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Give Yourself an Honest Portfolio Review

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Over the last year or so, I suspect that I have been asked hundreds of times (thousands?)  to review portfolios of other photographers in my online photography classes, on our Facebook page, and other places.

Portfolio reviews are incredibly important because it allows you to see your work through someone else's eyes who are seeing your work for the first time.  But as I review so many photos, I am constantly brought back to the same 4 or 5 things that most photographers just don't quite realize.

So today, I hope to provide you with the main problems I see in portfolios of other photographers.

I hope that this provides you with perspective that allows you to take a long and honest look at your photos in an effort to improve.  I have done the same and see areas in my own portfolio where I need to improve.

Stage One Photographer

Beginning photographers can easily be spotted because they don't know enough about the technical side of photography to do much with the camera, so they really only concern themselves with the person being photographed.

How to spot a stage one photographer…

  • They consider a photograph “good” when they captured an interesting expression on someone's face, or something random or rare that occurred (like a fire or a UFO).  You can spot this from a mile away, because when looking at their portfolio, the photographer looks over your shoulder and starts explaining things in the picture because he failed to tell the story with the photo.
  • The photos are rarely sharp enough to show fine detail on the photos and all of them are taken from standing height
  • None of the photos show any artistic flair.  The photos would look the same if taken by any person who was standing in the same spot.
  • Almost all of the photographer's portraits are zoomed way out.
  • If the photographer does any post-processing, it is spot color (all black and white except one item in the photo that is color).
Classic Stage One Photographer's Portfolio

Stage Two Photographer

Stage two photographers have gotten lucky a few times, and their pictures have been applauded by friends and family; however, they find themselves caught up in so many little tips and rules of photography that they manage to miss out on the biggest pieces.  For example, they find a beautiful landscape and concern themselves so much with the camera settings that they fail to notice that they are shooting in TERRIBLE lighting, or that the composition is dull.  Soon, they must learn that lighting and composition are more important than anything else.

How to spot a stage two photographer…

  • Some photos in the portfolio are slightly blurry or have other technical issues.  The photog at this stage is still paying so much attention to the subject that he frequently skips over the essentials.
  • Few of the photos in the portfolio have interesting lighting.
  • The photographer is happy with the pictures because they have started to use shallow depth-of-field in their portraits.
  • The photographer might follow the rule of thirds… but ignores the fact that sometimes the most interesting composition does not follow any “rule” per se.
  • The photographer takes out the camera for a picture when he sees an interesting PERSON or LANDSCAPE, but not when the photographer sees interesting lighting, shapes, or compositions.
  • Some of the photos are still taken from too far away, but other photos in the portfolio are zoomed in to the extreme.
  • Their portraits are posed with the subject placed right next to a “really pretty bush.”
  • Their favorite post-processing technique is spot color (all black and white except one piece of the photo in color).
Pictures like these are indicative of a stage two photographer

Stage Three Photographer

By this point, the photographer has started to clue into the fact that lighting is a big deal.  They stop taking landscapes in the middle of the day and at least find shade to shoot portraits to avoid ugly harsh shadows.   Most of their pictures look better than an average person could do, and they are beginning to be known by friends and family as a photographer.

How to spot a stage three photographer…

  • Their best photos are macro shots of flowers.  At some point they need to realize that photos of flowers are EASY.
  • Their photos almost always incorporate good lighting, but they occasionally leave one in there with bad lighting because they really liked the subject, or because they have some sort of “war story” from the shoot that makes them especially fond of the photo.
  • A few of the photos in the portfolio look quite good, but most of them are just “nice.”
  • When the photos are shown to friends or family members, they have said things like, “Wow!  You could sell that!”
  • Stage three photographers are always eyeing the 5D Mark III or D800, and secretly tell themselves that their photos will finally be professional if they just had the right equipment.
  • They have entered the world of Photoshop and post-processing and can do some really neat tricks, but a professional would look at the photos and clearly see the image quality being ruined by untrained hands.  When I look through portfolios, I'm amazed how many pictures are WAY over-sharpened, grainy, or where the colors are all messed up.  This makes it easy to spot a stage three photographer.
These photos are indicative of a stage three photographer

Stage Four Photographer

Stage Four Photographers are just on the cusp of consistently producing professional work, but they still have some baby habits deeply ingrained in their heads.  These photographers are known by most of their family and friends as a “really serious photographer” and have at least considered going pro.  They spend a tremendous amount of time or effort working to get their work noticed by others, but have a tough time drawing as many eyeballs to their work as they would like.

