As photographers, one of them stands at a crossroads when they sit down to edit their images. How many images should I put in my portfolio? How do I crop the pictures? What should be a part of my portfolio for a competition? We are aware of how daunting editing can be for you, and so are the organizers at the Xposure festival in Sharjah. Without further ado, let us introduce you to some useful tips from an extensive workshop by photographer and founder of Travel Photographer of the Year, Chris Coe.
Editor’s Note: The Phoblographer was part of the press trip to Sharjah. We were invited to see the festival, interact with the photographers, and share our insights with our readers. Since we believe in transparency, we want to let our readers know that the trip was entirely paid for, but this post is not sponsored. We truly appreciate Chris Coe’s important tips.
What Photographers Must Keep in Mind
“When you choose your pictures, choose your best. One thing we do, every photographer does, is choose our favorite pictures over our best,” said Coe at Xposure. So, the question of which images are our “best” is to make a strong selection and show it to someone we trust. A second opinion is very important.
Another one that must be kept in mind is “Less is more.” By that, Coe means to have a strong selection of 10 to 12 images in your portfolio, whether it is your website, a contest (usually they have a requirement listed), or an exhibition. “I want to be hit straight away from the quality and diversity of your work,” he explains.
There is also one thing you must remember, learn from your mistakes. Instead of deleting pictures from your portfolio that you seemed were bad, look at them carefully. See where you went wrong and then continue to improve your compositions by seeing your images. This way, you are always evolving.
You must also always copyright your work. “The first thing I do when I do a shoot is to put pictures on the computer and copyright them,” Coe explained at Xposure. This means that you add a small watermark in places that are difficult to remove. While this may not guarantee that your work is not stolen, this step can be helpful in safeguarding your work.
How to Choose the Right Image
- Compositions: Always look at how you are framing your subject and how the image will be better. For instance, in one of the examples below, Coe showcases how the picture of the two men can actually become great: by having a vertical framing and removing the negative space. That’s because, in this case, the negative space is not really helping the story of the participant and is likely to distract the viewer.
- Wow factor: Look at what makes your images stand out, what draws the viewer in, and how it also does justice to your storytelling. Your pictures must stand out and offer a different perspective in a sea of images. That’s how some photographers are able to win competitions: by having a unique perspective on their storytelling.
- Your style: While you are looking for ways to create a different image, you must remember that you have a distinct style and aesthetics that make your images uniquely your own. Use that to your advantage in your work. Also, work consciously; do not go around making pictures passively and then coming back to look at them on your computers.
- Relevant picture content: Again, what are you shooting and why? If the image is to showcase the beauty of the Taj Mahal, then look at what subject can help you bring that out? You also have to ensure that when you edit your images, by arranging them, you lead your viewers. For instance, you begin with a shot that establishes your story and then gradually move toward the details so that they have a holistic perspective.
- Technically sound: This means that the image has better exposure, not blown-out highlights, unless, of course, that is deliberately done for your story.
- Format and orientation: This is an important part of sequencing. When you sit down to make a selection, remember that the orientation or format in which you shot the pictures is the same. Why? If you see an image with an odd orientation or cropping, say you have a 4:3 photo series, but only one image is a 16:9, then it will distract your viewers.
- Creativity and originality: How do you make an image different? There are plenty of ways: slow shutter, multiple exposures, use of flash, creative filters, and so on. When you make a series, ensure that you utilize these things to capture creative pictures. It may not just be this, but merely using a different perspective can make your image more original.
- Selling the dream: This is largely pertaining to projects that deal with travel photography, which Chris Coe showcased at Xposure. When you shoot a place or a product, you need to make that are grand and ambitious. They must make one feel the need to go visit the place or buy that product.
Tips For Your Overall Photography
Here are some essential tips for your overall photography.
Website
When designing your website, you must consider the layout. Will you use a slideshow or a still format? Which picture will pop up first? Do you have a separate section for personal and commercial work? These are a few things you should be mindful of. In addition, your website has to be minimal, and you also need one image that basically can help the user sum up the kind of work you do with your selections. At the same time, you should also make images, particularly for the website only, as that can help you get noticed by your new clients.
The next step is to get some attention for your work. How? By keywording the images. An image can have several keywords based on the emotions the pictures evoke. For instance, a picture of a person in a pool can have words like “calm, peace, relax” used for tagging. Also, you can host print sales on your website to get more attention. There are also interviews and contests that can help you get more visibility, Coe said at Xposure.
Photography Exhibitions
One way to get more people to visit your exhibit is to host print sales and link to the works of other photographers. The latter not only shows comradery but also means that others in the community will do the same for you. This is a great way to ensure your work gets seen by others.
For Publication
Coe believes that one must gauge where the pictures are being used: in print or on the website. Based on this, the participants at Xposure were suggested to choose the format and even the orientation. For instance, if someone wants their image on the cover, they must include vertical images in their selection, particularly for this reason. It is also nice if you can look up and research who the editor is because that can help you make a stronger selection. If your pictures are going online, you must add watermarks to protect you from getting copied.
Photography Competition
Here, you think about the image selection and how the contest functions. For starters, read their rules and see if you will have complete rights to your images. Then, look up who the judges are and figure out how experienced they are. This can also help you figure out their judging style. The winner’s gallery is the perfect place to have a better understanding while selecting your work, Coe noted at Xposure. If you see a diverse set of inners with unique images, the contest requires something original for your image to win. Getting an idea about the organizers and how they fund the contest is also important.
We do hope these suggestions are helpful to you, and they continue help you reach new heights in your career.
