One of the most important things that we (photographers) have in our arsenal is our portfolio. They’re incredibly valuable to show potential clients what you’re capable of shooting and what your style is like! I try to be super selective about the types of photos I put on my website (I have the HARDEST time narrowing them down!), but what if you’re brand new to photography and don’t have anything yet?
Here are three things you can do to start building up your portfolio!
- Second, or even third, shoot // Second shooting is a great way to not only get experience but to have a few photos (depending on the terms the lead photographer has put forth) that you can add to your portfolio. My first year of shooting weddings, I actually shot weddings with MY wedding photographer! We were both sort of new to the whole thing and we just traded second shooting, so it didn’t cost us any money when we were starting out. We also let each other use a few images on the websites and blog with the disclaimer that we got those while second shooting, but not on facebook. If you’re really itching to get into weddings, I would suggest offering to be an assistant or a third shooter at no cost to the lead so you can get your feet wet! Second shooting in general, though, is a SUPER great way to get a ton of experience!
- Set up a styled shoot // Now, this isn’t something I’m super skilled at doing, but I know a lot of people do them with great success and at minimal cost. If you know a few people who are able to donate materials in exchange for marketing photos, this allows you to create the kind of setups you want to attract!
- Shoot for free // Way back when, I definitely did a lot of free sessions with my friends and family so that I could keep practicing and honing my skills. These were so critical to my growth as a photographer and business owner! I also used to set a lot of challenges for myself and practice on my own and that also was a great way to add images to my portfolio (these are currently all over my time hop from six years ago, haha)! I should add that when I say shoot for free, I mean that YOU are the one initiating the session, not necessarily meaning that if someone asks you to shoot for free you should do it!
Most of these things only cost your time, but they are really wonderful ways to start adding photos to your blog, website, and social media so you can start attracting those clients!
Linda is a Maine-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com. To sign up for the monthly newsletter full of encouragement and real life, click here!
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