Online Portfolio Set Up

Overview: As you learn professional photography techniques and software you should also begin preparing a portfolio of your work. A portfolio is the essential way that you show off your work to others to gain future employment. There are a variety of online services that specialize in photography portfolios. We will experiment with this service so you can learn the essential parts of an online portfolio.

Photographers also market their work using social networking through sites like Snapwire, 500px and Flickr. We will create a Folio HD account to create a space where you can showcase your best photography.

Directions:

Step 1: First go to http://foliohd.com/ to set up an initial account with Folio HD.

I am not endorsing this Web site as the best online service for hosting your online portfolio. It is simply the only decent service that provides free online portfolio hosting for up to 36 images. The free account provides minimal features, but more features are available if you are willing to pay a monthly fee.

Step 2: After you set up your account, follow these three steps listed under the Portfolio Manager:

• Upload some photos (start with 3)
• Fill out your Profile (see directions below)
• Personalize your Portfolio (very limited with free account, try going to Settings and then Design and Customize to adjust background color and font choices)

Step 3: Profile Directions: Remember to keep it professional with the following information.

• Only post a professional e-mail address that includes your name or some easy to remember/communicate version of it. BEWARE: If you post an e-mail address you might get more spam in your e-mail account. Safer to use a contact form, but it costs more to do that.
• OPTIONAL: Post a link to your Snapwire account. Make sure your link DOES NOT include the https:// part. Just include www.snapwi.re/user/WHATEVER
• OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: Post a social media account that is unrelated to personal stuff that you don't want linked to a professional account. Clean up your online reputation! Don't portray yourself as immature because most people research services such as photography online before hiring.
• Under Website URL add the link to your student blog.
• Add ONLY a professional photo of yourself. No selflies! If you haven't taken a good self portrait, this is a good reason to do one. You will have a chance to do this when we start studio photography next semester.

Step 4: Send an e-mail to akins.journalism@gmail.com with the URL for your FolioHD website. I will create a list of links to your Folio accounts so we can look at each of our best works.

Step 5: When you have finished setting up your FolioHD account. Go to your Snapwire account and update the following items on your Portfolio page:

• Artistic Statement
• Add tags for your areas of interest
• Provide a link to your FolioHD portfolio
• Add at least one photo to Snapwire. Be careful about the settings.