Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 first

In the corporate world and in academia, your work experience and expertise depends on other people.

For example, I’m a pretty decent project manager. I’m detail-oriented and goal-oriented, and I’m good at keeping my team on track to get the project done. The big money is in IT project management, but there’s no way that I’ll ever get a job as an IT PM. Why? Because my experience is in the training industry and in operations. It doesn’t matter that I have a diploma in computer programming. It doesn’t matter that I’m tech savvy or that I can speak to coders and translate to the business. It doesn’t even matter that I’ve worked on projects involving software, such as building a wiki for a large department. To a recruiter and to a hiring manager I’m too much of a risk because I’ve never worked in IT.

For an artist, a portfolio is equivalent to job experience and a resume, and you don’t need to rely on others to build it up.

What it does require is your time and your attention. You can add school projects to your portfolio. You can imagine that you’re decorating a room for a client, even if it’s just for you, and treat it like a professional job. You can commit to writing a short story a month and submit it to various e-zines. When you’re first starting out, no one is expecting you to have landed a million-dollar commission or that you’ve already had a hard-cover series printed. But by having a body of work to back up your effort, you’re able to show what you’re capable of, which will help you land paid work.

The benefit of working for yourself in a creative industry is that you won’t be held back from working on projects that interest you because of politics, seniority, etc. You and you alone are responsible for putting together your portfolio. I’ve already posted about the “bucket principle” and referenced it a number of times, partly because I’m trying to internalize it myself, but mostly because the people who are successful are the ones who’ve worked on their portfolios over time rather than the night before meeting with their first prospective client. By building up your creative platform over time, you (i) develop strong habits of productivity, (ii) are able to get a good feel for your strengths and weaknesses, and (iii) are able to put forward examples of your best work. All three of these things will help carry you forward towards a sustainable creative career and personal success.

Stay tuned for Part 5 in this series, where I’ll examine networking.

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Building an online presence

This past weekend I went to Fan Expo. My favourite part of this con is walking through Artists’ Alley and being surrounded by creativity and talent.

I’m in the process of creating a “geeky and creative” post, profiling the different people I met, but as I’ve been visiting everyone’s websites and etsy stores, I was struck by how different everyone’s online presence is, ranging from nonexistent to professional.

If you’re just starting out, it isn’t necessary to have a flash website that is professionally made, but there are a few things you can easily do.

1. Build a web presence

Others have written about this before, but it’s really easy to create a free blog on any number of journaling sites (wordpress, blogger, livejournal, dreamwidth), even if you’re not very tech savvy. Get in the habit of posting your work on a regular basis (even if it’s just monthly to start), and slowly increase the frequency to at least weekly.

If you’re handing out business cards of your work at a con, you need a website. I saw so many different artists and artisans, and I honestly can’t remember who is who. I need a visual reminder of your work, otherwise I won’t know why I took your card at the time and why I would want to follow up. If all you’ve provided is an email address, I’m going to recycle your card. This may seem unduly harsh, but I’m not likely to email you just to ask “what was it you were doing again?”.

2. Mention the con you just attended.

You don’t need to do a fancy write-up. All you need to do is mention somewhere on your site or etsy store that you’re in Toronto for Fan Expo for the weekend. I’ve noticed that the artists who took the time to update their readers, are the ones that generally have more content up on their sites. Even if you’re just starting out, it’s nice to give people context for what you’re doing. Artists were running out of business cards on the first day of a two-day con, which means that at least some of the people attending will visit your website. Tell us what you’re up to or that you’ll have new merchandise up after premiering it at the con. I’m pretty sure at least one person had a lot more items at their booth than show up at their etsy store, and I wasn’t that impressed with their current online selection. By giving an update (even just one line) you’ve given me a reason to check back.

