Photographer of the Year: Shooting a great portfolio

One of the challenges of Photographer of the Year presented by Ted's cameras is it asks entrants in the major categories to enter a portfolio of four images that work together cohesively – something that’s a challenge for even seasoned photographers.

Here are a few pointers to help guide your portfolio building process and make for a stronger entry.

Firstly, what do we mean by a portfolio?

There are many different types of portfolios in the creative world, but for Photographer of the Year we’re looking for a series of images that tell a story and/or work together as a whole.

This is most typically done through consistent subject matter but can also be done through photography technique (such as a series of long exposures) or editing style (a series edited in a consistent fashion). The very best series will combine all these elements.

Shoot what you know

It’s a bit of a cliché, but photographing a subject you’re familiar with is a great starting point for a strong portfolio.

In fact, from our 2022 Animal & Nature category winner Raphael Giraud’s perspective, the most valuable skill in creating a portfolio is to do something personal.

“You have to photograph something because you love it, not because you think it might be a good chance to win a competition,” he said.

In the past, we’ve seen winning entries depicting photographers’ families, local architecture, or in Raphael’s case, the underwater wildlife he’d see on his regular dives.

Photograph what you know well, and it will show in your work.

Consistency, consistency, consistency

Consistency has to be your mantra if you want to create a compelling portfolio. Each image must look like it belongs to the one next to it.

Consider every element, from aspect ratio, to editing style, to camera technique, as you refine your series.

Every year, many portfolios fall down because the selection of images just aren’t as consistent as other entries, or for a lack of difference between the photos.

If you capture three great images, and a fourth image that is very similar to one of the others, you won’t be doing yourself any favours.

At the pointy end of the competition this becomes hugely important.

Tell the right story

Telling a story with your series is a great technique for a strong portfolio, but it’s important you tell the right story. Keep it simple and clear, and consider how your chosen image order best tells the story you’re telling.

In some cases you’ll need to reshoot images or capture more than four to get to your final selection, so make sure you allow time for this if you need to.

Enjoy the process

Creating a portfolio is an art, and part of what makes Photographer of the Year unique is it allows you to experiment and try it out for yourself with a relatively small number of images.

Getting your series down to just four images forces you to be ruthless in your selections and really get to the core of what it is you’re trying to say with your work.

Our hope is that these skills will make you a better photographer, while also enjoying the process of refining your work to create something unique.

Photographer of the Year presented by Ted's cameras is open for entries now. Enter here.