The all important portfolio!
When you first start out as a new model you will inevitably need to invest in a portfolio. The modelling industry is all visual and the brands & agencies will need to see you to decide if you fit their brand. You will need to go to a professional studio and get portfolio shoots done so you can apply for agents and jobs. If your best friends’ husband is a great photography you might be inclined to ask him, however modelling photos are very different from other photography styles and must be done by a professional studio, like Glass Studios. The better the studio, the better the photos, so it is always important to go to the correct studio as these photos are what will get you jobs.
But what sort of images should I have?
The simple answer, the more diverse the images the better!
By this I mean, differently styled outfits, different poses, different makeup and hair and of course different locations. The more you can show, the more opportunities there will be for you. When shooting with Glass studios, we do 5 different shots. From casual to formal wear changing your hair and makeup with our in-house hair and makeup artists between each shoot.
The first images should be casual. You should be wearing something you’d wear in your house relaxing with a simple but colourful background. You could also wear sports gear.
The second set of images should still be casual but something you’d wear on a day out. Something nice but not too flashy. You would also want to use a different location from your first shots. Jeans, a nice skirt etc.
The third set of images should be outside and again more dressed up then the shots previous. Being outside allows different lightening to enhance the photo. You can also you can add a jacket to your outfit too to add another layer, again showing more styles. For woman, this is where you should start wearing heels or a nice heeled boot but Glass Studios can help you with the choice. The studio has a wide range of shoes and sizes for you to choose from our shoe wall.
For the fourth set of images, you should be very dressed up. Think one step down from ballgown. These images again will be outside again but will be in completely different locations from the third set of images. When choosing your clothes for this, you need to think of a style or pattern or colour that you have not shown yet in the previous three sets.
For the final set of images, think formal, James Bond, very dressed up. For these images, you will be back inside but using a lot of lights to create a formal atmosphere, loads of flash and power poses. Ladies – heels 100% Men – a nice suit is always a winner here but the stylist at Glass Studios can help you with this if you don’t have a suit.
At the end of the day, it’s all about versatile! Brands want a model who look great wearing loads of different looks. Take Asos for example, the same model wears a lot of clothes but they will always cross over to many different styles. This is what makes them more valuable to Asos.
Extra tips for your first portfolio photos:
- Turn up the studio with no makeup on your face, so the makeup artist can start straight away and not waste time getting rid of your old makeup.
- Do not use hairstyle, wax, gel or any product in your hair that makes it stiff as it makes it harder the for the hair stylist to change your hair.
- If you have wigs, bring them all! The more the better.
- Keep clothing simple and in good taste
- Don’t overthink your poses and don’t do overtly sexual poses.
- For Kids – They should look there age
- Remember that first impressions are important.
People often ask why do they need a portfolio and the answer is very simple.
In order to start booking modelling jobs, you’ll need to starting building your portfolio.
The agency or platform will usually request that you do a “test,” which is one of the terms used in the modelling business to describe a photo shoot that is not a paid job, but rather a photo shoot done solely to help you build your book and start developing your particular look or image.
The benefits of having a portfolio is that you image, your brand and most importantly how you look can be seen by all.
In this day and age, everything is online and having your portfolio online, which Glass Studios can do for you, means a casting director from anywhere in the world has instant access to your portfolio. Thus, increasing the range of job opportunities available to you.
The other benefit is that a proper portfolio is it shows you are professional! This can help massively as it also adds to the assumption that you are reliable, punctual and experienced.
Can I get jobs without a portfolio?
No. Can a photographer get a job without a camera? Can a plumber get a job without his tools?
Your portfolio is your tool to work in the modelling industry. The modelling industry is all visual. Your agent could tell casting directors, that you have it all and the casting director will say “Ok show me.”
Without one, you are just a person with a dream to be a model