Portfolio and Practice Consulting for Photographers and Lens-Based Artists

Serious work benefits from serious feedback. These consultations are designed for photographers and lens-based artists who want a rigorous external perspective on a body of work, a portfolio in development, or written materials for applications and professional opportunities.

The service is especially suited to artists preparing for MFA applications, residencies, fellowships, exhibitions, and other moments that require the work to read clearly and convincingly. It is also useful for photographers who feel their practice has reached a threshold and needs sharper editing, stronger positioning, or a more coherent framework.

What This Is

This is not a generic portfolio review or a motivational coaching session. It is a focused, critical consultation grounded in extensive professional experience, current teaching, and an active, research-based art practice. The aim is to identify what the work does, where it is strongest, where it loses clarity, and how it can be edited, sequenced, and articulated more effectively.

Each session begins with advance review of images and written materials so that the live conversation can move directly to the most important questions. Rather than spending time describing obvious strengths and weaknesses, the discussion is structured to help the artist better understand the work and make more confident decisions about its form, direction, and presentation.

Who It Is For

These consultations are intended for:

  • Photographers and lens-based artists preparing MFA applications

  • Artists applying to residencies, fellowships, grants, or exhibitions

  • Emerging practitioners seeking rigorous feedback on a developing body of work

  • Mid-career photographers who want to reposition, edit, or rethink an existing portfolio

  • Artists who need help refining statements, project descriptions, or the overall presentation of their practice

What Can Be Covered

Depending on the session, consultations can focus on:

  • image selection and sequencing

  • conceptual clarity and project structure

  • editing a portfolio for specific institutions or audiences

  • artist statements, project descriptions, and application texts

  • website presentation and portfolio cohesion

  • longer-term questions about direction and development of the practice

Pricing and Packages

Single Portfolio Consultation — $325

A 75-minute online consultation for artists who want focused feedback on one body of work or a portfolio in progress.

Includes:

  • Advance review of up to 25 images

  • Review of one written text up to 750 words

  • 75-minute Zoom consultation

  • Short written follow-up with key recommendations

This option is best for artists who need a strong outside perspective before submitting an application or making a major revision.

Application Intensive — $875

A three-session package for artists preparing MFA, residency, fellowship, or exhibition applications over a concentrated period.

Includes:

  • Three 75-minute consultations over 4–8 weeks

  • Repeated review of images and revised materials

  • Feedback on one or more written texts across the process

  • Guidance on how to tailor the portfolio to different application contexts

  • Short written recommendations after each session

This option is best for artists who want sustained support and accountability during a defined application cycle.

Practice Reorientation Review — $950

A two-session package for photographers and artists who want to rethink the structure, presentation, or direction of a broader practice.

Includes:

  • Two 90-minute consultations

  • Advance review of multiple related projects or a larger body of work

  • Discussion of positioning, coherence, and future direction

  • Written roadmap summarizing key recommendations and next steps

This option is best for artists whose work has evolved over time and needs to be edited or reframed with greater precision.

Statement Edit Only — $225

A developmental edit for artists who need a stronger artist statement, project statement, or research statement.

Includes:

  • Edit of one text up to 1,000 words

  • Margin notes and developmental suggestions

  • One round of revision notes

This option works well for artists who already know which images they are using but need sharper written articulation.

How It Works

  1. Submit an inquiry and intake form.

  2. Share images and written materials at least 48 hours in advance.

  3. Materials are reviewed before the session.

  4. Meet online for a focused, critical discussion.

  5. Receive a short written follow-up with concrete next steps.

Tone of the Consultation

The feedback is direct, thoughtful, and constructive. The purpose is not simply to affirm the work, but to clarify it. Artists should leave with a better understanding of what is working, what is not yet resolved, and what practical steps would make the portfolio stronger.

* Summer sessions are limited. To inquire about availability, submit the intake form and includea link to the work you would like reviewed.