Portfolio Advice

I keep returning to the idea of printing a 'portfolio' of my best photos but I keep faltering at a) the price of doing it b) the best way to store the prints. When I say 'portfolio' I don't mean for professional use or to show to prospective clients etc. This is purely for my use and pleasure and the most I'd do is show them to friends and family. The idea is that over the years I'd only add photos that I thought were my best work so apart from the initial cost of printing photos from my 'archive', the ongoing cost should be relatively small. What I'm thinking is to get Portfolio boxes like these [link=https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Archival-Storage/Boxes/Portfolio-Box-10-sizes-Up-to-619mm-x-517mm-24-x-20]https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Archival-Storage/Boxes/Portfolio-Box-10-sizes-Up-to-619mm-x-517mm-24-x-20[/link] and filling them with A3 prints. However, whilst I don't envisage getting the prints out regularly to look at, I'd like to be do so from time to time which then got me thinking about wear and tear. Do you think that A3 prints in such a portfolio box would be okay as they are or do you think something else is needed? I've looked at polyester print sleeves like [link=https://parallaxphotographic.coop/shop/polyester-print-sleeves-a3-10-pack/]https://parallaxphotographic.coop/shop/polyester-print-sleeves-a3-10-pack/[/link] but they seem to detract from the photographs somewhat and being plastic also create reflections. I had wondered about mounting them with something like these [link=https://www.frithandcompany.co.uk/mount-back-bag-packs.html]https://www.frithandcompany.co.uk/mount-back-bag-packs.html[/link] but if you watch the video at the bottom of the page, the mount isn't attached to the backing board and so needs to be held together within a sealed plastic cover. The thought of making hinged mounts for a few hundred prints doesn't exactly make my heart beat with joy but does make my wallet feel anxious. Any thoughts, suggestions?

I keep returning to the idea of printing a 'portfolio' of my best photos but I keep faltering at a) the price of doing it b) the best way to store the prints.

When I say 'portfolio' I don't mean for professional use or to show to prospective clients etc. This is purely for my use and pleasure and the most I'd do is show them to friends and family. The idea is that over the years I'd only add photos that I thought were my best work so apart from the initial cost of printing photos from my 'archive', the ongoing cost should be relatively small.

What I'm thinking is to get Portfolio boxes like these https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Archival-Storage/Boxes/Portfolio-Box-10-sizes-Up-to-619mm-x-517mm-24-x-20 and filling them with A3 prints.

However, whilst I don't envisage getting the prints out regularly to look at, I'd like to be do so from time to time which then got me thinking about wear and tear.

Do you think that A3 prints in such a portfolio box would be okay as they are or do you think something else is needed?

I've looked at polyester print sleeves like https://parallaxphotographic.coop/shop/polyester-print-sleeves-a3-10-pack/ but they seem to detract from the photographs somewhat and being plastic also create reflections.

I had wondered about mounting them with something like these https://www.frithandcompany.co.uk/mount-back-bag-packs.html but if you watch the video at the bottom of the page, the mount isn't attached to the backing board and so needs to be held together within a sealed plastic cover. The thought of making hinged mounts for a few hundred prints doesn't exactly make my heart beat with joy but does make my wallet feel anxious.

Any thoughts, suggestions?

Have you considered a large photo book. I think friends and family would rather look at a book than face the task of looking through a box of prints. Not everyone shares our passion and at least a book can be flicked through without insulting or boring anyone and it keeps costs down as well as keeping the prints together Steve:)

Have you considered a large photo book.
I think friends and family would rather look at a book than face the task of looking through a box of prints.
Not everyone shares our passion and at least a book can be flicked through without insulting or boring anyone and it keeps costs down as well as keeping the prints together

Steve

Have you thought about Pinch Book Photo Covers such as[link=https://fineartfoto.co.uk/product-category/image-display/] these[/link]. I have both A4 and A3 and find them very good. The spine is a strong spring and you just bend the outer covers back, slip in your prints and when you release the covers the spring clasps the edge of the prints. Instant book. The beauty is you can open it up to replace prints or re-order prints. I principally use the A3 Pinch Book and print on Olmec Double Sided Glossy paper. It then looks like a real book.

