Your Best Work | Start Building Your Online Portfolio

"Great White" by Cioffi Architect

Getting Started with an Online Portfolio for Architects, Designers, Builders and Contractors

What is your best recent project, and who have you told about it? If you love what you do, and put your time and passion into producing great positive outcomes for your clients - you can benefit greatly by showcasing your work.  It's your best sales pitch to win more jobs in your preferred niche.

Why do I need to update my portfolio?

We often talk to people who have an excellent reputation with their clients and get almost all of their business through referrals. They’ve earned their reputation through the great work they produce and are able to sustain their business with little marketing. However, they aren’t growing at the rate they want to.

Many of them have a professional website, but with nothing that really jumps off the screen or sets them apart from the competition.  The website features some pictures of one of their best projects from several years ago, but the photos look outdated.  If this sounds familiar, we recommend setting aside some time to start (or update) your portfolio, and create a process to continue its growth. You have an awesome opportunity to showcase your best work, and earn more of your ideal projects.

Benefits of an Online Portfolio

Reinforces Reputation

Business cards and email intros are good, but they become great referrals with a link to a company website that tells the story of who/why, and features a beautiful portfolio.

Saves Time (Money)

Your prospect asks “Can I see some of your work?” This is no problem when you do work you’re proud of - but gathering the photos and project descriptions you think your prospect would like takes a lot more time then sending a link to your website and allowing them to look through your work.

Content Creation

Having a continuously growing portfolio gives you a continuous source of content to share on your social media, newsletters, and advertising.

"Trabuco Canyon" by Opulent Design Build

Planning Your Next Portfolio Entry

You’ve done a lot of great work, you have hundreds of photos, but they aren’t organized and there is no information describing what you did. Now is the time to dive in and create a new portfolio entry. You can assign yourself a goal of creating one portfolio entry per week until you've compiled 10 of your best projects.

1. Project Details

Getting the written material to add context and detail to your project photos will not be difficult with a little planning and direction. Here are some tips to gathering your project info:

Create Your Project Sheet

Start drafting your project sheet template to gather the core information you’ll need for every portfolio entry.

Give Your Project a Name

Use a project name format that is informative and repeatable for future projects. For example, “Jones Outdoor Kitchen in Palm Springs” is a more useful name than “Jones”.

Write a Short Description and List of Features

While it may seem to you that the photos speak for themselves, they really don't! Describe the project the way you would explain it to your client.

Be Specific

What is the most unique aspect of your project? Is there a detail or component that is especially noteworthy? Challenge yourself to choose one ‘standout’ item from every project.

Identify the Practical Solutions

What problem did you solve for your client? How does your project make their life easier or more enjoyable?

In Their Words

What does your client think about the project? Many clients struggle when asked to provide a written testimonial, but are able to speak at length when asked the right questions. Instead of asking for an open-ended testimonial, give your clients a short survey or conduct a verbal interview. 

Questions for Your Client Survey or Interview

• Why did you want to do this project?
• Rate your satisfaction on a scale of 1-10.
• What is your favorite aspect of the project?
• Is there anything else we can help you with?
• What would you tell your family and friends about working with us?
  

2. Photos and Video

Now you're ready to bring your portfolio entry to life with your photos and videos.  We recommend following our best practices below and customize your system of organizing and displaying your photos/videos as you grow your portfolio.

"Gneist" by Cioffi Architect

Less is More

It is better to have a few outstanding photos than many mediocre ones. Highlight the most important aspects of your project and don’t worry about documenting everything. Find the right number of photos to create your formula for future projects.

Hire a Pro

Consider paying for professional photography. Having optimal lighting, angles and color have an enormous impact on the quality of your photo and the likelihood of it’s ‘wow’ factor with your clients. 

Plan Ahead

Make sure you add ‘photos’ to your process for every project, and inform your team and clients in advance so the space is clean and photo-ready. Find a consistent format for image size, and the best composition to capture your work.

Contact us with your questions.

Let us know if you need help getting your portfolio started.  Or if you've covered these basics and want to discuss more advanced marketing options, we'd love to talk - send a message or give us a call.