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The Palm Springs Photo Festival is known for the quality of its Portfolio Review program. These one-on-one consultations, in 20 minute increments, are offered throughout each day by important industry experts. This is where you can show your work to museum curators, collectors, art directors, editors, ad agency creatives, leading photographers, educators, gallery owners, reps and others who can offer you a valuable critique and advice. You will be able to choose your reviews online on Friday, September 4th. You can also sign up each day for reviews at PSPF.

Take a look at the list of our Portfolio Review Faculty, and make a list of the reviewers you’d like to meet. Later we will post their biographies. You also have the choice to see them sorted by affiliation. Do your research before attending the review. You don’t want to show sports pictures to a food magazine. Remember the reviewers are there to take you seriously.

There are two schools of thought:

1). Schedule reviews from those you think can assign you work.

2). Schedule reviews from those whose credentials indicate their critique could be enlightening.

We believe the second scenario is the more appropriate in most cases. Consider that though you may be an editorial photographer, and tempted to show your work to reviewers from the magazine sector, you might also be well-advised to find out what experts in different disciplines than yours say about your work. They may have a different take and this might prove very valuable. By the same token, a fine-art photographer might find a good reception for his or her work from the commercial sector. You may also open up an entirely new direction for yourself by doing so. Learn how people perceive your work. It’s the most educational experience you could have. The Palm Springs Photo Festival Review Program is the only in the country to combine both fine art and commercial on such a scale.

Photographers spend money creating mailers of all sorts and sending them frequently in hopes of getting the attention of a key photo editor or art director. Attending a wide-ranging portfolio review program such as ours is by far the best way to promote your work and meet the people essential to your future. Your personality can play a crucial role in cementing a relationship that will translate into positive movement in your career.

The Palm Springs Photo Festival Portfolio Review Program will offer a unique opportunity to meet with a wide rage of qualified industry influencers. If you called to arrange appointments with them at other times, it would be extremely unlikely that you’d have success in arranging face-to-face meetings. Most if not all have drop-off policies in place. Here you can schedule 5, 10 and even 15 or more appointments to fit your schedule and benefit from a strong jolt of networking opportunities. For those living outside the NYC area, this opportunity is even more valuable!

Some FAQ’s to help you prepare for your Portfolio Reviews:

What should I bring?
We think it’s best if your work is as concise and consistent as possible. It’s not in your interest to show a wide variety of work because the reviewer will not remember anything from your portfolio. Who are you? What would you do if I assigned you a job? Show a body of work that’s strong and represents a strong singular vision.

What is the best method of showing my work at a review?
This depends on the reviewers you’ll want to meet. In many cases, showing work on a computer or your IPad is perfectly acceptable, particularly if you are showing editorial clients, advertising agency creatives and reps. These are people used to looking at a photograph’s content, and there is usually no objection to a presentation of this kind. On the other hand, showing work to the fine art community in this fashion may not be advisable. They’ll want to see your printmaking and craftsmanship. We don’t recommend prints larger than 16×20 inches if they’re matted. You can also bring a printed piece to offer the reviewer when your review is concluded for them to keep. Remember, they are there to discover new photographers so helping them to remember you is smart.

How many photographs should I show during my reviews?
You want to make a strong impression. We recommend you have friends and colleagues look at your presentation and offer their opinions in order to get a bit of distance. We all have a tendency to want to show too much. You don’t want their eyes to glaze over at your review. If you’re showing prints, perhaps no more than 20 pieces would be ideal. Remember you want to maximize the impact of your work in your meeting. Let the reviewer guide the meeting – don’t try to do all the talking because you want them to concentrate in their own way on what they’re seeing. You can’t show your entire website to the reviewer. It’s best to present the work in as clean and concise a way possible. Strong, impact-full presentations are remembered. You can always have a second body of work under your arm if they should express interest in seeing more. It’s important to have rehearsed how you will describe or discuss your work. Fumbling for words will waste precious time and not leave the right impression. The experience for the reviewer is that they want to get your message – see that you have thoroughly considered your presentation so that they may honestly offer you advice and direction.  Never apologize for anything in your review. Many photographers begin by explaining problem areas or defending aspects of their presentations, which turns the reviewer off. Let them have the experience. Remember it’s the first time they’re seeing it.

What do I have to know about the review process?
We advise you to arrive at the portfolio review front desk at least 20 minutes before your review is scheduled to give you time to check in, and be ready. A staff member will announce your review appointment. You will have a receipt indicating the table that your reviewer will be waiting for you at. Follow the signs to the room where that table is and locate your reviewer. Introduce yourself and open your portfolio or present your laptop or IPad to begin the review session. During the reviews, there is a 2-minute bell and a final bell to let you know that you need to conclude your meeting. The next attendee will be waiting to take your seat so please don’t remain seated and continue your discussion with the reviewer. This is a courtesy to the reviewer and the next attendee. You may ask the reviewer if you might contact them in the future if you felt it went well but we don’t advise pushing this point. It’s best to let them broach that subject. You might, however, plan to include that person in your future mailings with a personal note reminding them that you met at the review and briefly mentioning the work you presented. Plan to give your reviewers a leave-behind that they can keep.

What should I hope to gain by my portfolio review meetings?
The most important thing is to remember that you’re there to hear what they have to say – to watch carefully as they look at your work and take note of which images they pause longest on – study their reaction to your pictures. This will offer you a great and valuable insight into how your work is perceived and help you to strengthen your presentation and better understand your work and how well your work communicates your capabilities. The reviewer is there to see new work and you are there to learn about your work through the review process. Be open to their comments; listen to the subtexts of what they are saying to you. This is the most immediate method to better understand how your work is perceived in the real world. The reason the reviewer is there is to help you. The last point is that you should consider going to reviews on an annual basis or as often as you can: in this way you can continue to refine your presentation, and sense the progress you are making.

JEFF DUNAS
Director, PSPF
© Jeff Dunas 2020. All rights reserved.