Print Portfolio Formats: The Benefits of a Physical Creative Product

Personal reflection from the days of zines and DIY

When I first made an early version of a portfolio it was in actuality a small paper booklet that we called a “zine.” It contained my photography and writing, and art from my friends at school. I even interviewed bands that came to Toronto and all of this was collected in a 24 page mini magazine format printed at a local copy shop. That was circa 1990s and was really a pioneering act in the days when DIY and desktop publishing software became relatively commonplace.

I have been returning to this idea of the printed format called a zine. Of course if I print now I even have the option to go glossy and colour – the miracles of the modern age and “print on demand” never cease to amaze! For early summer I plan to self-publish some of my visual art and writing in a zine format. I will keep you updated on this forthcoming “Mikezine” as I make progress. For now I will keep posting here on this new personal blog and portfolio site.

Looking back again to the slightly more recent past I recall a professor in my graphic design programs said something inspirational to the class (I took a design-media program around 2010).

The design prof, a fanatic of Photoshop and stickler for through process, encouraged us to consider creating physical works in addition to computer designs. The professor pointed out that many visual artists send out cards twice a year, to magazines and art directors, to remind them that the artist was available for work. It really resonated with me. Perhaps because on more than one occasion I did print a zine, and through the last fifteen or twenty years I have also printed resumes and sent out in small batches. Print makes a very strong impression.

I sincerely love the concepts of DIY and self-publishing. I hope this post may inspire you to create something that’s cool, unique and completely yours.

Cheers,
Mike

Topics in the article

In this post I will cover the following:

• Why print? 3 Key reasons to print your work
• Feel and tangibility
• Unique creative expression
• Artistic freedom and experimentation
• Play and personal growth

Why print?

Are people still printing their art these days?

Yes, people still print their art, and in fact, digital printmaking has become more accessible and popular, offering artists a way to reach a wider audience and generate income through prints. 

3 Key Reasons to Make a Printed Photo Project

• Showcase a Range of Work and Discover New Opportunities:  Go beyond showcasing your current projects and include other content that reflects your interests. This can lead to self-discovery, skill development, and connecting with a new audience.
• Experience the Tangible Joy of Print: There’s something special about seeing your work in a physical format. Holding a printed zine with your photos can be incredibly rewarding.
• Differentiate Yourself and Attract Attention:  Many photographers focus solely on online platforms, so creating a zine sets you apart. A unique and well-crafted zine could become a sought-after item, increasing demand for your photography services, including image licensing and commercial shoots.

Let’s look at these in more detail.

Showcase Existing or New Work and Expand Creative Horizons

Are you looking for a way to consolidate and tie together your work in a visual portfolio? Do you want to undertake new work or a new theme? How about expanding your experience and experimenting with creative solutions?

All of these are completely valid reasons to consider a portfolio book or zine or other print project (promotional card, brochure or even a calendar?).

Experimentation can lead to growth. Maybe you overcame the hurdle of learning some digital tools for managing your images and you created a website. Taking it one step further you can grow digital skills by learning layouts and software that can turn your portfolio into a PDF ready for submission to a print shop.

Print is Tangible and Tactile (Feels Good, Looks Great)

A zine, whether it is based on photography, or writing, or both, is an incredible opportunity to engage in self-expression where you can dig deep and get truly original while you reflect on your process and intent.

One of the greatest benefits is the tangible aspect. We live in a world where art is often experienced as a fleeting momentary digital moment, as we swipe through Instagram or perhaps scroll a website on laptop. We barely stop for more than a few seconds.

A book or zine changes all of that. If you get your print portfolio into someone’s hands they are likely to spend at least a few minutes leafing through your creation.

There’s that expression to “leaf through” – it evokes the idea of porto foglio, where foglio from Italian means “leaf” and thus the idea of a portfolio as a collection of leaves.

Your printed portfolio whether in an conventional portfolio book with sleeves to hold individual pieces or printed like a magazine or book, can make a huge impression and feel like the ultimate act of whole process creativity.

Of course any digital version should mirror the feel and style of your print folio. Work on keeping consistency and a common look to all the pages and images that occupy your print and digital work. More about that later.

You Are Special – Unique Value Proposition

So perhaps the greatest most compelling aspect is that few people are printing their work. A handful of your peers may be exhibiting but fewer are taking the time to go one step further and create a unique printable product. Perhaps only the elite artists are presenting a book alongside their gallery show?

A zine or book is an opportunity to present your body of work, to embark on a new project or theme and to present your art in a special way that reflects your vision and values.

So what is a unique value proposition?

A unique value proposition (UVP) is a statement that clearly articulates the unique benefits a company, product, or service offers to customers, differentiating it from competitors and explaining why customers should choose it.

Experimentation, Play and Personal Growth

Experimentation: A Playground for Ideas

Zines are often small-run, DIY, and personal. This gives artists permission to take risks they might not take with client work or gallery submissions. Zines combine low stakes and high creativity.

Play with format and experiment. You can try different layouts, paper types, printing methods (riso, xerox, handmade), or binding styles. Each decision becomes part of the creative language.

Sequence and flow helps work with storytelling. Artists begin to see how the order of images, whitespace, and juxtaposition can affect narrative and emotional impact.

Play: Rediscovering Joy and Flow

Making a zine involves leaping into freedom from perfection. Zines celebrate imperfection. That freedom to include sketches, notes, and incomplete thoughts can rekindle joy in making.

Mixing media can be liberating. Artists can combine photography, text, collage, doodles, poetry—whatever sparks excitement. It’s an open canvas. In this sense, photographers can break away from a strict grid and try out various looks and handmade elements.

Surprise & serendipity is fun and inspirational. Playing with cut-and-paste, scanning old work, or using analog tools can lead to unexpected, inspiring results.

More Topics and Print Possibilities

I don’t have the space within this article for these topics but they branch off nicely from this article. Continue exploring different print formats! A zine or book may be too much right now so perhaps print a postcard or business card?

Quick summary: Besides books and zines you may also go more specific with print and create postcards and business cards. Sending these through the mail to potential customer and clients can really provoke a reaction and get people to review your website, look at your social profiles and hopefully reach out to hire you, buy some of your work, or get more information about how they can support you.

Print on demand or POD means you post a book in a format where your customers can order a copy and have it printed specifically for them. This service means no wasted copies sitting in a corner of the artist’s or photographer’s apartment, and the distributor takes care of printing and sending out.

There’s also the DIY concept which is really sweet. I saw q video recently where the photographer had a professional print shop print his photo book but the artist set up a screen print and added hand printed title text to each book giving each a really authentic and powerful feel.

Watch that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4yJRwPAuaM (a really good video that may deserve its own review).

Wrapping Up

I really hope that was useful to you. Be sure to check out the video. The photographer really shows off some of the benefits of the print portfolio in a book format. You can explore graphic design and that tangible feel of a book. It’s a truly unique product and a fantastic creative experience.