The Stage Files portfolio system will help you manage your own portfolio online with ease. Through a simple web interface you can keep your portfolio and résumé up to date. This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating your portfolio and updating it.

Introducing the Management System

Stage Files stores each piece of your portfolio separately and lets your organize it in any way you want. Each piece of your portfolio is stored just like a file on your computer's hard drive. These files are stored in folders that you can easily browse as you browse the folders on your computer using the Windows Explorer or the Macintosh Finder. When your account is created a folder that only you can access is also created. It's called your home folder, and it's where you can put your portfolios. Your portfolios act like folders as well: they let you open them up and add items inside of them.

This is what the screen looks like when you visit your home folder:

Once you are introduced to the different areas of the screen, you will find it easy to work with. Immediately under the Stage Files logo are tabs that quickly take you to different parts of the site. If you click on the home tab, you will return to the Stage Files home page. The account tab will take you to the account management screens where you can see and change your payment information.

Below the tabs are some actions related to your account. Clicking on your username will take you to your home page where you can see your portfolios. Clicking on my stuff will take you to your home folder where you can manage your portfolios and Preferences will let you change your password.

On the left is the navigation box, which at all times shows you where you are in the site, and some nearby folders you can open. It indicates that you are currently looking at Monty's home folder, which has two portfolios inside of it.

In the center is the contents view, where most of the work is done. It displays the name of the folder, "monty", and the icon representing the home folder. Below that is a button that will let you add a new portfolio, and you can add as many portfolios as you like. Below the add new portfolio button is a listing of the contents of the home folder. It shows that there are two portfolios, "Lighting Portfolio" and "Photography".

At the bottom of the contents view are buttons such as cut, copy, and paste (paste only appears after you have cut or copied something) which will let you manage the items in your portfolios like files on your computer. If you want to copy and paste an item, just select the checkbox to the left of its name and click copy. Move to the place where you want to paste it, then click paste.

If you want to open an item, just click on its title in the contents listing. Each item has several tabs associated with it. The contents tab will show the listing of items contained within the item you are looking at (like files in a folder). The edit tab will bring up the edit form for that item so you can edit its details. The view tab will show you what that item looks like in your portfolio.

Creating a New Portfolio

To create a new portfolio, simply click the add new portfolio button in the contents view of your home folder. A new empty portfolio will be created, and you will be presented with a form to edit the details of the new portfolio:

This is the first part of the portfolio edit form. Most entries are either self-explanatory or have explanatory help text below them in grey. The contact information you enter here is displayed with the portfolio and is also used to create a résumé from your portfolio.

Adding to Your Portfolio

Your portfolio is like a folder on your computer. You can open it up by clicking on its entry in the contents view of your home folder. Once there, you can add other items to your portfolio. The different types of items appear in the drop down menu on the blue bar labeled add new item, or to the left of the add new item button below the title of your portfolio. The available types are:

Film

A film groups images of your work on one film together. You can record film-specific information such as the type of film (feature, short, etc.) and the part or roles you played.

Job

A job groups films, shows, projects and other jobs together. Information you record about the job will be shown on pages for the work included in the job.

Project

A project groups images of one logical project together. If you have work that doesn't result from a school or a job, or doesn't relate to a show or film, you may decide to put it in a project. You can specify who produced the project and its location.

School

A school groups films, projects, and shows together. It also allows you to specify several school-related information such as degree and level of study.

Show

A show groups images of your work on one theatrical show together. You can record theatrical information such as venue, director, author, and the part or roles you played.

Once you have added a show to your portfolio (or job or other item as appropriate), you can add as many images as you want to that show. Just select portfolio image from the drop down menu to add a new image.

Viewing Your Portfolio

When you have added all of images and other information you want to your portfolio, you will want to see it as others visiting your site will see it. You may have been viewing it all along using the view tabs, but there is a simple, direct web address that you can use to view your portfolio, and distribute to friends and potential clients. Simply take your Stage Files username and append ".stagefiles.com". The example portfolio above was for the user "monty", so his portfolio can be accessed at http://monty.stagefiles.com. You may also wish to register a domain name for your portfolio. You can find instructions on how to do that in the Domains section of the Account tab.

Where To Go from Here

We hope this tutorial helps you get started maintaining your own portfolio on Stage Files. The best way to learn is to dive right in and try the system out. If you have any problems or questions, please email us at help@stagefiles.com and we will be happy to assist you.