| Photo books are all the rage these days, and they | | | | inexpensive and easy to use. The main advantage, |
| can be very useful tools in helping to promote your | | | | however is that you can custom-make your |
| business. Here are some examples of how. | | | | portfolios to zero in on the needs of every potential |
| Portfolios: | | | | client, and you can do it in a matter of minutes if |
| If you are in a creative and/or design-based business, | | | | necessary. |
| you know that having a portfolio is your key to | | | | Promo Kits, Etc.: |
| getting clients. Showing off your past work is | | | | If your business is just starting out, you can give |
| sometimes the only way to get new jobs, and | | | | your potential clients, the press, and the public at |
| having a top notch portfolio can often be the | | | | large an elegant representation of your services and |
| difference between that job going to you or one of | | | | what you have to offer. Real estate companies, for |
| your competitors. There is no more elegant way to | | | | instance can create separate books of houses in |
| display your work than in the form of a hardcover | | | | every price range, and can even custom-create |
| photo book, and putting your together will take a | | | | photo books for every potential buyer according to |
| little bit of work, but it will be very well worth it. | | | | their specifications. No matter what business you are |
| The key to any successful portfolio is making sure | | | | in, there are may many ways that the ability to |
| that you have artistic, high-quality photos of your | | | | create your own photo books on demand can help |
| work. This can not be stressed enough. Before, | | | | you with the promotions end of your business. |
| during, and after every job, you need to make sure | | | | Company History Book: |
| that you are getting photographs that show your | | | | If your business is not so much about goods as it is |
| progress, your process, and your finished product. If | | | | services, and it has an interesting story attached to |
| you need to hire a professional photographer, so be | | | | its beginnings (or even if it doesn't) you can put a |
| it. If you are a larger business, you may have | | | | book together about your history and give it out at |
| someone on staff that can do this for you. If not, it | | | | events and conventions. Go and get some quality |
| may be worth your while to pick up a great | | | | photos of the garage that you started in, and some |
| SLR-type digital camera and take a few photography | | | | photos of your people at work. Write a few blocks |
| classes, as well as learning some basic Photoshop | | | | of text about who you are, what you do, and how |
| skills. | | | | you got where you are, and you will have a |
| If this sounds like too much effort, it's not. The only | | | | promotional item that stays in people's minds. |
| thing worse than having no photos of your work is | | | | Producing the Books: |
| having badly-lit, poorly composed snapshots. | | | | As stated above, it is highly recommended that you |
| If you intend to make a lot of portfolios, you should | | | | have the ability to create your books on-site and on |
| consider having your own binding machine on hand. | | | | demand. This gives you the flexibility and speed that |
| The machines that make hardcover books are fast, | | | | you need to get ahead and stay ahead. |