from no stars to five stars. This systematic approach helps you narrow down your selection in multiple rounds, eliminating lower-rated images and refining your final portfolio.
2. Begin by carefully reviewing each photograph. Pause on each image briefly to assess its content and quality. Pay particular attention to photographs with potential, even if they have flaws, as you may be able to improve them during editing.
3. Use Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) for detailed editing and comparison. Open similar or problematic images in ACR to make quick adjustments, compare them side by side, and select the best one.
4. Pause and compare similar photos to identify the strongest ones. Gather visually similar photographs and review them simultaneously to determine the most impactful and unique image among them.
5. Continue reviewing and refining your selection consistently. Avoid rushing through the process or giving up halfway. Set aside dedicated time each day to review and select images, maintaining a steady pace and a clear goal.
6. Focus on photographs that amaze you. As you approach the final stages of portfolio selection, shift to a more intuitive approach. Concentrate on images that genuinely captivate you and stand out as exceptional.
7. Live with your selected photographs for a period of time. Take a break from reviewing and return to your selection after a few days or weeks. This allows you to gain a fresh perspective and assess the images with a more objective eye.
8. Arrange the photographs in a sequence that complements the narrative. Consider the flow and progression of your portfolio, ensuring that the images complement each other and tell a cohesive story.

Answer 1

Lots of good advice in the previous answer. I would say the main thing in putting together a portfolio is to only include your best work. I've been a creative director for years, and reviewed many portfolios. I pay attention to the least impressive samples in the portfolio, because most likely, that's what I'm going to get if I hire the person for the gig. Especially true for illustration portfolios. Why? Because the best work, often, is for projects you really enjoyed doing, or personal projects. I'm interested in the pieces for projects that you had difficulty with, or weren't thrilled with. How did you do with those? Just been my experience. So cull, cull cull. Keep only the best work. It's still subjective, but think about the creative director looking at lots of portfolios, then seeing yours. Will it stand up?