West 38 : July 2019

how to build a photography portfolio without clients

West38: Photography Portfolio Layout

00:12

West38 Shares How To Make A Photography Portfolio

Welcome to the West38 blog. West38 help reveal individual talents and discover unique features according to your needs and strategy. In today's blog, we give you expert advice on designing a professional portfolio. Here are some tips you should think about when you are laying out your portfolio

Tips For Laying Out Your Book

1. Start and end with your strongest images!
2. Pre-plan EVERYTHING and be organized.
3. Use a program like InDesign or hand draw your layout before getting everything printed. It’s very easy to mess up while doing something that uses gutters by not knowing which image lies on each side of your book BEFORE having everything printed.
4. Look to magazines for inspiration on how to design your layout. W Magazine is top notch when it comes to art direction and layout. Check it out.
5. Get a second (third, fourth and fifth) opinion before finalizing your layout!
6. Still don’t know what to do? Check out No Plastic Sleeves to get inspired.
7. Look to other photographers who have shared their portfolios online. Joey L has a great post on how he created his portfolio.
8. Remember – your portfolio doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a book at all!
9. If you’re unhappy with the “standard” come up with something new.
10. Whatever choices you make in how you present your portfolio make sure it represents you in a positive light and doesn’t detract too much attention away from the images within.

Thank you for reading through my post about portfolios. I hope that you got some useful pointers from and are ready to start your portfolio journey or, if you have already started, to make those necessary tweaks to get your portfolio just right.

Do you have any tips for laying out your portfolio that wasn’t covered in this post? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.

West38 aim is not to copy existing styles but create something unique specially for you. Our superpower is the ability to show how beautiful and different you can be . It’s kind of a psychological therapy if you come to us with insecurities you will leave the West38 studio with the feeling that you are the most beautiful person in the world. There is no other person like you and we will make it your biggest advantage. Discover more about West38 online here. Follow West38's Twitter page here and see few examples of impressive portfolio. We're all about consumer reviews. Get the real inside reviews provided by West38 customers on the West38 Yell page here.

You can also watch West38's video here:

Art

West38's Street Photography Techniques

23:36

West38 Shares Street Photography Tips for Beginners

Welcome to the West38 photography blog. West38 is a destination for young hopefuls and seasoned pro’s alike when searching for coveted information about the often secretive and highly guarded fashion photography world. In today's blog you’ll discover fantastic tips for taking your treet photography to the next level. Let's get started!

Work the Angles. Here’s a trick I’d like you to try and I cannot believe I’m giving this method out on the internet, but I think you’ll have some fun with this:

Set you camera to an f-stop of about 2.2 and adjust ISO and Shutter speed based on your lighting conditions. Also make sure you are in auto focus for these images.
Place your camera around your neck and allow the camera to hang at a low vantage point.
Walk through the streets as you would
When you see something of interest, line yourself up and press the shutter as the camera hangs below — do not lift up to look in the viewfinder!
Snap, snap and snap some more!

Take as Many Images as You Can. Take one photo, then another, then one more and keep shooting until your feet hurt and it’s time to go home — or don’t because sunrise street photography could make for some great images. Treat street photography like a game and whichever player captures the most images of the day wins. It doesn’t matter if every image is perfect, full of expression or framed with intention — the purpose is to encapsulate a moment of time for your viewer.

Look for the Ordinary. When photographing on the street, capture what is interesting and appealing to you. For me, I seek out individuals who are sitting, standing, acting alone, the expressions of young children or people in love. For others, it may be a new take on industrial neighborhoods, how affluence affects a community, the neighborhood pets causing ruckus in the alleys. In short, shoot your inspiration!

Follow the Movement. The last thing to note is that the movement is where you will find the sweet spot of the street. Walking, running, skipping, building, driving, dancing, flying — these actions can be discovered on every corner. But don’t stop at the obvious; movement can be captured in the streaming of tears, the wind blowing back your hair or the tying of shoe laces on the hot pavement.

There you go. I would love to see your inspiration and visuals of life. Feel free to drop me a link to your work below!

West38 shatters the barriers of silence, exposing privileged information and insider secrets about the technical and business aspects of the world of fashion photography. We blog to become an online educational resource for photographers in the world! Learn more about West 38 online here. More tips and advice on street photography on West38's Pinterest page here. You can also check out West38's current projects we're working on the West 38 Facebook page here.

You can also watch West 38's video here:

close up photography ideas

West 38: How Take Better Close-Ups

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West 38 shares simple techniques for shooting close-up photos

Welcome to the West38 photography blog. West 38 believes that to be taken serious in today’s work environment, you need a photo that works for you and not against you. In today's blog post we share tips on how to improve your close-up photography technique. Let's get started.

