---
name: "video_portfolio_sites"
description: "Build a working video portfolio site: curate 6-10 best pieces, order them for first impressions, and ship a fast, embed-based portfolio page that books work. Use when the user wants to build, rebuild, or review a videographer/filmmaker/editor portfolio."
---

# Video Portfolio Sites

## Purpose

Turn a pile of finished videos into a portfolio that gets the user hired. The job is curation and presentation, not web design: pick 6-10 pieces, lead with a reel, embed players (never self-host video), and close with a way to get booked.

## Workflow

1. **Collect and cut.** Ask for links to every finished piece. Confirm or cut a 60-90 second showreel first. The reel is the pitch; everything else is proof. If there is no reel, that is step one and you say so.

2. **Curate the 6-10.** Score each piece on craft, relevance to the work the user wants, and client-ability (would a stranger pay for this). Keep the top 6-10. Cut anything weak, dated, or duplicative. Quality bar: if a piece would not survive next to the reel, it does not ship. See `references/curation_checklist.md` for the scoring rubric.

3. **Order for first impressions.** Sort: strongest piece overall second only to the reel. Then group by category the user's clients actually buy (weddings, commercial, music video, documentary), with the money-making category first. Do not force an even spread across categories; uneven is fine if it matches demand.

4. **Write one line of context per piece.** Format: Title — your role — client/project type. One line only. No paragraphs, no production notes. Examples:
   - "Harbor Light — Director / DP — spec short, shot on RED"
   - "Maya and Jon — Wedding Film — full-day, three-camera"

5. **Choose the platform.** Match budget and control level; comparison table in `references/platform_notes.md`. Rule of thumb: need it live today and cheap, use Vimeo profile portfolios or a builder; need a real booking site, use a portfolio builder with a custom domain.

6. **Build the page.** Order: reel above the fold (autoplay muted or one obvious play button), project grid with poster-frame thumbnails, services with starting prices, 2-3 client quotes, about paragraph, contact/booking form. Mobile-first: 16:9 responsive embeds, tap-friendly buttons. An HTML starter is at `assets/portfolio.html`; replace its placeholders with the curated list.

7. **Verify before delivery.** Play every embed end to end. Check on a phone-width viewport. Confirm thumbnails are exported poster frames, not auto-generated mud. Confirm the contact form reaches the user.

## Output Contract

The finished portfolio must have:
- A 60-90s reel above the fold with a poster frame
- 6-10 curated pieces, each with a one-line context (title, role, type/client)
- Video embeds from Vimeo or YouTube (no self-hosted files)
- Services section with rough starting prices
- Client quotes (2-3) and an about blurb
- A contact or booking form that asks for event type, date, location, budget range
- Mobile-responsive layout; every embed tested

## Operating Rules

1. Never upload video files to the portfolio host. Embeds from a video platform keep the page fast and stream adaptively.
2. Never promise work the user has not done. No invented clients, roles, or quotes; mark mock or spec work as spec.
3. If the user has fewer than 6 pieces, say so and ship what exists; never pad with weak work to hit the number.
4. Do not quote exact platform plan prices; platform pricing changes. Point the user at current plans instead.
5. Platform recommendation skews by goal: Vimeo for a professional look (clean player, no recommendation rabbit holes), YouTube for reach and discoverability, a builder with a custom domain for booking.
6. When reviewing an existing portfolio, score it against the Output Contract and name the specific items missing.