Customer Reviews

Photo Portfolio Success

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As photographers, we live and die by our portfolios. They are our resume, our advertising piece, our list of references.

Thus there is a need for a really, really good book on how to craft a portfolio. And John Kaplan delivers with this book.

This book is an example of what I think that all photographic books should aspire to, its' subject is specialized, it sticks to topic, and it provides useful advice.

In many ways this book breaks many of the rules that I usually don't like. For example, Kaplan puts many, many address of sources in this book. Usually I would complain that such information belongs in a magazine, not in a book, but somehow they work here. Perhaps because the subject is so specialized.

What I like about this book:

1) Specialized subject, covered well.
2) Covers all types of portfolios, print, online, CD & multimedia, slide...
3) LOTS of resources. This book will not age well, because of this, but it is a valuable resource right now... suppliers, album manufactures, workshops, it's all here. Want to publish your work as a book? The resources are here for that, too.
4) Interesting sidebars, much like Ketchum's book. Consider: "Are you truly serious about your work" and "The ethics of captioning".
5) STUNNING images. Tell me the image on page 21 doesn't make you want to give up the studio and become a photojournalist.

What I don't like about this book:

Not much really, just a few points.

1) For example, under the sidebar "Web Design Don'ts" Kaplan advises 'Avoid Using Black Backgrounds'. I don't know about you, but EVERY single 'WOW' photographic website that I go to has in common a black background. This is an example of someone who came up in the print era trying to be a web expert... but don't worry about it, John, even Babe Ruth didn't hit 1000%.

2) Readability is above average for photographic books, but that's a pretty low benchmark to shoot for.

Still, buy this book. Worth the money, worth the read, worth the room on your photographic library shelf.

In his new book, "Photo Portfolio Success", John Kaplan has created the most comprehensive, current, in depth and honest book for photographers who may be hoping to get their foot in the door, for those where the door is already open, and even the lucky ones with an all-season pass in the competitive and rewarding field of photography. This book debunks every myth you thought you knew and tells it like it is from the very top people working in photography today. A literary device using pull-out quotes from top photographers, editors and even New York photo agents subtitled: "Your Biggest Mistake", and "Your Best Move" also gives the reader more honest guidance of what they really need to know to succeed in an often cutthroat business. Here's a nugget from Detroit Free Press photographer J. Kyle Keener: "Don't show something in your portfolio that you can't do consistently." It's honesty like this that helps photographers get to the next level. Kaplan's book scales several mountain ranges with advice every sane person really needs to know if they want to keep a roof over their heads in making a living at photography.
In 13 chapters, this book covers all the bases and genres of photography and everything you need to know to get a running start. Photojournalism, wedding photography, freelance and commercial work, nature and wildlife, fine art photography and the extremely important areas of marketing and self-promotion are all covered. Detailed yet easy-to understand methods of building your own web page to promote your photography business are included. Necessary links to various companies providing presentation material like portfolio cases are also here. The book is well designed and beautifully illustrated with examples of some of the finest photography being done in the world today.
I think the really nice thing about this book is the underlying encouragement that Kaplan offers the reader throughout. Reviewing as a professional photographer myself, Photo Portfolio Success gave me a renewed sense of vigor and honest assesment of where I need to go in this crazy yet wonderful career of photography.

There are alot of photography books out their to try to help people in different aspects of photography. But this book is backed with a punch. Author John Kaplan has a Pulitzer Prize to back his knowledge of the many different aspects in the photo business. This book cover it all, from wedding to nature photography Kaplan has brought to the pages some of the greatest photographers currently working. Kaplan even includes hands-on editing tests to test your knowledge. Every photo in the book is a example of the best in the business. Every photo school whether photojournalism or fine art should have this book in the classroom. Kaplan shares secrets that has made him an industry leader. This book can give the reader an edge over the competition by giving solid examples and information to help every photographer get in touch with whatever organization is avaliable to that aspect of their business. Finally a book for photographers everywhere. Don't be without this content driven book. Content is the key here, every picture example is extraordinary and inspiring. Everyone can learn more-so start here.

This is a gem of a book for the driven pro photog. If you think you've created a good portfolio, or are creating your first, get this book and hunker down for some serious soul searching! A very good companion volume is Selina Oppenheim's Portfolios That Sell. In many ways their approaches are the same, but different - a good mix; a second opinion is not only helpful, but allows you to step back and decide for yourself how to best represent your work.

These two books, along with personal and client factors, resulted in a professional epiphany of sorts for myself and had me looking at my library of images in a new and exciting way. The result was expensive in both money and time, causing me to lighten my wallet by roughly $2500 and spend around 6 weeks straight working until three and four AM with three to five hours sleep night after night.

