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  1. #1
    GoldMember Lava Lamp's Avatar
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    What do you use for a portfolio?

    I am interested in putting together a physical portfolio of some of my commercial stuff. I'd like to find something really top quality, preferrably leather, that would allow for some 8 x10s and perhaps some 5x7s and 4x6s. Any recommendations?

  2. #2
    Moderator of Critiques/Hearder of Cats mtbbrian's Avatar
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    Re: What do you use for a portfolio?

    I'd recommend http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com.
    They make and/or sell some great items like you are looking for.
    Good Luck!
    Brian
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  3. #3
    don't tase me, bro! Asylum Steve's Avatar
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    If you want the best...

    ...these two sell the top-o-the-line books:

    http://www.lost-luggage.com/

    http://www.brewer-cantelmo.com/

    As it turns out, looks I'll be ordering a new book from Lost Luggage today.

    But I should warn you ahead of time: they ain't cheap. And they probably don't have anything smaller than 8.5x11...
    "Riding along on a carousel...tryin' to catch up to you..."

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  4. #4
    GoldMember Lava Lamp's Avatar
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    Re: If you want the best...

    Quote Originally Posted by Asylum Steve
    ...these two sell the top-o-the-line books:

    http://www.lost-luggage.com/

    http://www.brewer-cantelmo.com/

    As it turns out, looks I'll be ordering a new book from Lost Luggage today.

    But I should warn you ahead of time: they ain't cheap. And they probably don't have anything smaller than 8.5x11...
    Nice stuff. Thank you both for the links. Steve, so do you just show potential clients 11 x 14's only?

  5. #5
    Princess of the OT adina's Avatar
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    Re: If you want the best...

    Steve usually brings a book to Chicago, it looks great.
    I sleep, but I don't rest.

  6. #6
    re-Member shutterman's Avatar
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    What about photo books?

    What is your impression of the "Books" you can make? They turn out like coffee table books? I haven't see one in real life but was thinking of having one/some made.
    Wes

    Who are they, where are they, how can they possibly know all the rules?

  7. #7
    don't tase me, bro! Asylum Steve's Avatar
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    Re: If you want the best...

    Quote Originally Posted by Lava Lamp
    Steve, so do you just show potential clients 11 x 14's only?
    Well, my old book is the standard fashion size, about 9.5"x12.5", soft vinyl, binderless, with prints inserted into plastic pages. It looks ok, but tends to get a bit beat up over time. Especially the cover.

    As I'm getting back in the mix big-time, I thought it was time to upgrade a bit. My new book will be the LL 11"x14", but that includes a small binder/hinge on the side, so the actual viewable area is smaller.

    Plus, I plan to leave some border space around my images. My guess is the photos themselves will probably be the same size as before...
    "Riding along on a carousel...tryin' to catch up to you..."

    -Steve
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  8. #8
    don't tase me, bro! Asylum Steve's Avatar
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    Oh, that...

    Quote Originally Posted by adina
    Steve usually brings a book to Chicago, it looks great.
    I just found that portfolio at the airport. Had you guys all fooled...
    "Riding along on a carousel...tryin' to catch up to you..."

    -Steve
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  9. #9
    Learning more with every "click" mjs1973's Avatar
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    Re: Oh, that...

    A protfolio is one of my many "one of these days" projects. The one thing that I find a bit anoying is the format size for most of the books I have looked at, aren't made for print with the ration of 2:3 like a standard 35mm/DSLR image. It would be nice to print 8x12's and just slide them into a page...
    Mike

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  10. #10
    Too square to be hip. almo's Avatar
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    Re: Oh, that...

    I don't have a portfolio. I have never considered myself a good enough photog for that.

    What are 3 good reasons that I should consider it? And would you guys, after seeing the images on my website, say that I should make a portfolio?
    John Cowan
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  11. #11
    Princess of the OT adina's Avatar
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    Re: Oh, that...

    Quote Originally Posted by almo
    I don't have a portfolio. I have never considered myself a good enough photog for that.

    What are 3 good reasons that I should consider it? And would you guys, after seeing the images on my website, say that I should make a portfolio?
    I would think if you are planning on marketing yourself, you would want to have one.
    I sleep, but I don't rest.

  12. #12
    don't tase me, bro! Asylum Steve's Avatar
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    Re: Oh, that...

    Quote Originally Posted by mjs1973
    The one thing that I find a bit anoying is the format size for most of the books I have looked at, aren't made for print with the ration of 2:3 like a standard 35mm/DSLR image...
    You make a great point, Michael. On the other hand, it is roughly the same proportion as a magazine page, so for commercial shooters, the images and tearsheets fit nicely.

    When I picked up shooting again after my long layoff, one thing I had to constantly remind myself was to leave cropping room at the top or bottom of the frame (or both) when I composed a shot in the camera.

    Then again, you can always make your prints full frame and simply leave some white space around them to make them fit in the shorter format...
    "Riding along on a carousel...tryin' to catch up to you..."

    -Steve
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  13. #13
    don't tase me, bro! Asylum Steve's Avatar
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    Re: Oh, that...

    Quote Originally Posted by almo
    What are 3 good reasons that I should consider it?...
    Well, I can't say if they're GOOD reasons, but the three main reasons you'd want to have a book are (in no particular order): you're interested in commercial photography and need something to show potential clients; you're interested in showing your work and need something to show people at potential exhibiton spaces; and/or you're a serious amateur and simply want a nice collection of your photos to show whomever whenever.

    BTW, your last question was the dumb question of the day! You passed being good enough to have a portfolio a long time ago...
    "Riding along on a carousel...tryin' to catch up to you..."

    -Steve
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  14. #14
    Jedi Master masdog's Avatar
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    Re: Oh, that...

    Because a lot of photography is digital or digitally manipulated, a lot of places prefer that you send in a CD with your portfolio. So that is what I use - a single CD with a custom label.
    Sean Massey
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