Creating a good and appealing portfolio is indeed a necessity for a photographer, as the portfolio serves as a selling point for a photographer. The better and more attractive the portfolio is, the higher the chances of obtaining jobs from potential clients. However, some photographers are afraid of collaborating with fellow photographers and creating a portfolio together due to the competition for clients. Sometimes, some photographers even compete in terms of pricing to undermine each other.

But that is another issue because photography is an art, and each potential client has their own taste. Thus, those of us who already have our own style and composition in capturing moments need not worry if we do not yet have clients. The best way is to continue practicing and improving the portfolio and collaborating with senior professional photographers to develop your portfolio. Most of the senior photographers I have met do not think about competing for clients but rather focus on producing good photos and exchanging knowledge. This is what I learned when creating a portfolio with them, and I became one of the first participants in the program they conducted, called the Untitled Project.

The Untitled Project itself is a platform for photographers to create portfolios, regardless of whether you are just starting to learn photography or are already a senior photographer. It is an open program for anyone who wants to create a portfolio, with a little guidance from senior photographers, so that you can create a portfolio according to your taste, color, and composition. No specific techniques are required in creating this portfolio, allowing you to be as creative as you want.

The Untitled Project is limited to only 8 participants, and this program is scheduled once every month, each with different concepts and models, of course. This allows you to participate according to the specific genre of photography that interests you. As of now, the Untitled Project has entered its second batch. I myself was part of the first batch, and I am very enthusiastic about participating in the program.

This program is held in Jakarta by one of my acquaintances, who is also a photographer. The purpose of creating this program is to assist photographers in creating portfolios, with the ultimate goal of obtaining jobs from modeling agencies and advertisements. I really appreciate this initiative because it is essential for us, as photographers, to help each other in creating portfolios, so that we can become photographers with a strong appeal to potential clients.


![GIIN8867_(2).jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23wCSmTuRSxxm4CvrQejv1BM4f72v3raQPRJ56ubF9L6Mjf7GzaUeVyUy3oxXXbZBxud1.jpg)


![GIIN8901.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23ydEUBTSsSBEPFmzx8LeRPwcRPHVsZp5PLPGrwTZ3dR8pKAbYsqMmDBaK1Yzc47iPotk.jpg)

![GIIN8871.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23yTvEqwMiHitqGVtNwy2CZqviLCa1XXcsckpHWcbccwXw6ctUQjqwsA9YWxzdAovsq2X.jpg)

![GIIN8898.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23yx1YznEBSuNgRBBLSt9oALTZoXkHrCYoQkiqYg5spY4LnDYLzSYEJiYkDt2Eiv5fg8K.jpg)

The photos above were taken during the first session, and there are still three more sessions, each using different outfits. Therefore, each batch will receive three distinct looks. As this was the first Untitled Project program, I gained special insights, partly because I was also a friend of the organizer. Consequently, at the end of all the sessions, I had an additional session, but during that time, I didn't take any photos because I was focused on assisting in the creation of a model's portfolio, which ultimately aimed to meet the needs of an agency. Hence, I gained special insights into taking headshot and full-body photos, as well as some knowledge of editing for agency purposes.

Now, for the technical aspect, the photo shoot took place in a very large studio. I really liked this studio because it had a very large skylight, so all the photo sessions were done using natural light. Even though I am not typically a fan of natural light, as I usually struggle with the constantly changing white balance, during this photo session, for some reason, I felt very comfortable and enjoyed the photos I produced.


![GIIN8936.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/241tpKHKNpW9ojXoboMwKaUNJSjXC4zisSGb6gAFVY6GdFnrZW6i5yMdWwcZiKV1YJUu9.jpg)

![GIIN8956.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23y9Cvty8Z2BdECbLaRqnpVf9MpzUJiH3niDsW1fWQcbWpKEFp7q3CDtkbJ5mQE9oUf9w.jpg)

![GIIN8917.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23yTqeAUn2repAY4MkMcdFLkQyNm67K8amWMWnp6SzpyxMVyhchWoB8wp38i3giN4cpYB.jpg)

![GIIN8923.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/gituuuttt/23xAiiYmK3iC9jwPGbRrbnzJkDMqvrPhDcHHKWEGFv4LbqHJn9KeHN38Fspeidpk56QUr.jpg)

In addition, for modeling shoots for agencies and advertisements, they usually require sharp images from all angles, so the use of aperture in the lens is crucial. Initially, I used a wide aperture, resulting in my first photos being not so sharp. As the photo session progressed, I received insight from my friend, "usually for modeling and advertising photos, use a small aperture, you can try it at f5.6-8," and only then did I produce sharp photos from all angles. However, not following these instructions is also not a problem because the aim is to build a portfolio that can be customized according to individual preferences. We can even direct the poses for the model.

Regarding the use of aperture, I tried as suggested while also adjusting to my own style. Currently, I am fond of photos with distortions; I find distorted photos to be unique and not boring. The use of a super-wide lens to achieve distortion also has its challenges, as it can sometimes make the face asymmetrical, so it's essential to be careful when applying it to the model.

I will share the other photos in three separate posts as they use different outfits and the model's mood also varies. This is why I love working with experienced models; they can change their mood in an instant based on the outfit they're wearing. For this reason, I recommend creating a portfolio using experienced models, whether from agencies or freelance models.

To keep things interesting, I think I'll stop this post here for now. Because the results from the next two photo sessions will be even more fascinating. I can't wait to share them with you all. Oh, don't forget to support my posts, as I always strive to share the best for all my friends in this community. Feel free to ask me any questions about photography, as I will be more than happy to answer them for you.

Thank you,
Warm regards from me.