Methodology
How the Rateven portfolio grader works
Every number Rateven cites traces back to a public source. This page explains the 5-dimension rubric, the tier scale, the price-band formula, and the data behind each regional market reference.
The 5 dimensions
A Claude (Anthropic) vision model evaluates each submitted image across 5 editorial dimensions used by portfolio reviewers in the photo and video industry (PPA, Fearless Photographers, NPPA style guides). The specific Claude model version is configured server-side and can change; the provider is always Anthropic.
1. Composition
Rule of thirds, framing, leading lines, negative space, balance. Is each frame constructed with intention, or does it rely on luck?
2. Lighting and color
Consistency across the set, exposure accuracy, color grading cohesion. Does the palette feel like one photographer, or ten?
3. Style identity
Recognizable voice, cohesive visual brand, clear point of view. Could you pick this vendor's work out of a stack?
4. Subject engagement
Candid vs posed balance, emotion captured, connection visible between subjects. The difference between documentary-quality and stock-quality.
5. Technical polish
Focus, sharpness, post-processing craft, delivery standards. Does the work survive a full-screen review, or only at thumbnail size?
Tier scale
Each dimension scores from A+ to C. The overall tier is the median of the 5 dimension scores.
- A+ elite, publication-level, top 2% of market
- A strong professional, top quartile
- B+ solid working professional, middle-upper
- B competent, middle-tier
- C+ developing, needs refinement
- C early-stage or inconsistent
Price band formula
The market band for your tier is computed from your metro's average wedding cost, multiplied by a vendor-category scale, multiplied by a tier percentile.
Tier percentile: A+ at 12 to 18% of average wedding cost, A at 9 to 14%, B+ at 7 to 11%, B at 5 to 8%, C+ at 3.5 to 5.5%, C at 2 to 4%.
Vendor scale (relative to photographer baseline): photographer 1.0, videographer 0.8, caterer 1.5, florist 0.7, DJ 0.4, planner 0.6, officiant 0.15.
The band is descriptive of the market, not prescriptive of what you should charge. Individual results vary by client, season, and scope.
Data sources
Every regional benchmark and vendor component in Rateven cites a public source. No user-submitted rate data is used, no scraping of private platforms.
- The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study (n=10,474) — average wedding cost per metro, vendor spend breakdowns.
- Zola First Look Reports — couple behavior, budget distribution, vendor hiring patterns.
- WeddingWire Newlywed Report — vendor category spend, booking lead times.
- Fearless Photographers, PPA — editorial rubric and portfolio standards.
- NACE, SAF, Mobile Beat, American Marriage Ministries — category component breakdowns for caterer, florist, DJ, and officiant taxonomies.
AI transparency and human review
Grades are produced by a Claude (Anthropic) vision model. This is an AI-assisted classification under EU AI Act Article 50 transparency requirements.
Your submitted images are held in transient server memory for the duration of the grading call (under 60 seconds), never persisted, never used to train models. The derived grade (tier, summary, dimension scores, price band, vendor, region) is stored for 30 days to power share links. No image URLs or identifying information are persisted.
You have the right to request human review of any grade under GDPR Article 22. Email hello@rateven.com with your share link or the grading timestamp.
Grade your portfolio
Paste 5 to 12 image URLs. Free, 1 grading per week. AI-generated, reviewed against The Knot 2026 benchmark data.