Thinking about studying an art degree at Buckinghamshire New University? Well, that’s great news!

I’m Victoria, and I’m a 3^rd year BA (Hons) Photography student at BNU and I’m here to give you the lowdown on all things portfolio so you can be sure you’re prepared and ready to make an impression at the interview stage.

When you apply for a creative course at BNU, nine times out of ten you will need to attend an interview. For this interview you will require a portfolio to present to the Course Leader so they can assess your work.

Being a mature student, I worked as a part-time freelance photographer for seven years before deciding to study it at university. As a result, I had a large collection of images to choose from when it came to creating a portfolio.

I know the idea of having to choose from your work and put it together to best represent yourself can seem intimidating but don’t worry I’m here to give a guide on how to make a great portfolio for your interview.

Step 1: Decide on a path - Digital or Physical

You have two choices for a portfolio: a digital website or a physical ‘book’.

With digital, you have the option of gathering all of your best photos, designs and ideas and uploading them to a website or web page. It’s a chance to also link your other social channels which may feature your work.

A sketchbook is a way of physically collating your designs, whether that is sketches, notes or printed images, where you can really show off your creativity. Placing them in a portfolio book gives your interviewer something tangible.

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to a portfolio. It's best to follow your intuition, and I'm here to give you my top tips for making a portfolio that reflects your personality.

Path 1: Digital

Since I was 18 years old, I have maintained a website for my photography. Having a digital portfolio helped me best show off my creativity and talents for academic and professional opportunities. From inspiring a lifetime love of learning to aiding you in obtaining employment in your profession, a digital portfolio may do a lot for you. It also shows the interviewer you are capable of creating and using certain online platforms.

A digital portfolio is also great for industry as its easy to send across to potential employers and clients. Over the course of your career, you can document your whole professional journey by developing a digital portfolio.

However, don’t panic if you’d rather have a physical book! While you are a student here at BNU, our helpful Course Lecturers will help you create your online portfolio.

Here are some suggestions on free website platforms to use to start developing your online portfolio:

• https://portfolio.adobe.com/
• https://www.wix.com/
• https://wordpress.com/

Path 2: Physical

A physical portfolio is a good way of showing your creativity off as you can document your thought processes with doodles, notes, and even things like fabrics and textures. This tangible approach offers something a bit more personal and allows the interviewer to get to know your style. 

Rough designs are OK, particularly if you want to demonstrate your design process, but a physical portfolio must be just as professionally done as a digital one. Having final prints in your book can help show how you get from idea to finale, and what to expect of you as a photographer.

Here are some links to get you started:

Graphic designers + Illustrators

• https://doxzoo.com/
• https://mixam.co.uk/

Photographers

• https://www.theprintspace.co.uk/
• https://metroimaging.co.uk/

What you put in your digital or physical portfolio is up to you. My main piece of advice is that your portfolio, whether you are a photographer, illustrator or designer, needs to sell not only your work, but your style and most importantly your personality.