Consider this: If your portfolio begins with a work-in-progress, it can have a bad effect. Even if the portfolio improves later on, the first view of the project will remain fixed for the viewer. When you arrange your portfolio, the order in which projects are presented is a vital piece of the final work. People don’t examine every single project the same way. Some will view only the opening shot, some the opening and second shots, and others will study each image with more attention. The viewer’s attention is shaped by the order of the projects. Some projects will be easier to understand when they are first in the order, while others will need a second look.
The first rule is to stop organizing your projects according to the date they were made. This date ordering might work in your mind or in your workflow, but it will most often confuse the reader. Even though the project may be a decade old, it might be a good choice for the beginning because it shows your ideas and work most clearly. Newer works may require a re-take or more editing to be placed in the beginning. In other words, ask yourself which projects are most readable from the first project view, and ask that project to come first, not which was produced first. The best way to make it easy to view the first project is to include a clear image with your work. Include a strong supporting caption or brief case study with the first project image.
Place all your projects as thumbnails on a single web page (or in a single board or folder folder for a print portfolio). Focus now only on the first shot of the portfolio. Don’t worry about the overall grid or layout of all your projects at this time. Instead, view the group of thumbnail images from a short distance, and determine which project gives the best first introduction of your work. This doesn’t mean that you need to choose the most complicated project to present. It’s usually better to choose the project that shows a single work (with good image cropping, image preparation, and case study or supporting caption). A simple project can show your creative thinking better than a crowded project with many elements to explain.
After the first project, vary the project types that follow. If you start with a single finished project, choose a second project which may show a supporting image, or a first draft, a sketch, or even a second draft. If the second project is a quiet, minimal project, the third might show stronger color or composition. The goal here is not always to surprise the viewer with variety, but to avoid having one project that flows right into another one, making them blend together.
A middle shot is a good place to insert a more supportive project. Include a more detailed supporting case study, a project which shows revisions and development, a second draft, or a second tool (camera, program, medium, etc.). Be careful when you place supporting projects here. Some project images need an introduction and context (and should be shown first). Some supporting project images look awkward, weak, or too small to support. Some projects may require additional explanation or revision (or might not have good project goals and should be removed from the portfolio entirely). If you feel that a supporting project needs an explanation to show why you placed this project in this position, you should edit or remove it from the portfolio.
The last image in your portfolio should also be well chosen. Ending with an image that has no support, or an image that is poorly made or not finished, can make the entire presentation weak. If you end with a project, select the one which gives the strongest final impression. Again, this doesn’t have to be the loudest project; it simply has to have good image cropping, image preparation, or show support, or it might not need much explanation in the beginning.
A strong order can actually be much more relaxing than one filled with “surprises” in each project. The first question from the viewer is, “where do I begin?” and the answer will be immediately visible. A second question is “why does this project matter?” and a third is “how does this fit with the other project?” When you can see these answers, you no longer have to explain them or try to get through each piece of the puzzle. You can let the work speak for itself with its images, captions, supporting texts, or project order.