When building a portfolio, try to arrange it so that you start with one of favourite work and likewise end with another favourite work. In fact you should have a 3rd favourite and put it in the center. This will make sure the viewer (perspective client) will not put down your portfolio when they reach the mid-point.

If possible, create a seperate portfolio per type of shooting you do. Ex. Fashion, Products, Events and etc. and only show a specific portfolio based on the requirement. A fashion client can easily get bored looking at still life photos.

A portfolio is created to showcase one’s work, so it is important that your photo is unique to you. Try not including photos that other photographers similarly have, which is usually the case when one joins an open photo shoot. Imagine the confusion of the client if they keep seeing similar work (same model, same look and same lighting), but by different photographers. Another problem with using photos from an open photo shoot, is majority of the time the lights are being set-up by the organizer, and the photographer pretty much just set the camera based on what the orginer advices. This means, even though you were the one who pressed the shutter and own the photograph, the creative decision has been made by someone else, which in my opinion can’t be, as a whole, considered as one’s work. Though there is still some worth in joining such open photoshoot, like tips from either the organizer or fellow photographer, experience, networking and etc.

I highly suggest to organize your own portfolio shoot, there is probably as many if not more, starting out models and make-up artist who is willing to do a collaboration (x-deal) for everyones benefit.