As you grow as a photographer, you will inevitably end up with a vast portfolio.  You will have your favorites, but you will not be able to remember all of the nuances of each photo.  Thanks to EXIF data and whatever additional notes you may add, you’ll be able to remind yourself about how you took each shot.  Every couple of months, I would suggest going back and reviewing your entire portfolio.  There are several reasons to do so as follows:

• Remembering how you conducted a shot – EXIF data will give you a clue as to how you tweaked your camera’s settings.  With some practice and experience, you’ll be able to fill in the gaps.
• Remind yourself about what you have accomplished – The photography world is vast.  You inevitably will not shoot a specific subject or style for months.  Reviewing your work will help keep the experience fresh.
• Patting yourself on the back – You wouldn’t be a photographer (still) if you didn’t have some pride in your work.  It’s good to go back and stroke your ego every once in a while.
• Scrutinize your work – As you grow, you will be able to identify where specific shots could have been improved.  Analyzing your own work will help you to avoid your mistakes in the future.
• Identify and modify your style – Every photographer has their own style.  While yours may not be so refined, it exists in some subtle way.  It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what your style may be unless you regularly review your own work.
• Comparison – You should compare your work to your peers and your inspirations regularly so that you may correct your path subtly.
• Refine your portfolio – Especially if you intend to work professionally as a photographer, you need to prune out the photos that don’t exhibit your talents.

As a photographer – as an artist – you owe it to yourself to look at your own works on a regular basis.  It will help you grow, evolve and thrive.  After all, you are your biggest critic, and your biggest fan.  Who better to analyze and instruct yourself?

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