Over the weekend I linked to a fabulous article on how to make a strong portfolio of your work.
Aside from the actual body of work and the presentation, I think there is a vital ingredient that too many photographers neglect:
The photographer!
Earlier this week my friend linked to another photographer she liked. I was eager to discover why she liked this photographer so much. After trying to find an about page (and there was none) I tried to find a picture of the photographer so I could put a face to the name. All I found was a photo with a huge camera covering her face.
I gave up.
I’m sure her images were nice, but I wanted to know about HER!
She totally lost me because she excluded herself from the display of her own work.
Unfortunately, this has happened to me several times. I happen upon a site, and eagerly want to find more out about the artist. At minimum, I want to see their face. All of their face. I want to see their eyes and have a proper introduction without trying to communicate with a camera inbetween.
If you want others to risk their own insecurities in front of your camera, you must invite them by first showing that you are willing to do it yourself.
Step in front of the lens.
I’m not the only one that moves on if I can’t find any information on the photographer. For some reason, this is a huge trust issue for me. If you show me your face and tell me about you, then I trust you enough to contact you about photography. If there is no information, I pay no attention. Images do not speak for themselves in a world where there are so many great photographers.
I promise you this will do more than you can even imagine for establishing trust with prospective clients.
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Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. She eats a spoonful of Nutella every day at 3 p.m. This is the secret to life happiness.
Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.
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4 Responses
I recently filmed a promo video for my website. And I put myself in front of the camera. Not just for photos. But for video! **gasp** I definately prefer to be behind the camera. I hated every second of being filmed. But it turned out ok and I highly doubt that my clients see me as a huge goober, like I do. Haha!
Oooh! Fantastic Rayleigh! Video is even better!
I totally agree! I am the same way. I love to read about the photographer and be able to put a face to the name and their work. I get really frustrated when there isn’t anything about the artist and I too just move on. I think having a short bio and a snapshot that shows your personality is a great way for potential clients to feel a connection with the photographer, and can make or break a hiring.