How to spot a stage four photographer…

  • Most of their photos look good only because they include some interesting style or technique, rather than being a photo that can stand on its own.   Often this means that 90% of the photos have creatively tilted horizons, over-processed HDR photos (which they always describe as a “really subtle HDR effect”), overly vibrant colors, are taken from extreme angles, or are weirdly wide panoramas.  There is nothing WRONG with these techniques, but it is obvious when a photographer is using them as a crutch, because only a few of the photos in the portfolio can stand on their own without one of these techniques.
  • Every photo in their portfolio is quite good and any amateur photographer would be envious.
  • None of the photos in their portfolio have technical problems.  Everything is sharply focused, properly exposed, and most (but not all) of their poor Photoshop habits have gone by the wayside so their image quality is now quite good.
  • They have been asked by people who are NOT family members, friends, or co-workers to shoot an event for them or to buy their photos.
  • The photographer rarely notices it, but a trained eye sees many distracting elements in the photos that take away from the overall picture.

Stage Five Photographers

While these photographers are not all full-time pros, they are capable of consistently producing truly professional-quality work.  People can't take their eyes off the photos they see from these photographers, and people often ask if the image was “Photoshopped” because the post-processing adds interest without creating surrealism.  They recognize that gear is fun to talk about and buy, but find themselves scaling back to just the essentials on many of their shoots.

How to spot a stage five photographer…

  • Every shot in the portfolio has perfect image quality (no graininess or wacko effects added in post-processing) and is shot with perfect technical skill.
  • The photographer is capable of shooting any event and returning with very good pictures that have interesting lighting.
  • The compositions of these photographers are mature and make the photo feel put-together and solid without being too extreme.
  • Each element in the frame is carefully placed and no distracting elements have slipped their way into the frame.  Each item in the photo plays a specific role in the overall composition.
  • The photos are not just “correct” or good, or even really good–they are jaw-droppingly good.
  • The photographer's portraits are not only nice looking, but they actually communicate something about the person being photographed.  They truly “tell a story.”
Stage five photography

Stage Six Photographers

These photographers have grown bored of taking “professional quality” pictures.  It is no longer challenging to go somewhere and create work that is impressive to others.  They find their drive to continue learning photography in challenging themselves with specific techniques and styles.

How to spot a stage six photographer…

  • Their work is no longer “random” with one sports picture, then a wildlife shot, then a landscape, etc.  All of the photos in the portfolio go together and you can spot the photographer's style coming through in the work.
  • The photographers can create art without the crutch of a beautiful subject, even if that is what they choose to take pictures of.
  • They create photography for their enjoyment and the praise of others has at least deadened some.
Want to see samples of work from stage six photographers?  Check out Jeremy Cowart (one of my most respected photogs on the planet right now), Joe McNally, Ansel Adams, and many other amazing photographers.

The Takeaway

I hope that, by posting this, no one feels discouraged in their photography.  Portfolio reviews are not about seeing if you “measure up.”  They are intended to help you along your way in becoming the type of photographer that you want to be.

I hope you take the information from this post–realizing that it is the culmination of reviewing hundreds of portfolios–and decide on at least one thing you can do to become better.

What did you learn from this?  Be honest with yourself and share in the comments below.  I'm anxious to see what struck a chord with you.

121 thoughts on “Give Yourself an Honest Portfolio Review”

  1. Wow… I knew I needed work… Good information, albeit a bit discouraging. I seem to have elements up to level 4. Someday, maybe… practice, practice, practice!

  2. Truth. Sometimes it hurts, but is essential to growing as a person and a photographer. By the classification here, I am a level 4 photographer. I found it hard not to at least chuckle as I read in detail almost about how my photography has changed and evolved in the last 7 years. While somewhat disappointed by the fact that I am not a level 5-6, I do appreciate the honesty here. I have been recently working on the interesting lighting and lines and shapes. It is hard not to be trapped in the vibrant over colorization of photos…as that seems to be a trendy fad right now. But I taking this article as a good thing, because it means I am continuing to grow and mature in my photographic skills.

  3. Very true! I’m like Melicia, as I saw many things that have changed over the past few years. I’d have to say that I have elements of level three and four. Of course, I’d love to be a level five or six. But I’m not there yet. I appreciate the honesty though. Very helpful!

