Self Evaluation

personal website

 I decided to create my website on portfolio box it is easy and simple I have only included some of my projects but hope to expand it more. 

The Gallery

As you can see the gallery is horizontal were you can scroll along to see the photo in the project that you select from the left hand side. I thought this would be easier for people to select what they want to look at and the photo are large and easy to select to get a better look.

As you can see with the two print screens above I have a selection of images from the buddhist temple project they were selected because I thought that they would represent the project the best.

The two print screens above are from a short project based on the Blackpool piers. the first screen shot show a small description of the project.

The two screen shots above are from my the solder parade.

About me

A small paragraph describing what i do. I wouldn't have been able to do this with out the statement writing workshop

Contact

I know I would need a page were people could contact me so I set up an email address that is linked to the webpage. It also has links to my Facebook page and Flickr account.

THE LINK BELOW WILL TAKE YOU TO MY WEBSIT 

http://www.kelseyavis.portfoliobox.me/

My Portfolio

my portfolio contains 6 photographs that were used in previous post in this blog and 9 older photos that i have selected. some of the photos were selected because i thought that they would show what i can do with my photography and some arr were selected because I thought that they would be a great conversation starter for example the photos of the Buddhist are the start of a new                                  project that I hope to expand.

 

portfolio images

For my portfolio I will have 6 new images that have been featured in this blog before and some that are older images that I have chosen as I thought that they show my range of work.

fig 1

 fig 2

fig3 

                       fig 4                  

The images above are 4 of my new images that were taken in December 2014. I chose these 4 as I though they were would show that I could photograph events that require photographs that represent something like the solders returning to England  which represents our country.Figure 1 and 2 show the solders marching while figure 3 and 4 show a sort of mascot I thought these were the best photographs from the shoot.

fig 5                                                fig 6          

The three images above are older images from a photo shoot in a Buddhist temple they are some of the items that I found while looking around. I wanted them in my portfolio as I wanted to show that I could focus on what overs find important like figure in figure 6 that are of the robs the monks ware.

fig 7

 

            fig 8                                         fig 9     

The photos above are old images from Blackpool veteran weekend I wanted to include these photos as I want to show that I have experience with photographing events on this large scale. Figure 7 and 8 are of the quartet band that was made up of solders, figure 9 is of a veteran.

fig 10                                         fig 11

Fig 10 and 11 are images from a trip the Blackpool. The main reason I include them in my portfolio is because I like them and also because I think they show that I will photograph things that people enjoy not just scenes that serous.       

    

fig 12                                   fig 13        

Figure 13 and 14 are images from previous post in this blog. I wanted to include them in my portfolio as figure 14 has been been published in a volunteers magazine. Figure 13 was included because I wanted to show that I work in a different environment while people are busy.

fig 14                                              fig 15

Figure 14 and 15 are from a new series that i hope to expand as I am interested in other cultures they are from a Buddhist temple this is the main reason why I have included them in my portfolio so that I can tell a client what I will be doing in the future also it is a great conversation to have with someone      

portfolio research

A portfolio is an opportunity to present your work, but it is important to consider what the portfolio is for. Are you taking it to a job interview, or are you looking to get your work exhibited at a gallery? Maybe you just want to bring your work together to present it? 

A photographic portfolio is quite simply a collection of work. The common misconception is that it is required to be a 'best of' of all the work you've ever done. Although this can be true in some cases, it is more likely to be a series of work with a unifying theme, style or taken through a specific medium.

Their are a number ways a portfolio can be viewed I am looking at 3 ways  that I will consider for my own portfolio

 A portfolio in the form of a book properly the most popular as you can have you photos printed to a high quality which looks professional. One website you can do this on is blurb.com which help is a great website to create a portfolio.

Have your portfolio in a box with your photographs loos is also a popular way for your photos to be viewed and it also lets you add to it without have to create another book you just have to have you photos printed. You can buy a portfolio box from most art and craft shop.

Having your portfolio on the internet is a great way to get you photos out to show a client at any time even when you don't have you portfolio book or box it best to always have your portfolio on the internet as well as ether the book or the box. A great website for this is portfoliobox.com it also acts as a your website.

The options above are all great ways to present your work to clients. I will be have a black box as my portfolio because I will be able to ad photographs without having to create another book. I will also have a portfolio online so that I can access it when ever I need.

portfolio workshop

A portfolio is for clients to see:

Work 

Personality

interest

Interview-Skills technique

exhibition-Single unifying theme

Context

Your portfolio is not just for your favorite photographs but photos that are interesting and show what you do and what the client is looking for. For example if you are a documentary photographer and the client is looking  for a documentary photographer for portraits photography then your portfolio should have some portraits in.

