Here's how conversation usually went when I first began in photography:

Q: So what line of work are you in?
A: I'm a photographer.
Q: Oh really, what sort of photography?
A: Just about everything - real estate, weddings, portraits...Let me show you, do you have a computer? Oh, right, we're outside, of course you don't - I'll send you an email.

Argh. So what's the solution to this conundrum? The portable portfolio.

Do yourself a favor right now: Go out and buy an iPhone, iPod Touch, or some sort of Android device with a great screen.

Be Prepared:

If the conversation prompts someone wanting to see your work, you're ready. You don't have to ask them if they have a computer, you don't have to email them a link, you don't have to let the conversation dwindle - you can grab their attention immediately and make your pitch.

Update it Regularly:

Now that you have it, update it. Allocate 15 minutes each week to adding your new top picks, dropping your new low picks, and rearranging the rest. This will keep your portfolio fresh and reflect your best work to date.

Digital vs Print:

Nothing beats your work in print. The look, the feel, the smell, the sense of finality - it's unbeatable. It's also inconvenient, time-consuming, and expensive. The digital portfolio is all about instantly being able to showcase your work anywhere at anytime. It doesn't attempt to replace your printed portfolio, it supplements it for brief encounters.

So if you don't have a portable portfolio already, get one.

We've started a few threads titled 'delivery options', 'accounting options', and now we're introducting 'marketing materials'. This will be an ongoing topic dedicated to both tangible and intangible (online) means of marketing.

In today's day and age, our portfolio tends to live in the 'cloud' - online, that is. And guess what, it should be online for anyone, anywhere, to view it anytime. But guess what's also true? Showing your portfolio online during a face-to-face meeting is sort of clumsy. It could also be viewed as if you're underprepared, or even unprepared.

First up: the professional photo album. A custom-designed, top-of-the-line print-quality photo album is a signature in itself - it has 'professional' written all over it. With some labs, you can design each page in photoshop for your own customization, others will have you add photos to previously-created themes (which aren't half bad most of the time). 

One of the key factors when dealing with tangible marketing materials is to have your potential client leave with something in their hand - and if you're a photographer making a pitch, you'll want it to be more than just a business card. At first, it may seem like an expensive photo album would be the last thing you'd bring, seeing as the person/people you're talking to can't leave with it - but it's just the opposite. Leaving a professional photo album with a hopeful client allows you to arrange a follow-up meeting, setting you up for a second face-to-face visit when you come to pick it back up. Yes, it involves an element of trust - but if your album makes an impression, it might get passed around the office, making more impressions without you even being there. Give it try, see what happens.