3.5 Print Portfolios

In this lesson, we're going to take a look at a handful of Print Portfolios. You will see a variety of options assembled by artist, journalist and educator, Jackson Couse. First, we have the archival box. This is an acceptable alternative to a more polished portfolio box. Especially when you're first starting out. These boxes are made of neutral PH card stock. You can find them at art stores or conservationist supply houses like talasonline.com which is a great resource for conservation, preservation, and restoration supplies. Some places also sell them with some assembly required which can help cut down on the cost if you're on a budget. Next, we have the art portfolio box. This is a box of 13 by 19 inch prints. It's also from talasonline.com. This is on the smaller end of what you would show fine art, more fancy editorial clients, such as fashion and beauty, and also people having expensive weddings. If you can afford it, consider making a portfolio of a small number of 20 by 24 inch prints that shows your absolute best work. Some people like to combine a tablet slide show with their art box for example. Next, we have the small portfolio box. This is a handcrafted box of 8 1/2 by 11 inch prints. It's an increasingly acceptable size for editorial work, commercial work, and work for the general public. If you have the money, think about an 11 by 14 inch size. It's slightly more bulky to carry around, and also more expensive to print, but the size is a nice balance between not too big and not too small. For smaller portfolios, consider a simple reinforced folder. And here we have an artists' book. This is an artists' book made from a completed past project. Artists' books are a great way to show off the work that you're passionate about. They can help you get the kind of work you really want to do. I realize that not all of us consider ourselves crafty. Therefore, another possibility is that you use a print on demand publisher. However, if you do, absolutely do not skimp on any aspect of the book, under any circumstances. Do not use a soft cover. Do not design it yourself and make sure you get a copy editor for any text that you decide to include. If you can't get around designing the book yourself then at least find a designer friend to look it over for you. And if you can't write, don't put any words in it at all. A low quality print job, bad design, color that's off, or even a simple typo could completely undermine all of your hard work and make you appear unprofessional. If it looks like a trade publication, people will judge it to that standard. And finally, here is a book dummy. This is an early version of the artist book. I would recommend that you not show this to just anyone. However, it can be suitable to show to editors who know you and are familiar with your work, and want to see what you have in progress. It's a bit risky to show people work that isn't quite done. But if you trust the other party, it can be a great way to start a conversation, especially for your passion projects. Book dummies are also great to have on reserve for that inevitable question, so what else have you got? Deciding which print portfolio you need depends on your audience, your work, and your budget. Pick what you can afford. And remember that you can upgrade from there in the future. However, whichever one you decide to go with, make it as top notch as you possibly can. I would like to reiterate that you should not skimp on the print job, paper, or the copy editing. Your print portfolio is a direct reflection of your professionalism and attention to detail. That brings us to the end of this lesson. In this lesson we examined a range of Print Portfolios that varied in size, budget, and the effort required to assemble. That also brings us to the end of this chapter. In this chapter, we discussed the various preparations necessary before you put your portfolio together. We also took a look at web, tablet, PDF, and Print Portfolios. In the concluding chapter of this course, we will discuss how to present your portfolio and interact with the people reviewing your work.