Photgraphers — Build A Body Of Work
It’s important to build a body of work. I personally value proficiency very highly when it comes to the pursuit of photography. I have established a body of work when it comes to my wildlife photography and now I am starting all over trying to build a body of work with my toy photography.
(To stay up on my toy photography visit VERO. It’s free to get an account there and it will be my main photo outlet ‘along with my Medium account’ going forward — Follow me on VERO and I’ll follow you back. vero.co/scottbourne)
This is all tied into style and portfolio building but I like to focus on it from the proficiency angle.
Proficient means: Having or marked by an advanced degree of competence, as in an art, vocation, profession, or branch of learning.
Well advanced in any branch of knowledge or skill; possessed of considerable acquirements; well-skilled; versed; adept
Good at; skilled; fluent; practiced, especially in relation to a task or skill.
This is a deep subject and no one article can provide all the answers, but I can give you some starting points.
- Make sure to pick a theme and stick to it
- Think niche and then think niche within a niche
- The more you drill down into the kind of images that evoke emotion the better
- Have a consistent style using consistent tools
- Make sure the presentation is consistent
- Consistency is of primary importance
- Relentless commitment to producing more and more work, refining as you go
- Create from your heart
- Build work based on your ability to connect with your subject so others can too
CONCLUSION
The best reason I know to concentrate on creating a body of work is this. It frees you up to refine your voice. It lets you tailor the photographic stories you tell in a manner that is unique to you. Give it some thought. I know that my toy photography improves when I look at it from this point of view.
Remember, toys are joy.