I can already hear the protests of “but the product itself should be enough of a reason to go back”. Well, yes and no.
If you’ve spent any time on free online fiction websites, you’ll find that most of the writers who post stories will have a multi-chaptered work in progress. 80-90% of those never get finished, so I’ve become wary of those who don’t give me a reason to check back. Every artist has good intentions, but not everyone can follow-through with what they’ve started. If your website doesn’t seem like it’s updated frequently, then I’m going to assume that it isn’t. I’d rather spend my time on someone who provides steady content than on someone who has great ideas but they never make down on paper or online.

I actually find it a bit heartbreaking when I’m working with a client who has so many fantastic ideas, but there’s never any evidence of it, other than the conversation we’re having. I feel privileged that I can listen to a story unfold, but it’s a shame that others can’t share in this experience as well. At Fan Expo, there was so much talent, and with Valley of the Muse I’d love to showcase everyone that I talked to and give examples of how awesome they are. But if they don’t have an online presence, then I can’t do that, because I have nothing to link to, and I doubt anyone would listen to me if I said “trust me they’re fantastic!” without saying why.

If you’re starting out, you need to take that first step before you and your work can be discovered and that means don’t just work on your portfolio in the dark corners of your room until you’re ready to unveil your epic. Build relationships with people who are going to be excited for you and supportive of all your endeavors, even the earliest ones.

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From Blood-Red Pencil: Book Trailers that Answer the Buy Questions (by Lisa Gottfried)
An excellent and pointed advice post for authors creating book trailers. Can easily be applied to promoting any creative product via youtube.

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Here are three easy-to-follow tips:

1.  Plan

What are you going to wear? Don’t just think about what’s the newest or cleanest item of clothing in your closet. Think about past photos where you liked how you look, and notice what they have in common. Is there a particular colour you look fabulous in? Or should avoid? Is there a particular neckline that makes you look wider than you really are? Is there a shirt that just makes you feel fantastic? Once you’ve thought about all of these things, lay out your outfit, and add accessories, shoes, and even how you’re going to do your make-up and/or hair. A few days before your photo shoot, make sure the items are clean and ready to go.

A second thing to think about is location. What is the backdrop going to be? White wall? Your garden? Visit the location in advance if possible, and critically look at whether there is something that might ruin the shot, like a weathered garden shed or an uneven patch of wall.

2.  Take Your Time

The day of the shoot, take your time getting ready. A lot of people dread having their picture taken, but it can be a fun experience. Do something that will help you relax, maybe treat yourself to your favourite meal or tea, take a bubble bath, or play a few rounds of Team Fortress II.

Once you’re in front of the camera, it’s critical that you take things easy. Before the picture-taking starts, even before you smile, relax the muscles in your face and take a few deep breaths, because it will make a huge impact on how you look.

Once you’re comfortable, spend at least an hour (25-50 photos) to get 1-2 photos that you can use.

3.  Experiment with Expressions and Poses

During your hour of modelling, experiment with different poses and expressions. Try some where you’re serious, others where you’re just about to start laughing. Look at the camera. Then tilt your head up, without moving your eyes. Look away. Look the other way. Change the angle of your neck. Put your shoulders back. Keep your body in the same position but move your eyes. Go through a range of poses, each time modifying one small thing for each picture. When you look through the final versions you might be surprised at how the most nuanced movement can make a huge impact on how you look.

When it comes to selecting a photographer, you have two choices – either go with a professional, or with a trusted friend/family member. If you choose a professional, make sure you feel comfortable with them, and talk to them about what you’re trying to achieve. Try to get a sense of whether they’re going to be open to you taking your time or if they’re going to rush you through a series of photos to get you out the door as fast as you can. Don’t forget to look through their portfolio and decide if you like the way they take pictures of average people.

If you go with a friend, make sure it’s someone you trust and feel comfortable with, and who will get into the exercise with you. Don’t pick someone who will be impatient or critical, but someone who makes you feel good when you’re around them.

Once you have your profile photos done, share them! Post them on facebook or linkedin, upload it to your company directory, add it to your blog. And if the first set of photos don’t work for you, identify what went wrong (camera? outfit?) and try it again until you’ve got photos of yourself that you can be proud of.

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