![What does your portfolio say about you?]()
By Hannah Freeland
We all know that the first thing a potential client wants to see is our portfolio of work, but what are they looking for?
- Who have we previously photographed?
- What type of feeling comes across in the image?
- What does a typical client look like for the photographer?
- What type of yard do they photograph at?
- Are they an expert?
- Are they horsey and understand when a horse looks good?
- Have they worked with anyone famous?
And many many more, but the point is – clients won’t be looking for 100 images to ensure you have photographed thousands of clients in every possible location. Your client wants to view 10-20 beautiful images that speak to them. You need to put what you do best – RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
What is it that you bring to a shoot? For example:
- Dramatic shots with dark backgrounds
- Children and ponies are your thing
- Smart dressage horses with the rider in all of their gear
Whatever your ‘thing’ is, make sure you throw it in your potential clients face when they look at your portfolio.
My ‘thing’ is capturing the bond. I love the quiet moments that happen naturally while my clients are simply adoring their horse. This is what’s shown in my portfolio, and I have heard clients tell me hundreds of times they just love the connection I capture.
People will talk themselves out of it
I remember reading once that if you show a client 10 perfect images that match what they are looking for then they will purchase. If you show them 99 perfect images and 1 that doesn’t speak to them, they will walk away and find another photographer. People will find excuses for not booking, it’s part of our makeup.
It’s a harsh reality, but it’s another reason why we must make sure we have the following checklist ticked off when building our portfolio:
- Are you 100% happy with each and every one of them? If you’re not sure about the image – TAKE IT OUT of your portfolio.
- Is your target market in your portfolio?
- Is your ideal location to photograph in your portfolio?
- Can you replicate the results in the portfolio?
- Is it clear what your ‘thing’ is?
- Does it flow nicely and give a great overview of your brand?
If you cannot answer YES to these questions, take a look through your hard drives, re-edit your images and get out there and shoot to fill this check list!
Last but not least, as I could write about Portfolios for days… when was the last time you updated yours?
People love to follow photographers for years before they book with them, believe me!
Make sure you are always showing your best and most current work.
![What does your portfolio say about you?]()
I have followed Ashley Longshore for some time now. I was told about her by one of my business mentors, who said she sells her work on Instagram- and it literally sells out in minutes. I’m not talking one piece being sold. I’m talking, like, hundreds of pieces being sold within minutes of her posting “the shop is open”.
I got sucked in left right and centre- this lady is the most incredible, insanely talented, honest, authentic version of herself you could possibly imagine. If you check her out, she might not be your cup of tea. But you know what? She gives every artist and every woman the encouragement, the motivation and the belief that she can smash her goals, her dreams and the world. Because Ashley did.
She says this overnight success was not overnight success. It was 24 years of hard graft, copious amounts of rejection and people telling her to go get a proper job. And yet, she stayed the course, she kept her head down, kept hustling and finally she made her dream come true. And she believes we all can too. She is one of the most famous living artists, financially rocking the world and living her dream right now.
I decided I wanted to order a painting from her. So as soon as she had released her new limited edition paintings I logged on to Instagram and went straight to the link…. SOLD OUT SOLD OUT is all I saw. Disappointed I was reading the 100’s of comments below the post… “I’m so upset I wasn’t quick enough” …“when are you next releasing work”… “I’m gonna be quicker next time” …“I WILL get one of your pieces eventually- I will!”.
I looked around her website a bit longer and manged to buy her book – completely and utterly inspirational, written about her journey as an artist. But the best bit about my purchase was the email I received. It made me laugh so hard that I printed it off and have kept it on my desk to remind me to be myself, be authentic and don’t be scared of who you are and who is listening. Have a read below…
![What does your portfolio say about you?]()
By Hannah Freeland
I was recently asked about how photography entered my life. I had to really think about this as there was no ‘lightbulb’ moment.
When I was about 6-7 I borrowed my father’s film cameras and started photographing objects around the house and garden.
I remember picking a single rose from the garden, bringing it into the house, finding my mum’s cut crystal vase and setting up the rose and vase onto the dresser for the oak back drop. I had no idea why I was doing this, but I just wanted to style something and make it my own. I played with this for hours, turning the rose so only the perfections could be seen, making sure the vase had no marks on it and giving space around them both.
Waiting for films to be developed was so normal then. The excitement would build and I would constantly beg mum to pay for the 1hr turn around. ‘Absolutely not Hannah, the 1-week turnaround is fine’, oh the agony.
I used to photograph my animals constantly. We still have 100’s of images of the dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and of course the ponies. I just wanted to capture the love I had for them.
I assumed that others wanted to see of the cute things they would do, like my horse eating hay in his stable… It’s incredible right?
When I was about 12, I had a best friend also called Hannah. We devised a plan to get our ponies to live together, and would you believe it, we pulled it off! So Rudolf and Candy lived together on my grandparent’s farm and we were able to ride together and spend entire weekends at the stables together.
I asked Hannah if I could take some photos of her and Candy (like the magazines, I told her) at the stables. I wanted to take pictures of her, in her riding gear with her pony Candy, looking cute. She of course obliged and posed for hours with Candy.
