Which of your children do you love more? Portfolios.

Q: I’M TRYING TO BUILD A PORTFOLIO. IF FACED WITH A CATALOG OF THOUSANDS OF IMAGES, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT MAKING YOUR SELECTIONS? WHERE DO YOU START?

A: My dear friend, Marc Climie, has said of editing, “It’s like lining up your children and deciding which ones you love the most.” That quote isn’t going to end up on the front of a greeting card anytime soon, but it does get to the heart of the matter. The process of editing your portfolio—whether it’s for a physical book or web site—can suck, but it is a process you need to go through on a regular basis. At least twice a year.

The process of looking at your work and distilling it down to the best you have to offer is an arduous and time-consuming ...

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