Portfolio Planning

I believe it was at the beginning of year 3 or sometime during year 2 the graduates brought in their portfolios to show to the class. They were all leather portfolio books with their names embossed. I remember looking at them and knowing exactly what I wanted, a leather portfolio book. However now that it is down to choosing my portfolio book/box I am currently stuck between the two...

Before I decide on anything I need to budget myself to what I can afford. Ideally I want to spend no more than £300, including portfolio and printing. I worked out that printing on the photo rag at university will cost me £150 for 30 prints. Obviously leaving me with £150 to spend on a portfolio. This isn't a lot now that I have been looking around different companies so I may need to stretch the budget slightly. 

When I attended a group crit a few weeks back, James S recommended that I look at Plastic Sandwich, Hartnack and Co and Silverprint. I looked through what all 3 companies had to offer, and Plastic Sandwich was far too expensive for what I could afford. Silverprint prices looked achievable. However the archival boxes were only available in black, which if I can avoid it would rather stick with a grey or brown which I will explain why later on. I have also checked out other websites that all do pretty similar which I am going to discuss further on in this post. 

Silverprint

So as I mentioned above the prices seemed reasonable, under my budget by £50 roughly which is great! I have been looking at the Silverprint Archival Portfolio Box A3. It looks to a professional standard. The clamshell would be perfect for viewers to see my work without having to worry about finding space to place the seen images or damaging the paper. It opens into two trays which lay flat, giving the viewer space and protection to place the seen images onto the empty tray. 

During the portfolio reviews with the professionals they asked how I was intending on presenting my work, either book or box. At the time I more or less said box but no final decisions had been made. They said that a box could work really well depending on what type of box I got made. For example my documentary work features this idea of keepsake where I photograph jewellery and clothes that remind me of someone. Also family members, therefore the box could act like a memory box to fit in with the context. 

Hartnack and Co

To begin with I was looking at having a leather screw post book with my name embossed, however when I added it all up it was stretching my budget far too much for what I can afford. I was really gutted, it definitely would have worked well with my documentary styled work and this idea of presenting it like a photo album which was mentioned during the portfolio review with the professionals. On the right here I've taken a screenshot of my payment... £354.00!!! I wish I could but it just can't happen. I understand my budget may be wishful thinking and that I will have to stretch it but I simply cannot stretch it that far. 

They also do clamshell boxes starting from £179. I went through choosing colours, etc and the cheapest I could get it without embossing was £258. Again this is still way too expensive. Just to be sure I am going to book a 1:1 slot with one of the tutors to help me because at the minute I'm stuck. I don't want to spend so much money on a box if I have missed places out which can offer me a better price but also if it really is worth paying that when Silverprint, even though fairly boring and black, can offer me the same quality for a lot cheaper. 

Book vs. Box - pro's and cons'

To help me even further with my decision I have put together the pro's and con's for both a book and box. From doing this I believe both are just as equally good. Different benefits with each but all together either of them would be suitable and appropriate for the presentation of my work. 

Book

Pro’s	Con’s
Professional, thoughtful consideration of presentation	Can be expensive, especially leather and embossing
Less handling involved	A mix of portrait and landscape images, will have to keep changing orientation
Images are less likely lost, or to fall out	No complete cover from the weather or spillages. Also if torn through heavy handling will have to be replaced

Box

Pro’s	Con’s
Professional, simple but elegant	Finding colour, styles, etc has been limited unless I can push the budget
Affordable	*Same as above*
More engaging for the viewer. Able to see all images at once	More handling involved, images may damage over time
Protection from weather and spillages when inside the box	Nothing stopping the images from escaping

Box - Why have I chosen to use a portfolio box?

Today I ordered from Silverprint a black archival portfolio box A3. With student discount it came down to £69.13 which I knew I could afford comfortably. I was disappointed that I couldn't go forward with a leather portfolio book or some of the other boxes I reviewed but after speaking with James S I felt confident with my purchase. With it having no effect on my grade and as long as it is professional looking then that is fine with me. I will try and see if I can get my name onto the box professionally and affordable if I get time. I'm now down to the last 3 weeks so I feel it can be achieved. I felt with a box it gave the viewer something to engage with more. Having to handle the prints delicately and prepare with a pair of white gloves (which I still need to get oops!) than to just flick through pages seems better. I love the fact the clamshell box allows the seen prints to sit the other side without leaving the box keeping them protected at all times. But it still gives the viewer the opportunity to view them all at once. I just hope I get my prints looking as best cohesive as possible if that happens! The box is due tomorrow but I've had to reschedule so that I don't miss it and able to attend my 1:1 tomorrow. I would have moved my 1:1 until next week or when I was next in however I don't want to keep pushing it to one side and leaving it until the week before with lots to do!