The Business of Home Murals: Ten Steps to Building Your Portfolio

The first thing a prospective client will ask for when they are considering you for hire is to see your portfolio. The more extensive and impressive your portfolio is, the more likely you will be to be hired, and they will be more likely to pay you more. Follow these steps to building a quality mural portfolio.

Step 1: Paint, Paint, Paint: The only way to choose your best images for your portfolio is to have a lot from which to choose. Paint walls, floors, canvas, wood panels, paint big and paint small. This way if you do not have any actual mural experience, you will have pictures showing you can paint in various sizes. Try to stay true to your most natural style. Do not attempt to paint in a style that is difficult for you as your future clients will expect that same style and painting such murals may be laborious for you.

Step 2: Take good photos with a good camera: Most cameras purchased since 2004 for upwards of $200.00 should do the job. You need a minimum of 5mp and 3-x zoom. If you find that you take lousy pictures or cannot buy a good camera right now, ask a friend (preferably a photographer friend to do it for you). Arrange a trade of their services for your services.

Step 3: Photograph yourself: As many of your photos as possible should have you standing next to the mural, or even painting the finishing touches. (Of course you will need someone else to take the photo for you. There are several reasons for this.

• When you post your photo online, no other artist can steal it and use it in their own portfolio
• Your future clients will have no doubt that you painted the mural yourself
• The photograph with you in it will better show the scale of the mural

Step 4: Take “before” and “after” photos: Having “before” and “after” photos will deliver a dramatic effect, showing how much of a difference a mural will make in a room.