This question has me stumped, in photo school I enjoyed the advantage of having my teachers review my portfolio, offer me general critique and criticism, and I would learn from this. However being out of school I find this to be a much more difficult thing to request. I also have found that I spend a lot less time around other photographers so I feel somewhat detached from the photo world. (short of forums like this one ) I have spent a fair amount of time researching local places and can't seem to find what I am looking for. Is there a place online to submit my portfolio for review? Is going somewhere local or to a big portfolio review gathering my best bet? Is anyone, experienced in the professional world, interested in reviewing my portfolio? Obviously I am willing to pay if you are qualified and willing to do this.
do you belong to any photographers organizations or clubs with highly experience members? Got to be hard without peers and the more experienced to interact with.
A portfolio is most useful as an entry into a specific subfield where you've chosen to concentrate your work. It may be most useful if you can find someone who's work you respect in the chosen subfield to review your portfolio. Ask. The worse that can happen is they will decline.
There are reviews all over the country, mostly by gallery directors and also some well known
photographers like to get into that act. Usually this happens locally and it is intended to
promote and give direction to promising photographers.
However, looking at your images posted on your website I would dare to say that you may
not necessarily fit the profile that some art gallery directors seek to promote or exhibit.
I can also tell you that there are a few events in the US that have national impact as far as
portfolio reviews go, and that tend to launch chosen photographers into multiple exhibits at
well established galleries in different states. This is how photographers really enter the art
circuit with flying colors.
I know a few gallery directors and artists that are/were involved in some of these events and
I have somewhat of an idea what they may like and what they usually disapprove of (a big
list really) . Here is one of the events in question:
It is called Photolucida. It happens once a year. Check out the hundreds of gallery directors
listed and the chosen photographers: http://www.photolucida.org/
Btw, the Executive Director at Photolucida is Laura Moya, who happens to also be the person
choosing art work for one of my fave shows at 23 Sandy in Portland called "Resurrection/Photo
Alchemy".
If you go to Photoshop World in Washington DC next Spring, or Las Vegas in September, you can get portfolio reviews by some of the best photographers in the country. I had one from Joe McNally and another from Moose Peterson a few years ago; both were humbling experiences, but highly instructive. Sometimes you can snag some of the presenters between classes for quick reviews of one or two images. Dave Black and Frank Doorhof helped me with a couple, too.
) I have spent a fair amount of time researching local places and can't seem to find what I am looking for. Is there a place online to submit my portfolio for review? Is going somewhere local or to a big portfolio review gathering my best bet? Is anyone, experienced in the professional world, interested in reviewing my portfolio? Obviously I am willing to pay if you are qualified and willing to do this. 