7 Ways to Modernize Your Photography Portfolio
As we entered the New Year, we took a moment to reflect on the movements and trends that reshaped our industry in 2021, from the continued rise of TikTok to a shift toward more real and relatable aesthetics in beauty and lifestyle photography. With 2022 shaping up to be a year of renewed optimism following two months of isolation and uncertainty, we compiled this quick and easy guide to updating and modernizing your portfolio for the modern age. Here are a few simple things you can do to keep your work fresh and relevant well into the future.
Celebrate all bodies.
Media and advertising have a long history of representing only one type of (privileged) body, but that’s changing. The body positivity movement in its current iteration has been around for a decade now, largely due to the hard work of leaders like Jessamyn Stanley, Enam Asiama, and Sonya Renee Taylor.
When casting your next shoot, consider collaborating with friends and family members who inspire you, rather than professional models. Include all ages, abilities, genders, and more. You could also model yourself for a series of self-portraits (for inspiration, check out our article on artists using photography as a tool for activism and empowerment).
Rein in the retouching.
Last year, new regulations in Norway made it illegal for influencers not to label retouched pictures on social media. The move coincides with larger discussions about unrealistic beauty standards, mental health, and the skin positivity, body positivity, and body neutrality movements. While basic edits are often inevitable, take it easy when retouching your models’ skin. Blemishes, acne, scars, freckles, and more are part of your model’s story. Embrace them.
Experiment with video.
The rise of social media platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok has inspired more and more photography clients to request video, so learning the basics of filmmaking is a great way to make your portfolio more marketable. While you’re at it, consider shooting some behind-the-scenes videos for your followers. Showing sneak peeks into future projects and your working process can go a long way toward connecting with your audience and expanding your reach.