Step 1: Find Inspiration

Before photographing your portfolio, it's important to take a look at other designers working for inspiration. Some good sites you can check out are Behance, It's Nice That, and Dribbble.

Step 2: Setup Your Portfolio Piece

The next step is to set up your lighting system. Depending on where you put your lighting, the shadows will come out differently. If you use two or three different lamps it will either eliminate any shadows in your photo or make the shadows softer.

If you want to add some depth to your shadow, I recommend placing a small item at the bottom of your portfolio to give it a bit of lift.

Step 3: Find a Focus Point

It's important to create a focus point when photographing your work. In the photo below, I wanted to emphasize that the book was made using the French folding technique.

Step 4: Setup Your Camera

ISO should be around 100-200. This will remove any noise and keep the photo sharp. Also, if you want to focus on one item and blur the rest, switch to AV (Aperture Variation) mode, use a lower aperture. In this case, I am using an aperture of 4.5.

Step 5: Experiment with Different Compositions

To test out different compositions, be sure to take photos of the same portfolio piece from multiple angles. Arranging your pieces in different ways will also make the same piece look different and unique.

Step 6: Photo in High Spots

If you're photographing a book, it's a good idea to hold the camera up high. This allows you to take full photos of the pages while keeping the same layout.

It is also useful to have a shutter release cable to take sharp images without touching the camera.
optional step

If possible, try and photograph your pieces in a place where there are no distractions.
edit your photos

Now all you have to do is edit your photos. You should take all your photos in RAW as this ensures that the quality is at its highest and also allows you to edit many elements on it.

White balance, exposure, etc. should all be the same to ensure that images remain consistent.
for you now

I'm sure there are many designers out here who have some great tips. Are there any photography tips you can share? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.

"Aspiring Models Click Here for More Information on the Modeling Profession."