NEW! Portfolio!
I'm excited to share my new print portfolio, made in collaboration with artisan Piotr Jorosz (I Make Books), designer Alex Camlin, and printer Carl Saytor at LuxLab. The final piece is beyond my expectations! The process involved many tough decisions, but the hardest call was to make it at all.
I’ve regularly updated my portfolio over the years, but this time was different—I was rethinking the entire format, moving from a book to a box. A few years ago, I asked my agent if I should do a full reset. She advised me to focus on making new work instead, as photographers often tweak their portfolios rather than face the daunting task of creating better pictures.
A year later, at an agency meeting in New York, I reviewed my portfolio alongside those of other Redeye photographers. While I was happy with my recent work, my portfolio felt outdated. Everyone else's books looked fresh and contemporary, while mine seemed stuck in the ’90s.
I decided on a presentation box of prints, excited to see my work in a new format but concerned about the gallery-like pretension it might carry. I’ve never considered myself a capital-A artist—my photography is for a broad popular audience.
Seeing agency colleague Michelle Watt’s print box changed my perspective. Her vibrant, dynamic presentation felt exciting rather than austere. Inspired, I realized my goal was not to create a fine art collection but a branded, engaging package—an experience that reflected my work’s curiosity and verve.
Some wonder why I invest so much in a print portfolio. While social media is a key promotional tool, success often comes from reaching clients through multiple avenues. Years ago, after emailing editorial clients about an updated portfolio, I landed assignments before they even saw the book. I was already an advocate for in-person meetings, but this was a revelation.
I don't fully understand why a physical portfolio is so powerful, but I have theories. In an era dominated by digital images, meeting in person sets you apart. And doing so with something tangible and tactile takes it up a notch. Like vinyl records, film photography, or even dumb phones, a print portfolio allows the viewer to move at human speed and connect more deeply to what is in front of them.
Top Image: It’s all about the package: the new portfolio! Like a glistening beacon on a hill.
Second Image: The reveal: a Jason Acuña opener (you can’t get more delightful than that).
Third Image: Master printer Carl Saytor of LuxLab with my previous portfolio incarnation (pictured doing color correction with my Likeness figurine, 2015). Along with the box shell, this set of prints needed to be made from scratch, with a heavier paper, better suited to direct handling.
Bottom Image: The Redeye portfolio meeting that launched the Buck portfolio reboot, featuring Michelle Watt, Louisa Gargiulo, and Chris. VML agency, New York, April 2024.