After some unforeseen delays in life it is finally time to really, truly look at almost all the work I’ve done and rethink my overall portfolio.

This could end up being an exercise in which I end up showing the same pictures I do now, but I think some things will change.

I am sitting here with a total of over probably 1,400 of my favorite pictures, small prints, and trying to organize them all is a daunting task.  I’ve come to realize that, at this point, the photos I like to shoot the most are the ones that probably have the least potential of being marketable. So, I need to think about presentation and the photos I also enjoy taking that don’t quite echo my preferred, perfect world of photography…which is fine. There is work and then there is play. This is a challenge for me because I think at the moment I am evolving rapidly (progressing, not so sure) as a photographer (I hope I always will be, but maybe just not at this pace), and what most defines the direction I want to go is probably the most incomplete looking body of work, but, as they say you should show the work that reflects the type of work you want to do.

My hope is to come out of this mess with three portfolio books with the following purposes:

Commercial: Bright colors, fun portraits, landscapes, interiors etc. that I think show how I shoot but also show things in a positive or intriguing light…the photojournalism mantra of telling the truth no matter what it may be isn’t always applicable with advertising work. Hopefully this will be the book shown to a more local clientele where it will probably be most applicable. It’s been my experience that working with people who buy photographs for a living is intensely different from those who run a business or whose passion is not photography. This book will be more catered to folks who are not professional photo buyers but will still hopefully include a variety of images that can appeal to photo buyers and give a bigger idea as to the different ways I can approach a situation.

Agricultural/Environmental Photojournalism: Most of my photojournalism work has had to do with people and the land, and I have enough of this to put a book together concerning the topic. A large portion of it will include work from my summer documenting sustainable forestry but will also go to include other local farms, gardens and touch on local food consumption as well. Though I still enjoy photojournalism, I don’t want only photojournalism assignments. If and when I do get hired for strictly photojournalism assignments, my ideal work would be that within the context of people trying to improve the world. My environmental work is where I have focused on this to a large extent and the best way to represent this goal. I’m not a doom and gloom photographer and not really interested in being one….that said I will document what I see.

Personal Book: This book will consist of the work that I produce when no one is paying me to do so. I make a ton of photographs and though I am young as a photographer, I have gotten to a point where I am starting to understand (to a very small degree nonetheless) where my soul lies and the work that I feel a strong connection to.  This book will consist of mostly medium format film landscape and portrait work, possibly a few commercial portraits I’ve connected with, and probably a number of personal travel digital images as well. I want to make sure this book is consistent in color, tone, aesthetic and content. This book will probably reflect my “perfect world” in terms of representing the work I want to do. The day I am getting hired to shoot introspective travel work, or medium format film portrait and interior/detail/landscape work will be a day of celebration for me, but this will probably be my biggest challenge. If there is ever a day where I show only this book to potential clients, then I know I am in a place where I can afford to take more risks. In all honesty, I’m not sure that ever happens for most photographers and for those it does happen to, they are the best around.

Depending on clients I visit, I will probably show two books. I am guessing that most clients will see my commercially geared book, which will be a sort of “singles” book, and then the environmental photojournalism book, which I hope will show diversity but also a more complete body of work. Some clients, especially ones that are more strictly editorial will probably see my personal book and the environmental photojournalism book.

This is my thought process for now, getting this all organized seems overwhelming but it’s finally about time to tackle it.

Thoughts, suggestions? How have you organized your book(s)? What has worked and not worked for you?