If you’re an artist, photographer or designer or work in any of the creative arts, an online portfolio is a must. Even if you showcase your work through social media, setting up a personal website with a digital portfolio will reap many benefits. It will show the world who you are and what you do and generate credibility. Before we go on to explain the benefits of having an online portfolio, let’s look at what it is.
A digital portfolio is a personal website that’s used to showcase an art form, be that photography, music, fashion design, or architecture. It also covers work such as content creation, tech innovations, and web design. It’s a dedicated place to display your best work, offer your services, and provide some personal information. The main benefit of putting your work on the internet is that it can open doors to all kinds of opportunities.
Provides a Platform to Highlight Your Best Work
You can decide what you think is your best work, how you lay it out, how much information you provide and anything else that you think is appropriate. Compared to a social media platform, a website gives you much more freedom about how your work is displayed. You can create pages to showcase your latest pieces using Showit Templates and have a separate page for archive material. It’s entirely up to you how you choose to display your content.
Boosts Your Presence
An online portfolio gives you credibility and another way to promote your brand (other than through social media). It may also inspire other creatives to start their own collections. It shows that you are professional and dedicated to creating a career in the medium you are displaying.
Creates an Online Business Card
Your site is your shop window for future clients and potential employers. It’s an excellent addition to both your current internet presence and your CV. A carefully crafted website will allow potential employers and clients to learn more about you. Building an online portfolio takes time, effort and dedication and this will present you as someone who cares about their craft. It’s a place to show what you are selling, whether that’s a product or a service.
Reflects Your Personality and Creativity
By choosing how you present your work and yourself, you provide a reflection of who you are personally and professionally. You have full freedom of choice over the design and layout, the colors, fonts, and visuals you use and how they are presented. You can add to the content as and when you please and even change and edit the current content in just a few easy steps. However, be sure to update your website regularly, especially if you have new projects to show.
Shows Your Journey
People love to see the progression of a project or career and your website is the perfect vehicle for this. If you’re in college studying photography, setting up a digital portfolio will help you to get your work out there and find potential new commissions. You can show how your techniques and expertise are developing and how you are using your course to inform your work. In fact, you may be required to set up an online portfolio as part of your course. All the costs incurred for creating your website could be covered by the funds received from your student loans. Many students take out loans to pay for college, whether that’s to cover tuition fees, accommodations, and living expenses or costs incurred from their course requirements.
Establishes and Strengthens Your Brand
Your website is a great place to establish and strengthen your brand. You can incorporate your logo, use specific colors and themes, and curate the overall look of the content. Be sure to keep your branding consistent across your website, social media, and any other platforms that you use. The whole idea of branding is to make your brand instantly recognizable. You may need some professional advice to create a brand that truly reflects your ethos and the message that you want to get across.
Radiates Professionalism and Consistency
Creating and maintaining an online portfolio is an excellent way to provide both visual and verbal examples of your commitment to your art, be that photography, writing, web design, or music. Use it as a medium to communicate the messages you want to get across to clients, colleagues, and potential employers. It’s a place where you can be authentic while still retaining an air of professionalism.
Displays Exactly What You Do
Sometimes it can be hard to explain to someone what you do and how you do it. Often the best way to do this is by demonstrating the process and the finished result. Your website will show people what you do without having to explain it in words. Other visuals, such as short video clips of you producing your art, can say so much more than the written word ever could – unless, of course, your art is crafting words.
