Photography

Creating a Professional Modeling Portfolio

I Want to Become a Model

That’s great, you want to be a model… If the following applies, it might be for you:

• You enjoy being in front of the camera and having your photographs taken.
• You love fashion, beauty and enjoy dressing up.
• You’re outgoing and can turn on and off the energy and excitement in front of the camera.
• You can take direction well.
• You’re tall and in fairly good shape (yes, it’s a model stereotype but it’s true).
• You’re self motivated and driven.

If you answered yes to all or most of these then you might be a good candidate for a modeling career. Whether fashion or glamour, male or female, children or adults, people still wonder about how to get started with a modeling career.  What do you need to get started? One of the first things you’ll need is a portfolio.  How do you create your modeling portfolio?  You might think the easy answer of putting 10-20 different photos of yourself into a portfolio book is all you need to do.  That would be the wrong approach.

When job hunting in the business word most spend hours of time crafting a perfect resume showing off job skills.  Your modeling portfolio should be crafted with the same amount of care and effort to show off your modeling skills to a potential client to cast you.  You want your modeling portfolio photos to be of professional quality and notable when you show them off.  The photos in your portfolio are probably one of the single most important steps you take besides self promotion in this industry.

Requirements for a Modeling Portfolio

There are a few things to consider when developing your modeling portfolio.  Your modeling portfolio is a photo album book with at least 10 photos and usually not more than 24 photos.  The traditional industry standard is 9”x12” size prints in your portfolio.  That size was made standard by the prints that were produced from medium format camera negatives.  If money is tight and it’s your first portfolio you could use 8”x10” prints to save money but at some point you will want to a larger size.

The photos you select for your portfolio should include various looks but still be within the styles you see yourself doing in the future.  For example, don’t have the majority of your photos of you in bathing suits if that’s not what you’re interested in modeling.  Your portfolio is really your character and how you want to be portrayed by others.  When they look at your images they try to place you as that character.  You should include a simple no frills head shot in good lighting towards the beginning of the portfolio.  Inside your portfolio should also include a full length body shot in slim fit clothing or minimal clothing also in good lighting along with a shoulder’s up shot with no makeup.  Now fill in the rest of your modeling portfolio with the other types of photographs you have selected.

Don’t forget.  More is not better!  A personal looking at your portfolio would rather see and be wowed by 8-12 great photos rather than 20-30 average photos.  If you are really mulling over a photo and are on the fence about including it then you are better off leaving it out of your portfolio. Speaking to a professional photographer or someone else in the profession such as an editor, agent or fellow model is a great way to get feedback on photos to include in a portfolio.  On that note, don’t bring 50+ photos and ask for help deciding which photos are the best.  Narrowing down your top picks and ranking them in the order from best to average before asking others for an opinion is a much better approach.

Modeling Portfolio Photo Session

Beginning models often have limited budgets and the costs of a model portfolio photographer may be a little more than expected but worth it if you are trying really trying to build a strong quality modeling portfolio. You should be able to hire a photographer anywhere between $300-900 for a dedicated personal portfolio session. In some larger cities such as LA and NYC you could spend well over $1,000 for a high end photographer for your modeling portfolio session.

Finding a Photographer

Finding a photographer for your first model session can be a little complicated.  There will always be many local portrait photographers and studios that are great a doing senior portraits, family photo and weddings but might not have that certain look you need for a modeling portfolio. The best thing to do is search for a photographer who has experience working with models and modeling portfolios.  Your best bet is to use Google and search for: model portfolio photographer [your major  city or state].  Another option is to use a modeling industry networking website such as Model Mayhem.

• Ask for the price range for a modeling portfolio and what it includes, how many photos, etc.
• Explain to the photographer the type of model photographs you require and ask if the ability to create them is available.
• Ask about hair and makeup artists and who will provide them.  It’s either you or the photographer and there is no set rule on who provides.  I strongly suggest having a professional hair and makeup artist for your portfolio session.
• Ask what clothing or items you should come prepared with on the day of the shoot.
• Ask if photo retouching services are available and whether they are included in the original price quoted or an extra cost as required.
• Ask how the final photos are delivered to you.  This can vary greatly among photographers but the typical methods are on disk, as prints or via the web.
• Ask how long after the modeling portfolio shoot you should receive the prints or electronic images.
• Ask about print releases and usage rights to the photos you receive.  Most photographers should allow reprint rights for your portfolio and promoting yourself as long as you are not selling the photograph and giving credit to the photographer.
• Ask if the photographer will help you with selecting photographs for your modeling portfolio.

Summary

There are many things involved with creating a quality modeling portfolio for your modeling career.  I hope my perspective as a photographer, who works with models will help guide you into the future.

Published: 165 days ago
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