5 things i learned in attending the behance held November 2012 at 98b collaboratory in Escolta, Manila, Philippines.

1. 5 t hi ngs I l earned i n
at t endi ng t he B
ehanc e
P l i ppi nes P
hi
ort f ol i o
R
evi ew

3. Behance Portfolio Review
November 2012 98b Collaboratory
Escolta, Manila

5. 1) Be humble, be respectful.
• Be humble be respectful even if you are the
reviewer. And especially if you're the reviewee.
• The best thing I liked about the portfolio reviewer
for the photography category, Veejay Villafranca,
is even though he was way successful. Even
though he had won a ton of awards and
exhibited around the globe.

6. • He acknowledged that he only knows so
much and kept pointing out that his views
might be different from other experts. He
kept saying phrases like: “correct me if I'm
wrong” and “If I was in your place I would
do it this was but it's just me.
Humility is one of the marks of a true
master. Knowing that even though he
knows more he can't possibly know
everything.

8. 2) Discuss.
Portfolio reviews is a two way conversation.
• I found out that portfolio reviews are not
about you talking and presenting about
your work. You can do that whole day long
at home in front of a mirror or a friend.

9. • Portfolio reviews are about receiving
feedbacks and comments from people
who are in the same industry as you are.
• It is an opportunity for people more
experienced than you to spot your weak
points and tell you how you can improve
them. It's about spotting what you have
missed out or completely not thought
about.

11. 3) Edit tightly.
Selection is a process of self-realization
and improvement.
• One of the points recurringly pointed out
by Veejay was photo selection.

12. • He pointed our that we should be careful
about how we select our portfolio pieces.
Because they are our voice; they
communicate where we intend to go
visually, conceptually, and career-wise;
they are a passage to our personality.

13. • We should, as I understood it, step back a little
when selecting our portfolio pieces. To remove
our emotional attachment to our works or not let
them get in the way of objective thinking. Of
good decision-making of what needs to be
included and what needs to be weeded out.
• I suggest to try to think like your ideal audience.
That's what I did in my presentation I thought as
a gallery owner who want to see a variety of
styles that are part of larger series of works.

15. 4) Have physical prints.
• In our time, which is the time of digital
photography, very few photographs go out in the
printed format.
• Veejay pointed out the several advantages of
having your photographs printed It was easier to
look at. The computer monitor will tire out your
eye because it is emitting light. The physical
print is more easy on the eyes. Plus you can
post your work somewhere you frequent and be
able to review and appreciate it more and more
whenever you pass by it.

17. • It was fortunate that I was able to bring
some of my 4r prints with me. Veejay
showed how he would lay them out if he
was the curator for a exhibit of my works.

19. 5) Seize the opportunity.
• Here in the Philippines organized portfolio
reviews are very rare (if not almost extinct). That
is why it is so important for us creatives to seize
opportunities such as these.
• We should also be grateful to groups like 98b
and organizers like Anjo Bolardo for organizing
such events. And we do that by participating, by
attending, by giving it a shot.

20. Seize the opportunity to receive valuable feedback
from people who know what they're saying.
Seize the opportunity to meet new friends and
fellow creative.
Seize the opportunity to share,engage, involve
people to your ideas and passions.
Seize the opportunity to be an ARTIST!