Always Type- never hand write anything- Be professional. Remember a portfolio represents you!

On the inside jacket, have 3 updated resumes handy to be taken out.
(Sometimes a studio may have more than one project or production going on at a time- your book would be past on to several departments.)

Put your resume on the very first page.

A portfolio reads from left to right like a book- so carefully layout your pages in a flowing manner.

Your first few pages should be the best pages.
(A major studio recieves a dozen or more portfolios per week and have to quickly screen them-
so they may not have time to look at every page of your book and that is why it is not a good idea to save the best for last.)

Never include originals! Studios have been known to lose them.

Label and title all your pages. Put your full name on the lower bottom corner of every page.
(This is so the reviewer can associate your artwork along w/ your name. Make yourself be known.)
Also be sure to label the type of work in your pages,
for an example: Figure drawing, or Character Design, or this is from a class project, and especially any work from previous employment.

It's good to include studies, thumbnails, construction line and anything that shows your thinking process.
Go ahead and put in the step by step process of how you got the finished art piece.

Group your subjects onto one page or several pages by sections.

Do not print out your life drawing pieces in different colors!
It's annoying. Let your drawings do the talking and not the printer.

Do not copy from books, magazines, or any still pictures for human and animal figure drawings.
Studios will know! No tigers will pose for you in mid air so you can draw them in full details.

Be extremely selective of your work.
Don't put anything that might leave a bad mark for the entire book.
Let others critique your work.

Do not include characters of the same studio that you are applying for.
(Example: Don't include drawings of Mickey Mouse when applying for Disney- no matter how good you think you can draw him.
Also don't bother sending "Simpson" drawings to Disney Studios- They want to see work that is closely related to what they do.)

Your book should be professional looking, neat, and easy to handle.
Over sized portfolios are a pain and nothing should fall out of your book.

Get sample guidelines from the studio you are applying for.
(Some major studios have flyers they can hand out.)

Follow up after 2-3 weeks of submission, unless you've been told not to.
(Sometimes no news is good news.)

Always update your portfolio.
Relpace old drawings with newer and better drawings.

Be sure to keep at least 2 or more duplicates of the same portfolio handy.
This also for the same reason that sometimes studios have been known to lose entire portfolios.
(This is very important! You can vary or change your book to suit the studio you are applying for.)

Get as many professionals to look at your book as possible.
Here's what some had to say about mine:
1) Someone once said I had too many drawings and need to trim down my pages.
(Be selective and pick only the best work, don't fill up your book just to fill it up.)
2) Another person said I tend to cut off hands and feet when drawing human figures. I went back and redrew them in.
3) Another said I got lots of good drawings- but if I want to stand out from others, I should try to stand out more by drawing forshortening and dynamic poses.

Final note: Don't be just good enough or average-- be the best porfolio you can be!!!
If you have any questions, please email me at prosketch@hotmail.com- TAo!