Over the past 2 months I have come to realize that the edit is just as important to portfolios and galleries as the actual photographs that go into making them.
Last month, I began to work with Jackie Ney, now with Pedro + Jackie.  She’s a freelance photo consultant out of New York and she’s had me going hair-straight-back ever since.  Prior to this, I could not have imagined the amount of work that was needed to pull together a proper portfolio, build up market buzz and get positioned to schlep “your book” around.  If I weren’t so totally stoked by the process and the prospects, I’d be exhausted!
But at this point it’s fair to say that all the archive digging, second guessing and soul searching is paying off.  Our revised portfolio was selected by PhotoServe for their “January Cream of the Crop” showcase (scroll bottom right of gallery), which next to a big juicy assignment, is the kind of feedback we’re after.

For those not in the know: PhotoServe is an online resource for photo editors, art buyers and creative directors to ‘shop’ for commercial photographers and illustrators.  The site is managed by Photo District News (PDN), an award-winning monthly magazine for the professional photographer that has been covering the professional photographic industry for over two decades.
I won’t lie, that kind of afirmation feels great, but the real life lesson here is the value of collaboration.  The humbling fact is that without objective input from a qualified and trusted 3rd party, my portfolio would still be simmering on the backburners of North America’s creative radar ranges.  Granted, we’re not where we need to be just yet, but stay tuned.  I’ve got a good feeling about the year ahead!