It can feel nearly impossible to book the clients you are trying to reach when you don’t yet have the work you need to showcase the very work you are trying to book. What do you do when you are stuck in the middle - trying to share a portfolio of work that doesn’t yet exist, to get the clients for the very same work you want to create?
It’s simple - and at the same time, not so simple. You must put work in your portfolio that speaks to the client you want to attract. But what do you do when that work doesn’t exist? You create it.
this post originates from my Substack - where I write and share exclusive articles and tips for photographers seeking advice and mentorship in their business
Only share the work you want to attract
This works for any and every niche of photography - whatever it is your focus, only put that work out in the world ( even if you are working on other types of photography ). If your focus is Senior Portrait Photography, only share work that is ( or can pass as ) Senior Portrait Photography. If you want to focus on studio portraits, don’t share your wedding work. If you want to focus on fashion editorial, don’t share your newborn work. If you want to focus on destination weddings, don’t share church weddings.
And so forth….
Build a portfolio you are proud of ( and speaks to your passion )
Every photographer starts somewhere. Whether you take photos for your friends, or get asked by an acquaintance to photograph their family portraits; at some point you have started to create a body of work; aka your portfolio. Maybe you are still new to your photography career, or are ready to get serious about a side-hustle. Maybe you have an idea that is lighting you up and you’re ready to pivot within a thriving career. No matter what stage of the journey you are at, you need work to show your future clients.
Clients only hire you based on what they can actually see in front of them. They don’t “get” your vision in your head, they understand real imagery that you have already created. It is so hard to take the leap from where you are - to what you can create, without first having the work to show for it.
Need an honest review of your portfolio? Advice on how to portfolio build? Have an in-depth question? Need business advice?
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Put together your best work, as it is TODAY
Your portfolio should represent what you do best, and be curated based on the type of work you want to photograph, as well as what you will deliver to your clients.
If I were getting started today, and wanted to photograph Senior Portraits - but didn’t have a huge body of work, I would gather either (a) the top 5-10 images from a single session, or (b) the most Senior Portrait “adjacent” work I can find. This would serve as my portfolio today, showcasing my best work - until I have more work to add.
You don’t need a lot of work to start. Just your best work. As you continue to book clients, or portfolio build you will keep adding new images as you go - keeping your strongest images, and removing your weakest ones.
Portfolio build
Get creative! If you don’t have any clients yet ( or are making a pivot ) - start with your network, hire models, and create the work YOU WANT TO PHOTOGRAPH.
Whatever it is you dream up, get those wheels in motion. The more you create, the more you are energetically telling the universe ( this is what I want to do! ) and the more doors you will start to see open.
There are so many ways you can do this - whether you have a friend who wants to model for you, to hiring a professional. Focus on creating the work for yourself, and the clients will follow.
Ready to dive in? I can help you create a game plan for your business and answer those questions on how to get started, marketing ideas, and how to best showcase your work.
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email: studio@michellemoore.com
