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As a professional photographer in the throes of a major repositioning effort, Selina's book provides valuable insight into how to carve out a single vision in 15 to 18 images, wrapped, packaged or otherwise presented in a way that supports that vision. The book doesn't pull any punches. It isn't for the on-the-fence photographer. If you want to win, you have to play to win. There is an investment in time, in money and in patience...none of which are particularly pleasant when faced with the uncertainty of a complex and ever-competitive market. My only disagreement with her - and the reason I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars - is because I feel that the biggest obstacle to getting an assignment is not knowing the right people. Salina thinks it's all about the work. I have found that my biggest assignments came from contacts in the industry. All of us who work on a national level are technically proficient, and most of us are bright, talented and driven. Yes, our styles cover the broadest spectrum imaginable, but what really seperates us is our contacts. With the onset of digital, photography as we once knew it is history. And that's the dirty little secret of this business...If it isn't perfect, we'll fix it in photoshop. My suggestion to anyone entering this field is to network like your life depended on it. Believe me, it's where the line in the sand is drawn.

Regardless of whether you are a professional, student and/or considering a career in photography, this is one of the few books that you can learn from today and in the future. With more than 25 years as a consultant to professionals, Selina has the experience and vision to show photographers how a sellable portfolio can be created: from selecting a visual point of view image selection, editing images, sequencing & all the way to portfolio case selection. The marriage of: concepts, text and photos are presented logically and in a way that makes the information easy to understand and apply. If you really want to succede in today`s market, then this is the book you need to begin your journey.

Most commercial photographers know about Selina Oppenheim, but only a lucky few make the investment to hire her for her expertise in portfolio development and refining your vision as a photographer. Even though hiring Selina as a consultant was one of the best decisions I have made as a photographer, I still wanted to read her book to make sure I hadn't missed anything she has to say about marketing myself as a photographer. I can say from personal experience that this book distills the essence of her one-on-one consulting. This book is really, really worth learning from.