Scrapbooking for others is a great way to make some extra money doing something you love. It is important to remember to have fun while you are doing it, or you will quickly burn out. It is also important to remember to build your scrapbook portfolio with samples and testimonials from others.
Samples:
Obviously you are not going to create an entire duplicate page of a layout you have completed for someone else. However, snapping a photograph and putting it in a picture album or scanning it, reducing its size and printing it out and creating a scrapbook portfolio album with several prints per page are two ways you can build up a portfolio. You probably do not need to include every single scrapbook page you have made for someone, but this is entirely up to you. You might wish to include information below the samples themselves such as: the price for that page, the products used and maybe even a blurb about what the page was for. You will want to keep this album handy and bring it with you to any consulting appointments or meetings that you have with any future clients. This is a great way for a future client to see what you can do, and they might even be able to choose layouts, colors or projects based on former pages. More on creating a Sample Album in Scrapbooking for Others: Creating a Sample Album or Binder.
Testimonials:
Soliciting testimonials is a fair practice after completing a project for someone else. Ask them to write a letter or short blurb about the entire experience – working with you, the design, the layouts and the completed project. If they are satisfied with the time it took, this would also be helpful. Include these letters in page protectors perhaps paired with the samples you have printed or photographed for your portfolio. You could also create a separate binder full of these letters, but at the start you won’t have a lot. It is recommended to keep it all together which will make portability of your Scrapbook Portfolio all the easier.
I am definitely interested in hearing how others have created their portfolios, and how well the reception has been for future business from clients. Feel free to leave comments in the section below.
Nicole Humphrey writes about the creative and memory preserving side of life and families in the Scrapbooking Blog and Fun Blog, provides helpful hints to blended families and single parents on the Parents Blog, and provides informative tips and advice for students, teachers and parents on the Education Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
Related Articles:
Scrapbooking for Others: Pricing Albums and Layouts
Tips for Creating Albums for Others
Different Uses for Scrapbooking Supplies
Scrapbooking for Others: Building a Scrapbook Portfolio