Why newspapers make winning portfolios, according to 4 creatives

When it comes to putting together a portfolio, it's not just what you share but how you share it.

Newsprint portfolios stand out. They make a statement. And they show off an artist’s work in a way that screens just can’t match.  As illustrator Holly Wales told us: "I love sharing my work in the same format it was made – on paper!”

Below, see how 4 freelance creatives including Holly use Newspaper Club to create winning portfolios that clients love (and that are fun to make, too!)

Holly Wales

“Working in a bubble with just your pens for company can be an isolating gig,” says UK-based illustrator Holly Wales. “Thoughts of ‘Does anyone actually want this?’ can easily creep in.”

"I’ve had absolutely lovely feedback which has helped motivate me no end." -Holly Wales

Holly used our digital tabloids to burst out of the bubble and share her playful, hand-drawn work with the world. The 12-page portfolio features a mix of new and old projects from her 15-year career working with clients like Uniqlo, The New York Times and the V&A Museum.

“I’ve had some absolutely lovely feedback which has helped motivate me no end,” says Holly. “Most of all I love sharing my work in the same format it was made - on paper!”

Richard Johnson

Sports and lifestyle photographer Richard Johnson has been using our mini newspapers to promote his work since 2019. This latest edition is a 32-page collection of recent work, a mix of personal projects and commissions for clients like Adidas and Soar Running. 

"I've had lovely feedback from clients. The general consensus is that it's nice to receive a tangible thing rather than something that lives on a screen." -Richard Johnson

"I really like the newspaper format for mailers and to leave behind after portfolio meetings," says Richard. "It's got an organic feel to it and the texture of the 55gsm paper renders the images in a lovely way that isn't too 'digital'."

He adds that it's a cost-effective format to produce over 100 copies of his portfolio - but "the best part is getting to hold something tangible that you've made yourself!"

Julia Stotz

Most of photographer Julia Stotz's work is shown online, but creating a physical portfolio is a process she treasures. "I don’t get to see my work in print that much, so it’s really special to have a tangible portfolio," she says.

"The paper added a beautiful quality to the images. People said they loved the sense of being drawn into the color-scapes and diptychs." -Julia Stotz

Having previously sent out postcards, booklets and foldouts, Julia turned to our mini newspapers "to have something fresh for client meetings that no one had seen before." She curated the portfolio, which features work for clients like UberEats and Bacardi, to focus on the kind of projects she’d like to do more of in the future.

"The newspaper was a perfect fit for how I wanted to display my work," says Julia. "And I love how light and easy they are to keep in my bag and hand out!"

Felix Dol Maillot

French photographer Felix Dol Maillot has worked in the luxury industry for years – with clients including Hermes, Longchamp and YSL – but until recently had never been backstage at a fashion show.

Thanks to an initiative from creative management agency OBO Global, he was able to attend Fashion Week this summer and was given complete freedom to document the experience.

"I was able to choose the elements that interest me the most: whether it is a face, a landscape or an object," says Felix. He then "transcribed this energy" into a publication - a 64-page digital tabloid printed on our heavier, brighter 80gsm recycled paper. 

Make your own newspaper with Newspaper Club. Print runs start at 1 copy!

GET FREE SAMPLES