There I was, making logo, after logo, after logo, a while my background in photography and design begged to be creatively fulfilled. Though I was thankful to be attracting clients, thats was where I had to stop and sock of how I was attracting these types of gigs.
When you're an artist, it's important to create art that you love, the type of project that sparks the flow and hours pass you by. Not only will this make you happier in the moment, but it will also attract the type of clients you want to work for while for the work you want to make for them. A portfolio that is full of your personal work is much more appealing than one that is crammed with work you don't believe in. Clients can see your past work as a stylistic social proof and tend to want to repeat something they saw as a success. In this blog post, I'll discuss some tips i've picked up along the way on creating a portfolio that reflects your personal style and attracts the types of clients you want to work for!
When you're creating a portfolio, it's important to keep your target client in mind. You want to make sure that the projects you showcase are not only ones that would appeal to them, but the type of work you wan to make for them. For example, if you're hoping to attract clients in the fashion industry, then make sure your portfolio reflects that! Fill it with images of well-dressed people, fabulous locations, and creative concepts. I believe my first portfolio was jam packed with photoshoots and mockups of album art, posters, and photography sets I created for my own enjoyment... even though primarily my experience at that point was logo work and branding. That bored me to death and helped provide me the shift I so desired.
Another great tip is to never do work for exposure. This is something that a lot of artists make the mistake of doing, and it can really hurt your business in the long run. When you're starting out, it can be really hard to say no to offers of free work, but it's important to remember that you're worth more than that. You're worth the time it takes to find clients who are a good fit for you and your work, and who are willing to pay you what you're worth. So don't be afraid to turn down offers of free work - you'll be glad you did in the long run!
In fact Art Grab, the company I co-founded with a group of other artist on similar paths, was set up as a way to bridge that very gap. When creating all of this work I wanted to and holding off on projects that did not meet my payment threshold... I realized I had HUNDREDS of pieces of art, I was slowly licensing out to people at lower rates. So to this day, I still hold off on commissions and spend time fulfilling my creative need and making cash for that same content later on when the right buyers were looking to get licenses. If you have a bank of spare art and primarily use social media as a way of sharing it with the world, it might be worth checking out.
Do you have any tips for creating a portfolio that reflects your personal style and attracts the types of clients you want to work for? Share them in the comments below! And if you're looking for more tips on how to attract the right clients, be sure to check out my other blog post, "How to Attract Clients You Actually Want to Work With." until next time, happy freelancing!