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Let's say you are now confident in your photography and shooting image's that you love. Now, how do you figure out which photograph's are best to show? I think every photographer struggles with this question from time to time and with good reason. You may be good at selecting images you love but do they work together to show your style and tell a story as your potential client's look at your work.
Whenever I edit my image's, and by edit I mean selecting the images that work together best, not retouching. When editing images I make small version first and place them on a flat surface so I can see all the images. Then I work on putting the images together that work best together. Very often the images I like most may not work together, so I change my edit to show a stronger story.
In a recent shoot with Alyson Stoner I had a million great shots, but in order to show the images in a way that works best I need to make sure I look to use the law of opposite's to put my images together. If you look at my website, www.MatthewJordanSmith.com, you will see that I show my images in groups of two, the same way a magazine is put together. I want to speak in a language that my clients are accustomed to, so I've chosen this way to show vs just showing images one by one. When showing two images side my side, one will always grab the viewer attention over the other, so I don't want the images to fight for attention. Instead I want one to compliment the other, so I use the law of opposites to help tell my story. Large image by small image, action vs still, eyes directly to my viewer vs looking away, etc. Look through your favorite magazine to observe this law and you will look at your images in a new light.
The third image is an example of image's that should not go together because both images fight against each other for attention. Both images are both tight beauty type images and by themselves work well, but when you put these images together they do not compliment the other and do you more harm than good.
To correct this I place an image with energy and movement next to the image that calls the viewer attention as in the first and second images, making for a better spread and showing not only your photography but your ability to tell a story.
Always Dream Big!
5 comments:
Not being a portrait photographer, I was very interested to read about this technique.
I wonder if it translates at all to my semi-abstract b&w work?
I think I'll revisit the way I present things and see if there's a way I can use that complementary technique you've pointed out.
Thanks!
Very interesting article, you should do one about landscape and macro photography which is the style I photograph most. Thanks!
Great entry, very helpful.
Thank you so much for sharing this pose about how to select photographs. I peak on Riz's mobile upload about you showing my hubby (jeremy) along with the rest of the students on how to select the best images. Again, I have to hit myself so hard for not coming to Kyoto with you guys, and I hope you guys will do this again in the states, where I can come too! Anyway, wishing you the rest of the Tokyo leg of the trip amazing and i can't wait til Jeremy comes home to tell me about how much amazing things happen during this trip with you and Scott.
I have been working out a more streamlined front end for my website. Your philosophy on image pairing is working wonderfully as I make selections. I generally show lanscape images to maximise on monitor space but pairing images this way is a great addition. Thanks for sharing!
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