Model portfolio myths, and how to arrange your book

There's a lot of bullshit on forums about what should or shouldn't be in model portfolio, and how they should be arranged/renewed/displayed. I'm going to try to tackle a few of these so that models can rest easy that they're doing the 'right' thing. Frankly, if you're booking consistent work and your clients are happy, you're probably doing the right thing!

You need variety
There's variety and there's variety - you need different shots, different looks, different poses. You need to show your range and your abilities within your portfolio - 20 natural headshots won't really get you much work. Most sites will ask for 4 shots, because that's enough to book you from (headshot, full body, lingerie and nude/topless if you do it, or smiling if you don't). Once you're working, you should be adding to it as your experience grows and you get more shots. Variety doesn't mean working in 5 different genres - you do not need bondage, glamour. commercial, art and fashion to book work - it's likely that a portfolio that contains all of those will be too diverse, and will not stand out as exceptional in any genre. Look at the most successful models online - they tend to have no more than 2 genres that they're assocated with - they know how to work those genres, but know not to spread themselves too thinly.

You need to renew all your images every X number of months/years/minutes
When you're a model, working a few days a week every week, your portfolio will naturally be renewed - its just the result of consistently working and gaining more images on a regular basis. What you need to decide is whether your existing images or your new images are stronger - do not replace a great image with a good one unless you've really changed the way you look. It's just not worth it. As long as your portfolio is representative of how you look and your skills, then it doesn't really matter how old the images are. However (however), if a model is working full-time, and shooting regularly, but hasn't changed any of her images in a year it does make you wonder - have all of her recent images been of a lower standard? Why? Basically, it means you haven't shot a portfolio-worthy image in a year, which is a red flag. If you happen to have a 'classic' or amazing image that's more than a year old, by all means keep it in. I know that I sometimes get irrationally upset when models remove my favourite images from their portfolios, just because I love looking at them and think that they show the model in a wonderful light.

Basic point: don't exchange greatness for mediocrity, but make sure you're creating great images on a consistent basis and carry on pushing yourself.

You need 'casting images'
Urgh. If your portfolio is clear and well shot, it will be blatantly obvious what you look like and what people are hiring. I have never, ever ever ever ever been asked for casting images - not even by my agencies. My portfolio clearly showed my face and body, so they were unecessary. Don't bother cluttering your portfolio with something that's badly shot - why would you? Why have 19 amazing, polished, wonderful images, and one that looks like it belongs in a beginner's portfolio? Have a casting image set on your computer, ready to send if someone requires it. Frankly, if you have a clear portfolio, nobody will. Do not have over-edited images, do not let photographers severely change what you look like in test images, if you have tattoos or piercings that are sometimes edited out, just mention it in your profile and ensure that they're features in the images. Just don't put shit in your book.


Arranging a physical book

This is important: taking a poorly arranged book, or the wrong book, to a casting can cost you a job.

Make sure the images are relevant to the job
Don't put glamour images in a book you're taking to a commercial casting. Don't take commercial images to a fashion casting - these things WILL LOSE YOU WORK. Fashion people do not want overly-commercial models, and commercial clients sure as fuck don't want a glamour-looking model. Even if you pull off both genres equally well, just show them the stuff that's relevant and don't distract with them stuff that's irrelevant. Like with any job, you need to just show them why you're perfect for it - if you're applying for a job in accounting, you don't start talking about your extensive experience working in an ice cream van, and how you make the best screwball this side of Blackpool.

Make sure your images are easy to look at
People are lazy. They won't turn your book to look at a landscape image, they won't spend time unsticking pages to look at your pictures, they won't bother - they'll just move on to the next model. If you have a landscape image, make it large enough to full 2 pages, cut it in half and then make it into a 2 page spread. If it's not an image that's good enough to use up 2 spaces, don't put it in your book.

Start on a headshot
Every model needs this - the headshot that shows your best features and good skin. It needs to be fairly natural - fashion models can get away with harsher lighting on this than commercial models, but they need one nonetheless.

Quality, not quantity
20 bleh images are 20 bleh images - 10 amazing ones will get you the job. There are some images that you forget while you're even looking at them - don't use those images! Don't take them, don't keep them, don't put them in your book - they'll make you dull and forgettable.

Finish on a high
If your first image is a headshot, your last image is a show stopper - it's their last impression, and should be something that really sticks in their mind. It's your chance to pull out the best image in your book and make sure they pay attention to it.

Put your tearsheets in
What the heading says.


A quick tip on castings - either come first, or last. The middle models tend to fade into each other in people's heads. If it means turning up 15 mins early for the casting, do it. It's really worth it. Clients are only human, and if they're seeing 100 models in a day, it won't hurt to catch them when they're still fresh. Being the last is a little risky (you may be late, they may be tired, there may be a lot of models still waiting).

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