Have you thought about Pinch Book Photo Covers such as these. I have both A4 and A3 and find them very good. The spine is a strong spring and you just bend the outer covers back, slip in your prints and when you release the covers the spring clasps the edge of the prints. Instant book. The beauty is you can open it up to replace prints or re-order prints.

I principally use the A3 Pinch Book and print on Olmec Double Sided Glossy paper. It then looks like a real book.

I went through exactly this process earlier this year…. .. After producing. Family Photo-Books for the past few years….I decided that A4 prints on satin photo oaper would be good… I approached my book printing company to see if they would print the photos, minus an actual book….they agreed. My idea, which works, was to get a 100 museum quadrant glass-clear loose-leaf pockets , and a leather-look folder….This means I can remove prints at will …it looks good too. Make sure you ask for no book….just printed one sided photographs at your chosen size.. The company……BOOKPRINTINGUK …. Contact them from their website, tell them EXACTLY what you want, they will give you a surprisingly reasonable quote. You then save all your chosen photographs to 300 dpi…check with them first…. Then send them via a …large file transfer service… A week or so later yiu will receive double sided …PROOFS …so you can check quality, titles, text if there is any… once you OK the proofs… they go ahead with your order….I can’t fault them….lovely people… Orders are packed beautifully too… . Please let me know if you go ahead…and what you think. The books they produce are good value too… ..you have to do the editing and proof reading, so what you get after you’ve approved the proofs, is all your own work, except fir the physical printing and binding… Hobbo

I went through exactly this process earlier this year…. ..

After producing. Family Photo-Books for the past few years….I decided that A4 prints on satin photo oaper would be good…

I approached my book printing company to see if they would print the photos, minus an actual book….they agreed. My idea, which works, was to get a 100 museum quadrant glass-clear loose-leaf pockets , and a leather-look folder….This means I can remove prints at will …it looks good too.

Make sure you ask for no book….just printed one sided photographs at your chosen size..

The company……BOOKPRINTINGUK …. Contact them from their website, tell them EXACTLY what you want, they will give you a surprisingly reasonable quote. You then save all your chosen photographs to 300 dpi…check with them first…. Then send them via a …large file transfer service…

A week or so later yiu will receive double sided …PROOFS …so you can check quality, titles, text if there is any… once you OK the proofs… they go ahead with your order….I can’t fault them….lovely people…

Orders are packed beautifully too… .

Please let me know if you go ahead…and what you think.

The books they produce are good value too… ..you have to do the editing and proof reading, so what you get after you’ve approved the proofs, is all your own work, except fir the physical printing and binding…

Hobbo

I went for a hard back Coffee Table PhotoBook from Blurb. I went for high quality. While I included many of my most successful pics, I also made sure I included a few significant family shots. It was well received and several photography friends have now copied this approach. Dave

I went for a hard back Coffee Table PhotoBook from Blurb. I went for high quality. While I included many of my most successful pics, I also made sure I included a few significant family shots. It was well received and several photography friends have now copied this approach.

Dave

Thanks for the ideas, much appreciated. I had thought about getting a book printed but there are a couple of issues with that. 1. You can't easily add to a printed book so you just have to wait until you have enough to warrant making a new book 2. The pages don't typically fold flat so you are unable to see the full photo all the time 3. Photos in a book work best when presented in a theme/subject rather than a collection of random images. I hadn't come across Pinch Book Photo Covers before. They certainly look interesting but I'm 'concerned' that the pages don't lay flat. The Bookprintinguk option sounds very similar to what I'm thinking of. I've planned to use Loxley Colour for printing as their printing has always been excellent for me in the past (although never ordered A3 prints from them before). Hmm, need to do more thinking.

Thanks for the ideas, much appreciated. I had thought about getting a book printed but there are a couple of issues with that.

1. You can't easily add to a printed book so you just have to wait until you have enough to warrant making a new book
2. The pages don't typically fold flat so you are unable to see the full photo all the time
3. Photos in a book work best when presented in a theme/subject rather than a collection of random images.

I hadn't come across Pinch Book Photo Covers before. They certainly look interesting but I'm 'concerned' that the pages don't lay flat.

The Bookprintinguk option sounds very similar to what I'm thinking of. I've planned to use Loxley Colour for printing as their printing has always been excellent for me in the past (although never ordered A3 prints from them before).