Little did I know that I had just lit a fire inside. I had such fun that day, but when you have that much fun doing something you assume that this is your hobby. Another thing to do in your spare time when you’re not working and earning your living.
I now see so many children and young adults taking thousands of images on their phones and instantly getting the feedback from friends online. I wish they could feel the same joy I used to, at taking 1 picture with your film camera and the anticipation of waiting for it to be developed. The problem with instant feedback, is it’s instantly moved on from. The creation, the excitement, anticipation and waiting makes moments worth holding on for- something I can sense when clients wait for their special images to be viewed for the very first time!
![What does your portfolio say about you?]()
By Hannah Freeland
Back in 2006 I owned and ran my own website and graphic design company.
I set it up, trained myself in running a business and hired a team to support me as I walked through the trenches.
I worked with wonderful clients on exciting projects and managed to travel to inspiring places around the UK.
While I was working alongside these clients I would offer my ‘Photography’ skills on the side. We would be building a website for a vet client and I would suggest we do a photo shoot for the imagery. I would offer my services, with my Canon DSLR, for £90!
Yup, you heard me right. £90.
I would include all of the images for this price, editing time and delivery.
Let me tell you my reasoning behind this price:-
It wasn’t because I didn’t think the images were worth more and it wasn’t because I didn’t value my time.
It was because I just LOVED photography to such an extent that I was just so happy if someone let me loose with their product or company and photograph their vision.
I was being paid to create the website, the graphic designs and the clients online structure. The photography was the part of the job where I felt it was my down time, and where I could really use my imagination. They were actually willing to pay me and extra £90 to work on my photography and hone my skills…in my head – that’s a win, win!
So, when I look back, it’s only with positivity.
The lessons I learnt for £90:-
- How to use my camera for product shots
- How to photograph products on different coloured backgrounds
- How to use lighting
- How to edit product images
- How to capture lifestyle shots with a commercial twist
- How to capture images that the client’s audience would engage with
- How to use natural light
- How to use my camera to its fullest
- How to use my editing software
- How to export images for websites
- How to create a bank of images clients can use for their touch points
- How to resize for print
- How to work with 6 different subjects for one photo shoot
The list goes on and on – but without diversifying this way in my other business, offering this service that I loved from the bottom of my heart, I would have never had the opportunity to develop my love for photography. I would have also had to work for FREE in order to gain this experience!
Whenever we do work for cheap or for free there HAS to be a reason. None of us can survive without getting paid. We can’t pay our mortgage with a shout-out in a magazine. We can’t pay our electricity bill with client testimonials.
What we can do, and you need to be strategic and clever with free or cheap work, is LEARN, GAIN EXPERIENCE and GROW.
Make sure you are grateful for each and every experience you take and remember not to miss any that will add to your knowledge.
![What does your portfolio say about you?]()
By Hannah Freeland
- I have loved and ridden horses since I was 2
- I have 3 sisters, of which I am the eldest, and they are my best friends
- I am useless at Cross Country- I’m just not brave enough!
- I didn’t know being a full time equine photographer was a job or business until 12 years ago
- I believe furniture should be moved frequently for a clear mind and because my Mum does it
- I swapped from Canon to Nikon a year ago
- I have a trusted team around me who help support and run things with me
- I’ve had a business and photography mentor for 9 years
- I continue to be surprised at how beautiful horses are with their owners on every single shoot
- I worked with Harry Meade for 3 years photographing behind the scenes. It was only supposed to be one event! We continue to be firm friends and I miss the adventure on daily basis, but I’m also happy that I’m creating my own adventure
- I’m jealous of other people’s self-confidence
- Time genuinely flies past on photo shoots – it’s when I am at my happiest
- I am constantly trying to diet, however, my will power is my enemy
- I have a retired horse called Twiggy
- I love driving; and its part of the job. It gives me the chance to listen to the MANY podcasts that I subscribe to
- I am constantly learning new strategies for running my business
- I feel it takes me longer to come to conclusions than others
- I am 35
- I am grateful for my work and life, each and every day
- I don’t ever want to get off of this ride
![What does your portfolio say about you?]()
By Emily Hancock
- I am a book worm – you will always find me reading when I have 5 minutes
- I play the piano and sing
- I play the Ukulele (loosely speaking…!)
- I can ski and snowboard
- I’m OBSESSED with stationary
- I have a huge stamp collection- over a decades-worth, in fact!
- I have a very large family- at my wedding my immediate family took up 60 seats!
- I am a dog person
- I have owned horses all my life
- I competed in Dressage competitions up to Advanced level
- I took 2 gap years and travelled the world
- I have a BSc degree in human biology
- I have been with my husband for nearly 20 years
- I love the countryside
- I love my vegetable patch- I grow a massive assortment every year!
- I keep a journal and write in it every day
- I am the youngest (and the quietest!) in my family of 5 brothers and sisters
- I have eaten marmite on toast for breakfast nearly every day for the last 35 years…I’m a woman of routine, what can I say!
- My hair is totally uncontrollable I look like a witch when it hasn’t been tamed
- My main goal in life is for me and my family to be happy, embrace every moment and enjoy the ride.
🙂
