No Plastic Sleeves: The Complete Portfolio Guide for Photographers and Designers [Paperback]

Larry Volk (Author), Danielle Currier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2010

Your resume and cover letter, as well as a digital portfolio, business card and mailers, will function as the first contact and impression you make. These items will work to get your "foot in the door." Ultimately, however, it will be your portfolio book or online portfolio website that will land you the job. The creation of your own portfolio is a creative statement about the value you place on your work and craft. This book first uses a system to:
* find your visual identity, who YOU are
* use color, typography, and iconography to develop the look and feel of your portfolio package
* create a layout and composition that you love
* establish your online presence
* create content and design of your resume and cover letter
* and construct your portfolio book.

You will also learn bits of useful information along the way about print resolution, marketing ideas, and how to do all of this on a budget. By the end of this book, you will have an out-of-this world portfolio package that you will be able to use to establish and secure working relationships with potential employers and clients.


* shows you how to make the COMPLETE package - letterhead, resumes, mailers, and online
* contains quizzes, questions, and evaluation to help you discover the visual identity your portfolio will have
* shows you HOW to make your portfolio package, rather than simply listing "cool" portfolios
* will help keep your portfolio on a budget

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Product Description
Your resume and cover letter, as well as a digital portfolio, business card and mailers, will function as the first contact and impression you make. These items will work to get your "foot in the door." Ultimately, however, it will be your portfolio book or online portfolio website that will land you the job. The creation of your own portfolio is a creative statement about the value you place on your work and craft. This book first uses a system to:
* find your visual identity, who YOU are
* use color, typography, and iconography to develop the look and feel of your portfolio package
* create a layout and composition that you love
* establish your online presence
* create content and design of your resume and cover letter
* construct your portfolio book.
* shows you how to make the COMPLETE package--letterhead, resumes, mailers, and online
* gorgeous layout for visual examples and also hundreds of inspirational photos
* shows you HOW to make your portfolio package, rather than simply listing "cool" portfolios
* will help keep your portfolio on a budget

With hundreds of inspirational photos to guide you, you will also learn bits of useful information along the way about print resolution, marketing ideas, and how to do all of this on a budget. By the end of this book, you will have an out-of-this world portfolio that you will be able to use to establish and secure working relationships with potential employers and clients.

---

Amazon Exclusive: Top 10 Portfolio Tips from Danielle Currier and Larry Volk, Authors of No Plastic Sleeves

1. A comprehensive portfolio package should include more than just a portfolio book. You will also need a website, resume, cover letter, and perhaps even a business card and other types of promotional materials.

2. Your entire portfolio package should function cohesively with unifying visual elements that tie together these separate, but related pieces--all establishing and reinforcing a consistent, positive message about you.

3. The most powerful way you can communicate your unique identity--your strengths and abilities--is through examples of your work. You need to make sure that every piece included in your portfolio is an example of your very best. Industry standards and best practice suggests a portfolio of 12-20 works.

4. While the work in your portfolio is obviously a very essential part of your ability to market yourself and should be considered carefully, you should not stop there. A portfolio design that communicates a strong overarching design concept will stand out and provide further evidence of your unique experience, skills and talent.

5. Develop a brand statement for yourself, capitalizing on your unique abilities and creative vision. Let this guide your approach in the creation of a distinct concept that fuels the basis of your portfolio book and website designs.

6. Your book can be so much more than a simple (and often generic) container for your work. Think of it as a well thought out and impeccably crafted creative statement in and of itself. Doing so will help to set you apart and speak volumes about your initiative, drive and passion for your field.

7. The construction and craft of your book represents and reflects your level of production and professionalism. It should be as well executed as everything else you produce. Get help through books, courses, online services or ask/pay someone to help. Don't settle for good enough and remember, if you’re making it yourself, practice makes perfect.

8. For the interior of your book, images of your work must remain the focal point within the page's composition. Any contextualizing information and spatial relationships must be seriously considered, remain consistent and hierarchically secondary so as not to distract away from the work itself.

9. Your portfolio website is just as important as your book. As with everything else it should be consistent and cohere with every other component of your materials. Make yourself aware of the design issues specific to the web and interactive solutions before beginning the process of creating one.

10. Your portfolio will only serve you if it is seen. Develop marketing materials to support your book and website. There are many routes to take with mailers, electronic mailings, leave-behinds and business cards. Try something that’s a bit more innovative and clever or you run the danger of it just getting tossed. Be persistent-- one piece isn't going to make it. Even the most successful creatives actively send out multiple pieces every year to get results.

(Danielle Currier photo © Michael Miller)
(Larry Volk photo © Heidi Hoffman)

---

A Look Inside No Plastic Sleeves: The Complete Portfolio Guide for Photographers and Designers
(Click on images to enlarge)

Identify key brand attributes	A sample resume book	Brand Statements	A sample promotional book

---

About the Author

Larry Volk is an Associate Professor of Photography in the department of Visual Communications in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Endicott College. He holds an M.F. A. from Rhode Island School of Design. Larry worked in the editorial and commercial market for 10 years. He has been a photographic educator in New England and exhibiting photographer both regionally and nationally for over 20 years.
Danielle Currier is an Associate Professor of Design in the department of Visual Communications in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Endicott College. She holds an M.F.A. from Parsons The New School for Design. Danielle has worked as an educator, designer, and artist in the Boston area and New York City for over 12 years. She has received numerous awards, grants, and fellowships and exhibited her digital art nationally.

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (February 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240810902
• ISBN-13: 978-0240810904
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Professional

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Working on your Portfolio? Buy this book. March 22, 2010

By Donald E. Giannatti

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found the book to be very, very helpful... especially to those who are working on a new portfolio, or maybe a second attempt. The concepts are well thought out, the presentation is excellent and the overview of the world of portfolios can leave one with a full sense of awareness.

Things are changing so fast in the arena of photography and design that artists must find new and intriguing ways to get attention.

While my focus at Lighting Essentials is mostly on the photographic side, the concepts and methods of designer portfolios will still get your idea-genes excited. Lots to think about.

There are examples on nearly every page, and detailed, well illustrated instructions on creating books, and marketing products.

In addition, the focus on branding and style that carries throughout the book is one of utmost importance. And the authors tie it in to all that is discussed.

Bottom line: If you are rethinking your portfolio, or haven't yet created your portfolio, you need this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No Plastic Sleeves - Excellent Resource for Designers March 22, 2010

By C. Roberts

Format:Paperback

This book is the kind of comprehensive and inspiring portfolio design guide that designers, photographers, and artists need. It provides concrete, tangible advice alongside multiple examples of portfolios-- all of which are well-designed and none of which are mediocre solutions to the problem of representing ourselves and our work. The content range within this book is considerable: from concepts of branding to specific suggestions and step-by-step visual mini-guides, such as one on book-binding methods. The section on website and digital presentation is inclusive and thoughtful, not an afterthought tacked on for a new edition. This book reflects a current understanding of our need as designers to present our work both as creatives and professionals simultaneously, making it a great resource for professionals and students alike. I suspect I'll use it and re-use it.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for building a portfolio March 11, 2010

By Kenneth Hamlett

Format:Paperback

No Plastic Sleeves is a wonderful resource for graphic designers and photographers that are in the process of creating a portfolio. The book excels at getting the artist to think about who he/she is and how to best express that idea through creative marketing tools. The book's many examples excite the imagination and steers the reader in the right direction. I highly recommend it for any visual creatives.