On Tuesday night I had the honor of being a Guest Host on Twitter ( a Chat at #IntDesignerChat), leading a one-hour discussion about Portfolio Design for Interior Designers–and Business Planning, The Importance of Working with a Professional Photographer, and the Slow Down Movement.
We had an International Chat with people tweeting from the United States, Canada, England, Australia, Brazil, Israel, and Italy.
Here are some of the points I made (In 140 characters or less!) about “What’s in Your Portfolio?”
- A picture IS worth 1,000 words
- A portfolio is your calling card
- A portfolio sells your vision & capabilities
- Be organized in your portfolio & presentation
- A portfolio is 1 of the most important things you can accomplish
- What market are you trying to reach
- A clear understanding of target market helps determine images & info
- Your graphic identity/branding must be clear & simple
- Dont forget contact info
- Different portfolios for different projects
- Ask yourself what images do I want to show
- Are there images I want to leave out
- What kind of response do I want
- please/surprise/challenge
- Portfolios can be used to show results of designs;present work up to a time point
- Portfolios can be project oriented
- Portfolios can be time oriented
- Portfolios can be room oriented
- Also different portfolios for different target markets
- Top designers use KOLO presentation portfolios
- Consider: Designer Statement, title list, representative cover image
- Viewers get tired/bored seeing too many images
- Consider 12–25 images
- Before & After
- Close-ups, wide-angels, details
- Choose images that best show what you were trying to accmplish
- Get feedback from the photographer & other professionals
After 15 minutes discussing “What’s In Your Portfolio,” we moved on to “The Importance of Working with a Professional Photographer.” I will save my thoughts on this for another post.
Here’s an online portfolio of an Interior Designer’s Garden.
Here’s an online portfolio of a beautiful pond.
Here’s an online portfolio called The Eyes Have It.
What’s in your portfolio?
If you would like to fill your home with beautiful photographs, or need a portrait, a wedding photographed or if you are an interior designer and need photographs of your projects, contact me for a consultation.
Drawing on that degree in Art History, a passion for telling stories, and years working as a portrait and documentary photographer (And owning an Art Gallery) helps me bring a heightened sensitivity to my photography. Let’s make the world a more beautiful place!
Leave a Reply