Photos by GAF BRYSON, Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S. (Shawnee, Kansas); Susan Massy, adviser • superior rating
Creating a portfolio Some advice from professional photographers regarding assembling portfolios. • Your portfolio is only as strong as your weakest image. • Presentation is very important but content is even more important. William P. Cannon, Dayton Daily News • Editors want to see photos, and not hear or read excuses (“this would’ve been a better print, but I had to stay up to study for an exam the night before...”) • Spelling and grammar in your cover letter, resume, and captions, are as important as the photos you present. • Go beyond the obvious. Don’t show spot news and sports action photos without also presenting photos which show how people are affected by the action. • Pick pictures that show a variety of lens selection, lighting techniques, and vantage points. Mark Hertzberg, Director of Photography, Journal Times (Racine, Wis.) Continued on the next two pages
Spring 1999
By Bradley Wilson • Communication: Journalism Education Today • 1