February 04, 2003

I just wanted to share a few thoughts about one of the harder things a photographer has to do... update the portfolio.

It's never easy to evaluate your own work, but it only gets harder when you consider that it is the strongest and most important way you can represent yourself.

It's an impossible exercise because there is no right way to do it. Since it will be evaluated by different people with different opinions, it's doubtful it will ever be the right combination of images for every viewer.
The subjectivity of it all is compounded by the fact that none of the images are new to you either. The "impact" just isn't there anymore.
There are just so many things to consider. Should an image be more desirable because it is newer? Should your portfolio be balanced or should you play to your strengths? Should you choose overall technical quality over a great expression? All questions that have no right answer.

Sometimes you have to trust the opinions of other photojournalists. The importance of their impartiality should not be underestimated. But in the end, you rolls the dice, you takes your chances and make the best choices you can. And if you're lucky, you can be proud of the body of work that stands up and speaks for you.