Portfolio thoughts again.
I think I’m a bit obsessed with the topic, but it’s so very important. A portfolio is one’s CV, brand, shop window.
As you’ll know - if you’re at all interested the plight of small kittens* - I’ve posted at various times here, on IG, and on my blog, a range of thoughts on portfolio curation. What to include, and how to choose. The difficulties and the rules. How it’s an art and a science. About how to think about who you’re “speaking to”, and what you’re saying. On the tricky balance between showing variety and consistency, the battle between new work and old; putting forward a clear, personal style but displaying the ability to handle the other stuff.
I’ve written about how images become like one’s children (but one’s you’d sacrifice). Why the work we’re proud of today is - by necessity - the same about which we cringe tomorrow. And I’ve touched on the ever-so-slight deterioration, the consistent degradation and corruption caused by each viewing. Sort of, a bit like Frodo and the Ring, if I stretch the analogy (but with the Ring getting worse instead of Frodo, or something). So that it’s generally best not to look at one’s work, ever.
Portfolio and website maintenance is an ongoing, never-ending process, or should be. Ask any photographer about their website and they’ll always say, “Oh, I’ve not updated it in ages.” I’m often adding to mine here and there, bit by bit. And then I hack it back in swathes once in a while. And today is that day, as it’s gotten rather bloated. That and the fact I’m pretty much wrapped for the year**. It’s the Alex Rumford Photography Purge, where, just like in the film, for 24 hours I can delete as many photos as I want. (And then worry about my decisions.)
The guiding questions when keeping or killing*** each picture, as always, are:
Does it say anything? Is it interesting / does it move me? Is it similar to work I already have?
As well as the less-obvious consideration, to do with honesty and objectivity: was it really its own merit which got it into the portfolio originally? Or because of what it took to get it? Because a tough challenge or interesting job doesn’t mean a good picture. It merely creates unwarranted and favourable bias, an attachment which unravels in time.
And, of course: is it any good?
Anyway, have a look at my lovely portfolio over a nice cup of tea and a biscuit****.
*This has nothing to do with kittens. That was a cheap, clickbait-y trick. No animals were harmed in the making of my portfolio.
**This is the moment you realise, as I just did, that I’d forgotten to publish this blog post back in December. But don’t worry, in a few paragraphs there are biscuits.
***Yes, photographers do actually use the word “kill” when “cull” will do, because it sounds cool.
****I promised biscuits (plural) but that was to keep you reading. There’s just one left. Sorry.