What did I end up with? Three rockin' portfolios: Commercial (with tear book) and Portraiture, both in 13X19, custom, screw-post portfolios with name and logo laser etched onto the covers. And a 20-piece, conservation-matted Fine Art collection at 18X24, with logo-embossed, handmade paper separators in a personalized Pina Zangoro Boro carrying case, for beating down the doors and wowing my regional galleries. Oh, and a new 17-inch wide Epson 3800.

And the response? First, it's only been a couple weeks, and of course it goes without saying that the pictures are the meat-of-the-matter. That said, it's obvious to me from the response so far, that across the board, whether it's a local advertiser searching for a fresh eye, a regional gallery evaluating your sense of style and detail, or a twenty-something couple wanting a portrait to hang in their new home, a sleek, professional presentation breaks the ice. Their demeanor toward you is transformed. Their body language belies a new openness in examining your work - you've passed the first crucial test of "first impression."

Has it worked? Well, within the first week I have one new commercial client, done two new-family portrait sittings and have a three-month exhibit scheduled in a five-star, high-end hotel. Whether this kind of immediate gratification continues to be a "Success" as Kaplan puts it, or "Sell" as Oppenheim states it, is anybody's guess. But one thing is for sure, and that is the boost of self-confidence a high-end presentation gives to your self-esteem and self-perceived power when you enter that always vulnerable position of playing "seller" to a prospective "buyer" whom you've never met.

One closing note. These books will be of no avail to you if 1) you're not prepared to spend some money, 2) you're not prepared to lose some sleep, and 3) you're not prepared to take a long, hard, unsentimental and honest look at your images. Be prepared to re-invent yourself and your vision.

Carry on... I went out for a sunrise shoot this morning and I think I've got a shot in there that's just beggin' to be worked over in Lightroom and printed on a nice, fat piece of Arches textured-matte! I've got some product to shoot for a client in the morning, but today I'm a Fine Art Photog ;-), even if they say the difference between a Fine Art Photographer and a Family-Sized Pizza is the Family-Sized Pizza can feed a family of four. hehheh

I read this book in a single night. Like you, I had heard about this book for a few years before I actually decided to buy it.

To be honest the cover looks outdated and it turned me off. That said, the book is still totally relevant today (2009) and is filled with not just portfolio advice, but career advice as well.

I especially found helpful the chapter on editing techniques. Starting with the absolute strongest image, adding in the "must haves", etc. The interviews and advice from other photographers was also quite valuable.

Overall a very helpful, easy to read book that is worth your time to read before putting together your next portfolio.

very useful and inspirational. This book can help to anyone wanting a very effective and insights about creating any type of photography portfolio.

John Kaplan has created in his book "Photo Portfolio Success" a true resource. I've read quite a few photography books, many of which talk about a portfolio here and there in vague and completely unhelpful terms. This book answered all of my questions and put me on the true path to helping my work stand out in a crowd and really defining who I am with my portfolio. Practically all of his advice makes perfect sense, and I was really encouraged by his language. He is constantly reminding the reader that it is perfectly okay that not everyone will like your work, and is perfectly okay to grow and change as an artist, a photographer, and a person, sentiments that are often left out of other books. His little "which photo doesn't belong" quizzes sprinkled throughout really make you feel like you are understanding the material better, rather than just reading and not quite getting the grasp of what the words really mean. The imagery is stunning. I loved this book, and feel now, more than a week after finishing it, as though I need to keep it out and handy where I can refer to it often rather than filing it away in what is becoming my photography book library.

Positives aside, there are two reasons this book did not get a full five stars, and since the other reviews on this book are more than five years old (an eternity these days), I decided that it was incredibly important to note them. The first is how dated it is. As this book does have a companion website, I feel like the book would have kept its relevance better if Kaplan had left all of the web links and company directories out of the book and posted them to the website, or even had a resource appendix on disc, rather than embedding the links directly into the text. Curious as to a few of the links in the book I had never heard of before, I went to them and found that the company had been bought or dissolved. No wonder I'd never heard of the website before! The second reason is something that has become a bit of a pet peeve of mine with photography books. Choppy formatting. When I'm reading, I like to be able to turn to the next page without leaving separate content boxes and captions behind unread. I also prefer not to be confronted with a large content box in the middle of a sentence. Many photography books fall under this formatting spell, and I find that it chops up the content, and really annoys me. Other than that, I would recommend this book to everyone working in photography today. It really opened my eyes and made me feel confident. That being said, maybe I shouldn't recommend it after all and let it be my own secret weapon. ;)

As a college professor, I use this book in my capstone course for photography students. It is extremely helpful for students who are looking for an internship or job. Kaplan has given some great tips and ideas on how to tailor their portfolio and produce a quality portfolio. If you are a student photographer or looking to improve your portfolio, get this book.