What is a Portfolio Review?
A portfolio review is a time to have a focused conversation with a reviewer. You may not know each other or you may have worked together in the past. This is your opportunity to get to know them more and for them to get to know you. Be courteous, ask questions, remember to let them speak too, and listen to their answers and feedback. Let your reviewer know what kind of feedback you are looking for. Do you have a project to show? Questions about pitching to their organization or publication? Advice about how to make the work on your website stand out more? But be specific and pay attention to the time.
Setting Expectations
Portfolio reviews are supposed to be supportive, thoughtful conversations. A reviewer should not negatively criticize you but they may give you feedback that is hard to hear or that questions the intention of the work you are showing. Remember that they all volunteered their time and want to help you develop as a photographer. If the advice you get from a reviewer is not useful to you, you can ignore it, but please hear them out. Even a bad review will only last 30 minutes. Most times you run out of time before you know it.
Research Your Reviewer
Even a quick Google search will help you prep for the review. What kind of organization do they work with? What is their role and what are the kinds of projects they work with? If they are independent/freelance, where have they worked in the part? Sometimes an editor’s interests and past work vary substantially from the work their current role requires of them.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
Show less work, not more. Show your strongest work, take out anything that is not something you are proud of or want them to see. Some strong single images (images that tell a whole story in one frame), and a story of 10 photos are plenty to discuss during the review. If you are meeting with a gallerist they may want to see something different than your last daily assignment images. A wire service is interested in newsworthy, timely stories.
The Tech
Unless you are on assignment covering an active conflict and stepping away for a few minutes from the front line, be in a place where you have stable Wi-Fi and join from your computer, NOT your phone. Your reviewers are expecting you to handle that part of Zoom. Of course, things happen, so stay calm and reconnect as soon as possible. But you’ll be glad if these 30 minutes are not complicated with technical issues. Be ready to share your screen.
Prepare
Make sure your Zoom app is up to date!
You will have 30 minutes for these reviews, most portfolio reviews are 20 minutes and that is just too short! And still, that time will feel like it flew by. Have your materials ready. Browser windows should be open, to the page or pages, and ready to screen share. If the reviewer prefers to run the show and you have links you can send via chat, that’s ok too. Be wary, of long load times, and close all other apps and browser windows you won’t be sharing.
Stay Connected
Before time runs out, please ask if they will share their email address with you so you can send them a thank you note and maybe a link or PDF of what you showed them so they will remember the conversation. As long as their email is in chat before you leave the breakout session ends, you can copy it any time before you leave the larger group Zoom. Then follow up next week with a short but polite thank you email, a postcard, or some other keepsake.
Thoughts or questions? Email me at david@diversify.photo.