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Moyan Brenn/flickr
Travel photography is a great way to engage with the wider world — both for an audience and for the photographers themselves. Here is why you should take the next step in your photography career and create your very own portfolio book.
A portfolio book is the perfect tool to get your photos out there in the highly competitive world of travel photography. By having all your work in one place you not only make life easier for yourself, but also for others who want to view the work you’ve done.
Many professional travel photographers started out this way, creating an easy-to-browse and extensive catalogue that could truly show off their individual abilities.
Of course, your portfolio book can only ever be as attractive as the photography inside. Things to consider as you build up to having your own portfolio include:
Esmar Abdul Hamid/flickr
Being paid to do what you love is, of course, everyone’s dream. But realistically, there has to be a period of time when, in order to build up your portfolio, you do some work for free.
See it as an opportunity for you to truly hone your technical skills while expanding your client base in the future. Every photo you put out there increases the possibility that someone will decide to follow your professional progress and, eventually, hire you to work on a project for them.
Jaime Gonzalez/flickr
If travel inspires a love of writing along with photography, then using both together can be a real shortcut when it comes to breaking into the industry. Travel websites such as Go Nomad are always looking for good articles, and they prioritize ones that include high-quality photos.
Even if the idea of writing doesn’t appeal to you, simply getting involved in the world of both online and offline travel writing will give you a better understanding of current trends, enabling you to build a portfolio to match them.
JackPeasePhotography/flickr
At the end of the day, it’s the quality of your photos that will get you noticed, and to take high-quality photos, you need a high-quality camera. Many photographers will recommend a DSLR, and while you may not feel like you need one, some agencies like Getty Images will require you to use them.
Think carefully about which camera you want to invest in, then ensure that you’re technically up to speed on how best to take the photos you really want to produce.
Different photographers value Photoshop to varying degrees, depending on their style and clients. Some clients will ask you to touch your photos up and get rid of any imperfections, while others will be looking for something more honest.
If the travel review side of the industry appeals to you, then a bit of grime is often necessary, while a glossy travel magazine will want stunning landscapes and perfect portraits. Consider which audience you want to tap into and take them into consideration when building your portfolio.
cortto/flickr
Once you have enough high-quality photos in your back catalogue, you’ll want to create a book to bring them all together in one professional and aesthetically pleasing place. Make sure you use high-grade paper and customized binding. Also consider the best size for each photo, which will determine the size of your book in the end.
Need help with all the specifics? The easiest way to build your perfect portfolio is to use a service such as Printique, which specializes in creating personalized photo books to suit every photographer, using master-quality paper and a huge range of customizable features. Take a look and make your book today!
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