Your portfolio's first screen: what a brand looks at before it scrolls

A brand usually opens your portfolio on a phone, between two meetings. Whether it keeps scrolling depends on the opening screen. That screen isn't a cover; it's a summary.

Opening with a big "Hi, I'm…" and a long about paragraph underneath is a common start. But the brand isn't curious about your story yet; it wants to know whether you fit the job. Your first screen should answer that.

1. Who you are, in one sentence

Next to or under your name, a single sentence about what you do. "UGC creator" isn't distinctive enough. Something like "creator who shoots real-use videos for home and kitchen products" tells the brand it's in the right place.

2. Your best video, muted and playing

In UGC the proof is video. Put your strongest piece at the top and let it play muted on its own. A brand seeing your work without pressing anything beats a brand closing the tab meaning to "check the videos later".

Don't pick your most-liked video; pick the work closest to the brands you want. The first video is a shop window that shows what kind of work you want to get.

3. The formats you shoot

Brands usually look for a specific format: unboxing, before and after, product demo, street-interview style. Show the formats you shoot as short labels. When the brand spots the one it needs, it keeps reading.

4. How to reach you

One visible action on the opening screen: "Request a quote", "Book a call" or similar. The button should lead to the contact section at the end of the page or straight to a form. The brand shouldn't have to copy an email address and switch apps.

The first screen answers one question: is this creator right for my job?

What comes next

If the first screen earns attention, the rest builds trust: your other videos, brands you've worked with (only the real ones), your packages and how you work. For the order and detail of those sections, see our post on five ways to strengthen a portfolio.