Hmm, need to do more thinking.

[quote]Thanks for the ideas, much appreciated. I had thought about getting a book printed but there are a couple of issues with that. 1. You can't easily add to a printed book so you just have to wait until you have enough to warrant making a new book 2. The pages don't typically fold flat so you are unable to see the full photo all the time 3. Photos in a book work best when presented in a theme/subject rather than a collection of random images. [/quote] Yes, I used themes/topics and included a few words at the start of each section. I do have about 6 mounted and framed pictures hanging on the walls as well which can trigger a request to look at the book. I chose the largest Blurb book and the pages do fold flat. The size I chose was 13 x 11 inches. It is true that you cannot easily add to a book but with paintings and my wife's art, we cannot easily add to the walls either. I will produce another volume some time. The reason that I produced it is because when I die, I know that all of my old negatives, slides and prints will be thrown away. I am sure my PC disk and back-ups will be erased. It was suggested to me that generally a coffee table style book of photographs are unlikely to be thrown away. Dave

Quote:Thanks for the ideas, much appreciated. I had thought about getting a book printed but there are a couple of issues with that.

1. You can't easily add to a printed book so you just have to wait until you have enough to warrant making a new book
2. The pages don't typically fold flat so you are unable to see the full photo all the time
3. Photos in a book work best when presented in a theme/subject rather than a collection of random images.



Yes, I used themes/topics and included a few words at the start of each section. I do have about 6 mounted and framed pictures hanging on the walls as well which can trigger a request to look at the book. I chose the largest Blurb book and the pages do fold flat. The size I chose was 13 x 11 inches. It is true that you cannot easily add to a book but with paintings and my wife's art, we cannot easily add to the walls either. I will produce another volume some time. The reason that I produced it is because when I die, I know that all of my old negatives, slides and prints will be thrown away. I am sure my PC disk and back-ups will be erased. It was suggested to me that generally a coffee table style book of photographs are unlikely to be thrown away.

Dave

I have had printed a few Photobooks 100 pages A4 landscape. Around Christmas I choose my best 100 shots taken throughout the year, and get a Photobook printed. I get them through Groupon the cost for a 100 page A4 is under £20, so very reasonable

I have had printed a few Photobooks 100 pages A4 landscape. Around Christmas I choose my best 100 shots taken throughout the year, and get a Photobook printed. I get them through Groupon the cost for a 100 page A4 is under £20, so very reasonable

Well in the end I opted to get prints made at Loxley Colour at 12x8 with a 1/4" border. I then mounted them using a 16x12 mount and backing board before storing them in a clear as glass sealed cellophane bag to keep them dust and finger print free. These are then stored in acid free boxes. So far I've done 25 of an initial 65 Whilst I appreciate this approach wouldn't suit everyone, I'm delighted with the result. Only problem now is that my wife now wants a few framed and up on the wall ;) Incidentally this is the first time I've used Loxley Colour and the quality of their printing is simply brilliant. Really impressed. The mounts and bags I used were from Frith & Company. The mounts are definitely at the cheap end of the market but these are ready made bulk packs I've ordered which come with a mount, back and bag. They are perfectly fine for what I'm doing and mass printing (I will certainly order these again) but if I were doing it 'properly', I'd probably spend a bit more and get a better quality one.

Well in the end I opted to get prints made at Loxley Colour at 12x8 with a 1/4" border. I then mounted them using a 16x12 mount and backing board before storing them in a clear as glass sealed cellophane bag to keep them dust and finger print free. These are then stored in acid free boxes. So far I've done 25 of an initial 65

Whilst I appreciate this approach wouldn't suit everyone, I'm delighted with the result. Only problem now is that my wife now wants a few framed and up on the wall

Incidentally this is the first time I've used Loxley Colour and the quality of their printing is simply brilliant. Really impressed. The mounts and bags I used were from Frith & Company. The mounts are definitely at the cheap end of the market but these are ready made bulk packs I've ordered which come with a mount, back and bag. They are perfectly fine for what I'm doing and mass printing (I will certainly order these again) but if I were doing it 'properly', I'd probably spend a bit more and get a better quality one.