Milestone 6 Task 1: Final Presentation and Portfolio Package
In the same way that your images will give confidence to a potential client, assignment editor, or curator and persuade him or her to take the needed risk in hiring or assigning you, your self-presentation is an important element in your future employability and success as a photographer. While the quality of your images is essential to your career, photography is still a field where communicating effectively with other people can make or break your efforts to gain work.
Soft skills—everything from basic communication skills to your ability to demonstrate comprehension of a client's needs—are an essential element in effectively competing for photographic assignments.
Description
In this task, you will create a 3- to 5-minute employer or client-targeted video where you will share the final version of the printed portfolio. This is a final presentation and should be given as an employer- or client-targeted self-presentation. This should be considered a promotional video to your target audience that you can use in the future as a supplement to your website or other video resource.
The video should demonstrate good production values and soft skills and clearly show the entire final printed portfolio page by page. The video should consist of the following:
One-third direct-address discussion: The direct address will be done as if you are speaking with a potential client or employer. You will appear on camera in this section, so consider your appearance, tone, and communication style. This portion should be tailored to your specific industry but should include a greeting, a brief description of your brand or artist statement (recall your pitch statement from Milestone 5), some highlights of your skills as a photographer, and some of the things that make your work unique.
Two-thirds demonstration: This would include demonstrating your printed portfolio with a voice-over (maximum 2–3 minutes). You should reveal the printed version of your work at some point in your presentation, but it is suggested that you take the viewer through a “slideshow” of your work in this section. Review specifications for creating the video and how to upload the file. The voice-overs for the specific areas here should reinforce what you have stated in the direct-address portion of the video.
Submission Specifications
3- to 5-minute video file of your presentation of the final print portfolio
- One-third direct-address discussion of photographic approach
- Two-thirds demonstration of actual physical portfolio
- MP4 file named AI_PHOA408_M6_T1_LastName_FirstInitial.mp4
- Steps for Success
- Complete all related learning activities.
- Prepare an outline of points that you wish to cover in the video presentation.
- Practice what you will say in the mirror or do a test recording.
- Prepare an uncluttered and quiet space where you can complete your recording.
- Review video specifications to make a manageable file size for upload.
- Light the space where you will record and test how that works on camera.
- Test your sound and equipment to troubleshoot any potential issues.
- Gather your printed portfolio (case, book, or box of prints).
- Make a 3- to 5-minute recording that covers your objectives and skills and showcases the work in your printed portfolio.
- Make any necessary edits to the video.
- Reduce size and save as an MP4 file.
- By the due date, upload it to the Discussion Area on the next page.
- By the end of the milestone, respond to a minimum of two of your peers’ posts by commenting on the video presentation created in this milestone as per the task’s guidelines. Your responses need to be a minimum of 150 words each and should cover the following points:
- Success of the video in presenting the photographer’s work
- Success as a targeted presentation demonstrating good soft skills
- Quality of production including lighting and sound
Grading Rubric
