How to Build a Portfolio From Scratch

Gabrielle: The portfolio is a visual storytelling opportunity for you, a brag sheet of stories.

Kaitlyn: At the start, yes, because I needed something tangible to believe that I could do it. So, I needed to see that I've done it to keep reiterating and reinforcing, yes, you've done this, you can do this. But now, honestly, it's really about my self confidence and the energy I have going into something.

Ed: They can hear the work. Oh, well, they can do this. This is what we're looking for. That'll help get through that ‘fake it till you make it’ stage. It's an easier way than just saying, “Hey, I'm a voice over artist”. Okay. Well, what have you done? Well, nothing yet.

Bryan: You know, what is the project about? What is the problem that you're trying to solve? Who are you trying to solve it for? You probably need to document that anyways for communicating with your client. So you might as well document it as well for your own portfolio.

This is How to Get More of the Work You Want

Gabrielle: I met with a young lady who wanted to kind of get started on Upwork because she was, like, yeah. I said, “So what do you actually want to do?” Like, what do you want to be known for on the platform?

Kaitlyn: Just go back to your why. What is your why? Why are you building this business? Yes, you probably want financial freedom. You want to be able to work your hours, but who is this person that you're doing this for?

Armando: My experience with one client becomes my portfolio, and then I get another client in the same direction. And then the next one, the next one, the next one.

Adriana: Yeah. I mostly lean on my portfolio. And I think the most important thing as a freelancer to really showcase is your soft skills. So I try to really reflect in my descriptions or other tools, you know, on the Upwork platforms. And when I look at my reviews, I see that this is the kind of skill the client wants and really cherish.

This is How to Evolve Your Portfolio With Your Work

Armando: My very first portfolio piece was a short film I made for my brother because it was a hobby project. And my early portfolio pieces were all hobby projects because no one was paying for them.

Adriana: For illustrators, it's this conversation about finding your own style. And I think this is also, like, a big fear that, okay, if I'm going to have one style, will I have, like, enough clients for this particular style? Or am I going to love it for the rest of my life?

Bryan: As you grow as a freelancer or any agency or company you're working with grows, naturally, you're gonna get better at things. And as you're getting better at things, it means that you're doing things a little bit differently.

Ed: For those wanting to take it, you know, be more professional and take it a step further, lead up to working and creating a demo. And it doesn't take a long time to get up to speed by that, but it's highly required in the industry when you're wanting to list for Upwork.