Is one of your goals this year to build a food photography portfolio? Perhaps you to start food photography business this year? In this post we look at the dilemma of whether you should build a portfolio first or you should start marketing yourself and your business.
Build a Food Photography Portfolio
Phelia Herrera asks a question that many of you may have. She asks on Food Photography Facebook Page
What’s a good way of getting a food portfolio started while also gaining some business exposure?”
Great question. Phelia, for gaining any business it is almost essential that you have a portfolio, unless you are photographing for someone you know well. I started with photographing for a friend’s Thai Restaurant in the summer of 2006. I didn’t have to show her my organized portfolio, she just looked at some of my photos and wanted me to take food photos of Thai cuisine.
In her case she knew me so photography portfolio was not necessary. However, when this is done for a client, most clients would want to see your portfolio.
Now to answer your question on how to gain exposure while building a portfolio. First you don’t need to have too large of a portfolio when you are starting. I would not spend too much time on building a huge portfolio.
There are portfolios with 20-25 photos and then there are also portfolios with 50+ photographs. My approach is to get few outstanding food photographs and create a portfolio and not wait because there aren’t 40 or 50 photos in your portfolio.
As you gain more clients and take more photos, your portfolio will grow. However, don’t put sub-standard photos in your portfolio. It will only hurt you in the long run.
Readers, What do You Think?
Share your tips and advice on Phelia’s question. How would you approach this? Help Phelia with her question by leaving a comment below or by answering it on our food photography facebook page.
Photo by Lys*
The comment that you should only put your best work in a portfolio is in my opinion the only way to go. I believe it’s essential to work on the basic principle of quality over quantity. It has to be better looking at a few excellent images than a large number of varying quality which would create an impression of inconsistency.
Hello Barry,
I agree with you as well. Quality is much better than quantity. And your last line is specially true. If you have too many photos with low quality it does create an impression of inconsistency.
It’s also important that your portfolio only show the quality & style of work you can produce consistently in order to manage your client’s expectations of your abilities. I learned this lesson early in my photo career (although not with food photography). That’s why I don’t yet show food photography in my portfolio.
Here are some more suggestions.
1. Spend some time practising, especially lighting.
2. Subscribe to this blog: http://rising.blackstar.com/
3. NEVER shoot for free. Read this http://rising.blackstar.com/photographers-excuses.html and this http://rising.blackstar.com/photographers-dont-fall-for-these-client-pick-up-lines.html. Don’t skip the comments.
These are some great websites Les. Thank you for sharing these with us.
ummm…. yah I think all of what you said was kind of a given. I guess I would say that if you want to build a portfolio, learn how to cook a few things, or at least be able to copy shots out of a magazine by looking at a picture.
Dave, loving food is important to understanding it and then photographing it. Do you think learning to cook is essential? I believe you can partner with someone who likes to cook and get away with not cooking. What do you think?
Thank you for your comment.
Thanks guys.
Les – thanks for those links, will be reading through them today.
I am about to start work with my first client and I have no idea what rate I should be charging. Can anyone give me some advise? I obviously do not want to overcharge them as I have never professionally shot food before (just personally as a hobby). The client knows this. But i also do not want to undercharge.
Thanks!
Another few ideas to get started and out of the catch-22 of needing a portfolio to get business but needing business to build a portfolio…
* cook (or find a cook) a few dishes and take some photos of those. I think as long as you state that these are your own dishes then prospective clients won’t care. They are looking for results.
* try to partner with a local non-profit or school group and take photos of their goods. I’ve heard from a friend that bake sales are really good for this because you can get a lot of variety.
I hope these ideas help someone.
I definitely agree that you should never put sub standard work in your portfolio. A few great images will have more impact.
The book you show, your pitch should be taylored to the business. This should make some sence. So, you should want to put images in the book that are taylored to the needs of the client. I understand there is a trade off here, but you will need to show the kind of work, you want to get. So, for the others that say only show the best work,
You might want to consider the process that you are going to go through. You should always be improving, always geting better. So if you only show the best work, or your most recent work, and not older work that is directed to the new client…. You may not show what the clients need to see to have the confidence in you, to complete the job.
Great work is better than a bunch of work.
Focus you book and pitch for the intended target, and sometimes that includes older, not so great work.
Charlie