The first piece in my portfolio is my favorite kind of challenge. I was asked to shoot environmental portraits that captured the essence of each of the four executives that would be featured on the company website. My first step was to learn what each person was like and what set them apart as an individual. I chose locations and lighting that would accentuate each of their personalities. I'm proud to say that they were all thrilled with the outcome, especially the way my photos captured their styles. The best validation for a photographer is knowing you are in sync with your subject and can capture them as a unique individual in one photo.

The goal is to show them that you are confident in your work and that you can speak to your work. This will be an important skill to showcase if the position is client-facing.

When you build your portfolio, include information about the goal of the project, your role in it, and the outcome. Frame each portfolio piece as a story. This will make it easier to talk about your work. Spend a considerable amount of time practicing the way you present your portfolio. Be prepared to answer questions about your portfolio.

Avoid make excuses such as "we didn't really have any budget" or "this would have been better, but I ran out of time."