FREE TOOL FOR PRIVATE CHEFS
Private Chef Portfolio Builder
Build a portfolio of your plated work and download it as a print-ready PDF in a few minutes. The layout follows the standard Private Chefs Inc. uses when it presents candidates to principals, family offices and estate managers.
What Principals Look for in a Private Chef Portfolio
Six to ten dishes, curated. Principals and house managers review a portfolio in a couple of minutes. Lead with your signature dish, then show range: family-style service, plant-based and allergen-safe plates, not only tasting-menu courses.
Consistent, natural-light photography. Shoot every plate from the same angle and distance, on a clean surface. No watermarks, no people, no filters.
A résumé built for private service. Pair the portfolio with a résumé that speaks to households, not restaurants. Our guide on how to create the perfect private chef résumé covers what to keep and what to cut.
Bring it to the first meeting. A printed or tablet copy anchors the first interview and the tasting that follows.
What to Include in a Private Chef Portfolio
A private chef portfolio answers one question for the household: can this chef cook the way we live? Build it around these elements, in this order.
- Your name and a one-line title. For example, Private Chef, Mediterranean and plant-forward. Skip logos and taglines.
- Two signature dishes. The two large photos on page one. Pick the plates you would cook for a tasting tomorrow.
- Everyday family meals. Most estate work is lunch for the children and dinner for four, not a twelve-course menu. Show it.
- Dietary range. Gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, low-sodium or medically supervised menus, if you cook them well.
- Service styles. Plated, family-style, buffet and canapés for events.
- Pastry or bread, if it is a strength. Principals ask for it more than chefs expect.
Chef Portfolio Examples by Type of Position
Full-time estate chef. Ten photos: two signature plates, then breakfast, a children’s lunch, a weeknight dinner, a dinner-party course, one dessert and three dietary dishes. Consistency matters more than flourish.
Seasonal or travel chef. Show what you cook with local product in different settings: a summer house, a ski chalet, a yacht galley. One page of ten is usually enough.
Event and dinner-party chef. Lead with plated courses and canapés, then a second page of twenty photos that shows a full menu from start to finish.
Wellness or nutrition-focused chef. Balanced plates with visible vegetables and proteins, and a short caption line under your name, such as anti-inflammatory and low-glycemic menus.
How to Build Your Portfolio
- Type your name and an optional title and city line.
- Add your dish photos. Reorder them with the arrows and tap the focus point to choose what stays in frame.
- Enter your email and download. Your PDF opens right away, ready to print or attach.
How a Placement Agency Uses Your Portfolio
At Private Chefs Inc. the portfolio is part of the candidate file reviewed during our vetting process, alongside your résumé, references and background checks. When a household opens a search, the recruiter presents a short list of chefs, and the portfolio is often the first thing the principal or estate manager opens.
That is why the layout stays clean and the photos do the work. A principal decides in seconds whether your food fits their table, then reads the résumé to confirm experience. A strong portfolio earns the interview; the tasting earns the position.
Common Chef Portfolio Mistakes
- Too many photos. Forty average plates hide your ten best. Curate.
- Restaurant-only food. Tweezers and foams tell a household you may not cook for their children.
- Inconsistent light. Mixing flash, yellow kitchen light and daylight makes good food look careless.
- Watermarks and filters. They read as amateur and hide the plate.
- Clients in the photos. Private service runs on discretion. Never show a principal’s home, guests or staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the private chef portfolio builder free?
Yes. The builder is free to use. Add your name and photos, enter your email and your PDF opens right away.
What does the PDF look like?
A dark, menu-card layout on A4: your name at the top, ten photographs per page with the first two shown large, and page numbers. Photos keep the crop you set with the focus point.
How many photos should a private chef portfolio include?
Six to ten strong plated dishes for a first submission. The builder accepts up to 40 photos in JPG, PNG, WebP or iPhone HEIC if you need a longer book for a specific search.
Is there a private chef portfolio template I can use?
The builder is the template: the layout, type and spacing are fixed, so you only add your name and photos. That keeps every page consistent, which is what a house manager notices first.
Should my portfolio be printed or digital?
Both. Send the PDF with your application and bring a printed or tablet copy to the interview and tasting. The A4 pages print cleanly on US Letter with fit-to-page.
How often should I update my portfolio?
After every season or every new position. Replace your weakest photo each time, and tailor the first page to the household you are applying to.
Can I use my portfolio to apply to Private Chefs Inc.?
Yes. Review the PCI requirements, then send your portfolio and résumé when you join the talent roster.
Ready to Be Considered for Estate Positions?
Private Chefs Inc. places career private chefs with estates nationwide. See the current job openings and send your portfolio with your application.