The British Model Portfolio:
Many people dream of becoming a model, but few follow through with their dreams when they realise that it won’t just happen. It takes hard work and commitment. The first step is to get a professional portfolio.
In order to start booking modelling jobs, you’ll need to starting building your portfolio or “book.” If you want to sign to an agency or platform, like The British Model Alliance, they will usually request that you have portfolio or 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.
A portfolio can be used for pursuing your own freelance opportunities too. Without a professional portfolio, your chances of getting any decent paying jobs are unlikely.
What is a Portfolio?
A portfolio is your modelling Cv and absolutely essential for all models. It will have your best images, utilising different outfits, styles, locations and hair and makeup. The more you can show, the more job opportunities there will be for you. Models have to be versatile and their pictures needs to reflect this. The British Model Alliance can help you organise and guide you towards the best option. So that you have a unique, personalised portfolio that suits your needs, whether that be a new model or an already established model.
How Much Does It Cost for a professional one?
There are many different factors involving the price of a portfolio including your needs, availability and types of modelling. Typically they start from £525, which can increase depending on how many photos you would like. Then there are extras including web-portfolio, Z – cards and touch ups.
The fastest way to start your career as a model is to pay a team to create a portfolio for you.
The British Model Alliance can organise that you have a dedicated team including a stylist, hair and makeup artist and photographer for your portfolio shoot, which will help to show off all of your best qualities. The photographer will guide you with suitable poses while hair and makeup will make you look your best.
The photographer will then do an after-shoot photo touch-up, which is not to create “fake” photos but are required to make each photo look even more professional.
At the end of the day, the better the photos, the better you can sell yourself. More jobs = more money.
Why Do I Need to Pay for my portfolio, Shouldn’t it be Free?
The simple answer is no it won’t be free. No one agency or platform will pay for your portfolio. Especially when you can use it with different agencies like you can with The British Model Alliance
It is an important step when becoming a professional model that you have, and own your portfolio. Since you own the copyright, you can do what you want with it. Apply to loads of different agencies, which we encourage at The British Model Alliance, post on your social medias, anything.
Some agencies like Elite Models and Model1 sometimes pay for some of their clients portfolio. However you can only work with that one agency and the brands they are associated with. Then if you decided to go with another agency, you will lose everything and have nothing.
Can I get jobs without One?
No. Can a photographer get a job without a camera? Can a plumber get a job without his tools?
The modelling industry is all visual. Your agent could tell casting directors, that you have the best smile in the world, beautiful eyes, a great figure. Then the casting director will say “Ok show me.”
Without one, you are just a person with a dream to be a model.
Types of Portfolio
There are two major types of portfolio, Digital and Web. Gone are the days when models used to have to bring big printed books around with them to castings. Now it is a lot simpler.
Digital Portfolio
A digital portfolio is on a disk or a USB drive. This will have all your best images from portfolio on it. It is a great option because you can bring it everywhere with you and people can take a copy for further reference. It can also be retouched and changed easily.
However, it is a bit more work because if you need to send it to an agency or platform, you will need to include a CV and a cover letter. A Cv is like a normal CV however it will have your measurements on it, which is of course, very important for modelling.
The cover letter will need to state how you believe you have the skills and knowledge to get the job or sign up to the particular agency or platform.
Web-Portfolio
This is easily the best and most accessible option. You would have your own personal website and hosting address with all the information a casting director or agency needs to hire to sign you. On the home page, it would have your 5 best images, which will be all very different so it shows your versatile straight away. Following on from that, you will have a page for your CV, measurements (which you will update every 4-6 weeks), your remaining portfolio photos, and then finally your contact page. The benefit of the web portfolio is that it can accessed anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat and can be the quickest way to secure jobs. Thus, increasing the range of job opportunities available to you. The British Model Alliance can build and manage your web-portfolio for you and ensure it is routinely updated it for you.