  4. Don’t get discouraged! The point of the article is to show photographers how far they have come and also some tips on where to improve!

  5. Wow I must be a level six because I don’t care what anyone else thinks about my work! Hah! I wish that were true. I’m addicted to getting Likes.

  6. I am SO stage three, although I already understand about flowers and haven’t learned much about post-processing. I’ll keep practicing and learning. Stage four, here I come!!

  7. I’m definitely a Stage Three photographer but am working hard to improve. I did find this article encouraging… I have come so far from my Stage One days!

  8. I would like to think I’m a level five, but when I think about my dislike of event photography I drop myself back down to a four. I truly HATE event photography. Put me on the streets of Africa, or have me do a portrait session and I’m in my element. I would truly like to get to level six. I know I have a good eye and I know I can create stunning, albiet traditionally edited images, I don’t edit much, but I still am concerned with what my clients will think of the images I captured of them. I have shot enough to realize that I can capture who they truly are, don’t ask me how, but I hear it quite often from them and their friends. To get to a level six means I trust in my eye and talent. It’s when I think about it too much that I fail to capture their story and that’s truly my job. I’m a visual storyteller. I love it!!!

  9. Wow maybe I completely missed the point of the article but it seems to me all this did was praise the “level 5” photographers and mock and tear down anyone below that. I’m all for honesty as long as its constructive and helpful, but I didn’t feel like I gained one thing from this other than I’m somewhere between 3-4 and am doing x, x, and x wrong. How about some tips on how to fix those things? Anything constructive to help me get past the level I’m at? There’s so much negativity in this field, do we really need another article full of mocking the amateur on their journey to bettering themselves?

    1. @Kaitlin – I’m sorry you read the article in such a negative way. It certainly was not intended to be such. However, I believe you did in fact miss the point of the article. You said it didn’t contain any information on how to improve. Isn’t part of knowing how to improve, knowing what needs to be fixed? In fact, that’s the toughest thing for photographers to learn.

  10. Think this was fabulous. Why be discouraged? I’m a level 3 and proud of it! It means I have come a fair way and have so much more to aspire to. I think people want to go from zero to hero in 5secs and forget we all have to start at the bottom and work our way up – with hard work and lots of practice. Thank you Jim for the honesty. If you can’t take this article, how will you handle the critiquing in the real world??

  11. I think this is a great article, and very helpful. I was able to judge my work from your clear descriptions which is something I’ve been wanting to do. Ive also been looking for ways to improve. everyone can always use some tips to get better! Thank you!

  12. Good article! It helped me identify my stage (somewhere between 3 and 4, I think) and see what sorts of things I need to work on, big picture wise. I enjoyed the unique take on this subject!

  13. Thanks for this. I enjoyed reading it. I believe I am somewhere between 2 and 3 but hoping after your 30-day course to be much improved. I have a lot to think about now in terms of where I need to focus my attention.

  14. This is a very helpful article. As to the negative response, Improve Photography has provived countless tips and tricks for all of us to learn from. You can’t say everything in one article. This article was helpful in setting some goals for the next stage.

  15. I think the article is good and very insightful. I think I would put myself at a stage 3 with maybe a roll over into a stage 4 on some points. I find your tips and articles to be very helpful in so many ways. Before I stumbled upon Improvephotography I didn’t think about light or composition. In just a short time I have learned more about my camera and how to work it technically then I thought was possible. Now one I pick up my camera I think about what I am going to shoot and what I want it to look like. What kind of light, the setting, how to make it the best it can be and how to also tell the story. Thank you Jim for all of your help and inspiration. I now know exactly where I want to go with my photography with clear concise goals in mind all because of your help and the great resources that you provide with Improvephotography.com.

  16. A definite Stage 1 with occasional forays into Stage 2. I upgraded to my first advanced point and shoot (a Canon PowerShot G12) a few weeks ago. Shortly thereafter, I found your blog through Pinterest. I have no aspirations to shoot for anyone but myself, but I am having a blast and learning so much from your blog. I’m still digesting the basic lesson on ISO, shutter speed and aperture, so I suspect it will take me a while to outgrow this camera. Thank you so much!

  17. Brutally honest assessments are difficult to achieve of ones own work. You’ve really nailed the breakdown and thinking that’s required to ‘stand back’ from our images and attempt to review them as an onlooker, and not the person who was there with the camera in his or her hand. Note that I did not say ‘the photographer’. To me it’s as much about intent as it is just being there. Thank you.

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