Not only does the portfolio show your skills as a photographer but your style and aesthetics of your work.

What is important is your audience/clients researching them will give you a better insight to what they may be looking for. This will help with selecting your images for your portfolio.

Think of reaction that you want to evoke try to make your shots stand out to get the reaction you want. Get an idea of what they are looking for.

The theme of your portfolio will have to have consistent in colour balance. Also if you want to mix your images up then you should have a valid reason why you have done this.

when choosing your shots you have to keep in mind if you choose to have new images in you portfolio as you may become more involved in the newer images then your older images. Have some one help with your selecting as you have different opinions of your work then others may have. Don't just select your favorite images.

self publishing

Progressively, photographers who choose to self-publish are taking it to the next level. They’re turning one-time hits into more permanent structures that release works by other artists. Many have chosen this avenue as a way to snub the major publishers who are increasingly asking their authors to bring not only a great body of work, but also a check.

their are some goo website that you can use to publish your own book one that comes to mind is Blurb 

http://www.blurb.co.uk/

blurb is a website were you can publish your own books, you can also sell you books you have your own book selling page were people can see what you have published. The website is easy and makes creating your own photography book simply you do need to down loads adobe in-design.

Business plane / Mock Invoice

An invoice is a list of goods sent or services provided, with a statement of the sum due for these. With photography if you are a are working for yourself then you would have to calculate your own cost. for example as I am a documentary photographer I will need:

Equipment which is camera, lenses,tripod, laptop and accessories

Insurance

Travel which may include hotels

Marketing which includes website, domain and business cards

I was asked to create my own invoice that I would give to a customer. The image below is of a blank copy of my invoice

bussness cards

 You promote your small business when you hand out a business card; you're hoping that the person you're giving it to will use the information on the card to contact you. 

I used one of my photos from the Buddhist temple as I wanted to us one of my photos from the temple that is interesting but not something that will show too much so that the person is interested and will look at my website. I don't have my phone number on the card as I don't want it to be called from anyone for no reason if a person wants to contact me they can email me which is on the business card.

my personal statement

What is needed in a statement:

Third person

Area of specialism

Biggest achievements

Exhibitions

Place of study and course

Clients

Full name

Medium I.E documentary, fashion

Approach

Current work

Truthful

Draft Statement

Kelsey Avis is a documentary photographer working with people in different cultures trying to get a better understanding of their beliefs and customs. she has recently started to document a Buddhist temple located in England, capturing the life of the monks in the temple and document the events that take place.

That is just a short examine of what my statement will be like short and sweet seems to work better as when I was reading Mary Ellen Marks statement I started to look through it instead of reading it properly.

statement writing

It is an incredibly difficult task to describe your own work without sounding arrogant or self-absorbed. That is what a statement really is talking about yourself and your work in my case my photography work. 

You can have a short and sweet statement that is to the point and has everything that is needed. an example would be Steve McCurry's as his is short and has what you need to know about his work.

Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for more than thirty years, with scores of magazine and book covers, over a dozen books, and countless exhibitions around the world to his name.

Born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; McCurry studied film at Pennsylvania State University, before going on to work for a local newspaper. After several years of freelance work, McCurry made his first of what would become many trips to India. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and another of film, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the country with his camera.

It has his personal detail like were her was born and were and what he studied. Also it has a brief summery of his career in the beginning.

You can also have extended statement that contains everything from personal details to full extent of what you have done and what you have achieved. An great example of this is Mary Ellen Marks statement its is long and contains everything you would like to know about her work. Follow the link below to see the statment 

http://www.maryellenmark.com/bio_resume/bio_resume.html

The statement contains a brief about her and then goes on to her education, grants, single and group exhibitions, permanent collections,awards, teachings and lectures, books and articles based on her work and film credits from the 1960's to present she has had a great career and her statement is quite full.

Age UK Volunteer of the year

I was asked by the charity Age UK to photograph the winner of the volunteer of the year award in Crosby. Anthony was the winner of the 2014 volunteer award for Age UK I went to the shop to photograph him and his award. The shoot was fun and I enjoyed meeting new people while I was doing this. One of my photos have been selected to be in the magazine which I am very happy about