First of all, let's consider the gear you are working with. You don't necessarily need to invest tons of money in an incredibly high tech camera or lens setup in order to produce professional-looking results. Generally speaking, any model of modern DSLR or mirrorless camera will suit you just fine for close up work. A good lens can come in handy here, however. Luckily, you can find a sufficient lens without spending a ton of money. Look for something that will give you magnification capabilities of at least 0.20. If you can get your hands on a macro lens, great. If not, you can certainly proceed with whatever you have at your disposal (or whatever is within your budget) and produce a great shot regardless.

Getting started, you might want to try working outdoors, during the day. Unless you have some supplementary lighting setup or a studio, the stronger light provided outdoors will help you capture much brighter, more colorful looking images without as much difficulty as you may find indoors. So if you're able to physically bring your desired macro subject outside, do so.

Finally, play with your manual exposure while composing the image. This will give you the capability to truly focus on and portray the little details you're looking to capture.

Check back fore more.

WEST 38 is a photographic studio in the heart of NYC dedicated to working with and helping those looking to break into the talent and model industry. We have all the required experience and expertise, from our competent photographers to best industry stylists and creatives. We will project your one-of-kind image to the world through our professional modeling shoots that help you make a bold statement and move you closer to achieving your goal. We're very excited to learn more about you and your photography needs. Contact West 38 here. More tips on how you can get going in close-up photography on West 38's Twitter page here.

You can also watch West 38's video here:

natural light photography

West38: Shooting with Natural Light

08:12

West38 Talks About When to Use Natural Light in Photography

Welcome to West38 photography blog. West38 is inspired by one simple truth, “A moment is defined not only by its subject, but also by the effect it has on those who share it.” We believe life’s milestones deserve to be photographed with this in mind. In today's blog post, we talk about the use of natural lighting in your photographs. Read on to find out more.

When it comes to taking high quality photos, lighting conditions will always have a significant impact on your results. But how should you decide which is the better option in a given situation?Although there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer and every artist has their own creative vision and style, there are few general tips worth learning if you find yourself struggling to make compositional choices.

The Difference Between Natural and Artificial Light. Often referred to as “available light” in the industry, natural light essentially refers to images that are taken without using any flash, strobe, or other type of artificial source. Contrarily, when an image is photographed using artificial light, the photographer decided to supplement the available light using some type of equipment.

The Benefits of Natural Lighting. Natural light has a lot of benefits, the largest probably being availability and convenience. You don’t have to spend a ton of money on gear in order to achieve well-lit photos. By developing a better understanding of natural light and how to best use it to your advantage, you can create beautiful images without ever needing to use supplementary gear if you don’t own any. So in many ways, this option is cheaper and more convenient.

Are There Any Downsides to Natural Lighting? On the other hand, natural lighting can provide some challenges. For one, natural lighting is unpredictable and out of your control. While photographers can plan according to the weather and time of day in order to capture the sunlight at a time when it offers the desired strength or softness, weather is always subject to change and this can certainly cause some frustration. So while natural light may offer convenience insofar as you won’t need to transport or set up cumbersome gear, it can also throw you for a loop if it say, unexpectedly gets cloudy during a shoot when you were relying on the availability of strong sunlight.

Benefits of Artificial Light. If you’re working with artificial light, you’re granted a lot more control over your composition. You don’t have to plan according to the weather or time of day when you’re using artificial light sources, because you have the ability to make adjustments as you’re shooting in order to achieve the look you’re going for, no matter what’s going on with the weather or light around you.

When is Natural Light a Better Choice? Many photographers opt to use natural instead of artificial light when they’re hoping to achieve a more organic, sincere -looking aesthetic in their images. For example, shooting a portrait of a client in a studio setting, using the typical artificial lighting setup will provide you with a very different aesthetic compared to photographing that client outdoors or in a home, using nothing but sunlight. Some artists feel that natural lighting is more appropriate when capturing an intimate, genuine vibe.

Which Is Right For You? The style of lighting you use is ultimately a matter of your creative preferences, access to gear and budget. If you’re an inexperienced photographer with a small creative budget and don’t yet own artificial light equipment such as strobes, there are still plenty of ways you can study natural light to achieve the results you desire.

Check back for more.

West38 deploys a variety of photographic techniques to uncover a richer, more human depth, and utilize perspective and framing to tell a story that will only improve with time. All accomplished with a relaxed intelligence and light-footed presence that puts our clients at ease, allowing them to more fully inhabit the big moments in their lives. Learn more about West38 here. If you want to work with West 38 to take a deep dive into all things light-related as you fine tune your skills and develop your eye. Click here to learn more. If studying lighting in something you’re particularly interested in, check out West 38 facebook page here and keep up to date with the latest photography tips and tricks.

You can also watch West 38 video here

West38: Photography Portfolio Layout

West38 Shares How To Make A Photography Portfolio

Tips For Laying Out Your Book

West38's Street Photography Techniques

West38 Shares Street Photography Tips for Beginners

West 38: How Take Better Close-Ups

West 38 shares simple techniques for shooting close-up photos

West38: Shooting with Natural Light

West38 Talks About When to Use Natural Light in Photography

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