By Alt Channel teacher Kelly Beall. Photography by Brooke Dennis. 

When it comes to introducing myself, I wasn’t always the best. If you were to put me in a beautiful hotel in the middle of Salt Lake City, and surrounded me with 650 incredible people, I was like a deer caught in headlights. Making an introduction is something I’ve had to put some time and effort into over the past few years. Alt has been a great testing ground for determining what I am comfortable doing, and what makes me even more awkward. Here are five tried and true ways to make a connection:

1) Make a Compliment

Alt is like a fashion show; there’s always something new to like. That girl’s sparkly heels. The huge statement necklace that could pass as a piece of art. The topknot that’s the best you’ve ever seen. There are so many opportunities to make a compliment!

By Alt channel teacher Melanie Burk. Painting by Lisa Congdon.

Whether you are an illustrator, designer, or photographer, an online portfolio is an essential tool. I constantly get questions from students about how to set up their portfolio, and am asked for any tips to make one’s portfolio shine. Since you never know who will be looking at it, you want to make the most of your website. Here are a few tips I have found over the years for making your portfolio shine:

1) Don’t include all of your work
This can be really tempting when you are just starting out, and only have 20 pieces to show. But it is always better to have 8 of your best pieces, than 8 great and 12 mediocre pieces. Clients will hire you based on what they see, not from what they don’t see. So edit, edit, edit! Think about what photos, designs, or illustrations really show off your talent. If you have portfolio pieces showing work you don’t want to do (for example, wedding invitations), don’t include them in your portfolio. If you show them online, people will assume that they can hire you for that. It goes the other way too–if you want to be hired for something you haven’t done, do a personal piece and put it online.