“Having a strong selection of images that show diversity and sell you is key to having an amazing model portfolio”
Many aspiring and professional models aren’t really sure what makes an effective model portfolio.
What makes a strong image?
What do clients want to see from you?
What is going to get you booked?
Whether you are applying to a modelling agency or are penciled in for a job, people are deciding whether to hire you based on your images every day. As such, your model portfolio is an essential marketing tool – it’s your model CV, showing what you look like and what you can do.
If you have an exclusive contract with an agency, this will probably be managed for you. Otherwise it will be your responsibility to decide which images go into your portfolio.The images you choose are a chance to market yourself, and will have a huge impact on which opportunities you’ll be considered for.
Actually building a model portfolio can be a minefield though. Maybe you’ve already got a model portfolio, but just aren’t getting the bookings. Maybe you want a portfolio, but just don’t know where to start. Either way, we’ve got your back.
Here’s what you need to know to build an amazing model portfolio.
First Know Your Look
Male models | Model Portfolio
“Once you know your look and you are confident marketing yourself in this way, you will need to have images created for your portfolio that showcase you and what you can do.”
The requirements for the images in your model portfolio will depend on what your look is and what you can do.
As casting director Mark Summers says, “you are who you are, so take advantage of what you look like”.
Everyone has a look – and you’ll tend to fall into no more than one or two categories. You might be better suited to high-end or low-end, sporty or urban. You might be able to do edgy or romantic, professional or down-and-out.
If you look like a 30-something CEO and you’re pitching yourself as a young, single mum – or worse, as “generic blonde girl” – then you’re not maximising your chances of getting booked.
Know your look before you build your model portfolio as your look will determine the work you can be considered for, and that’s what you should tailor your portfolio towards.
Your Model Portfolio Needs to Show Commercial Versatility
Model Portfolio | Model Poses
“Once you know your look, you need to show versatility within that. The more versatile you are, the wider the range of work you’ll be considered for.”
Once you know your look, you need to show versatility within that. The more versatile you are, the wider the range of work you’ll be considered for. Commercial modelling is about bringing a brief to life – and an amazing model portfolio is about marketing yourself the right way, about showing ability within the range of briefs you’d be considered for given your look.
Deciding to sign a model is a business decision for modelling agencies – how many jobs are you likely to be suitable for and how many different roles can you believably play?
The more characters you can play convincingly, the more opportunities you’ll open yourself up to.
In other words, an amazing model portfolio isn’t about looking “perfect”. Having “beautiful” pictures isn’t enough – you need to look like you’re be able to play the part the client or agent is looking for. The more versatile your portfolio, the more likely you are to win modelling jobs.
A Model Portfolio Is More Than A Collection of Photos
Modelling | Model Coaching
“Images don’t necessarily make up a portfolio. It’s important that the images in your model portfolio show diversity in poses and facial expressions, but they also have to sell YOU”
There’s one thing we say to our model community frequently: a model portfolio is made up of pictures, but pictures don’t necessarily make up a model portfolio. Anyone can stand in front of a camera and have their photo taken, but that doesn’t mean they’ll walk out with a model portfolio.
A lot of aspiring models rush out and pay for photos before they know their look. This is often a mistake. Many professional photography studios are set up for makeovers – they’ll no doubt take a lovely series of images, but those images won’t make up a model portfolio.
It’s important to choose a photographer who’ll work with you. One size doesn’t fit all and you need a photographer who has a deep understanding of the modelling industry in order to build a model portfolio that is relevant commercially.
What makes a good makeover photo and what makes a good model portfolio photo are different things. If you don’t really understand the latter, you’ll end up paying good money for shots that are worthless to your career.
Modelling is Acting Without Lines
Modelling portfolio | Photo shoot
“When getting into character for a shoot it’s critical that you practice. 80% of expression comes from the eyes so get in front of that mirror and practice, practice, practice!”
An amazing model portfolio isn’t just about looking the part – it’s about acting the part.
In other words, knowing your look is only half the battle – you also need to be able to bring that look to life. Your pictures need to be believable; your model portfolio needs to live and breathe – because that’s what will get the attention of agents and clients.
So how do you do bring a brief to life?
It’s about being natural in front of the camera. It’s about showing expression. Showing movement. It’s the difference between looking like a deer in the headlights and looking like you completely belong on-set.
Imagine the brief you’re working to is tired mum, first thing in the morning. Do you look like you’re genuinely drinking a cup of tea and shrugging sleep out of your eyes, or do you look like the casting director just handed you a cup from behind camera? That’s believability – it’s about total immersion.
Bringing this out in your pictures will mean you have a model portfolio that tells agents and clients exactly what you can do. It’s not just about showing your look – they can tell from your pictures how confident you are, how experienced you are, and how well you’ll be able to perform
You’re part of the sell – the ability to interact with props naturally, to show movement, are critical to being a successful model.
It’s a question of confidence, self-awareness in front of the camera and understanding the brief. It’s about commercial awareness – knowing what’s expected of you, and how best to help the photographer get that shot.
That’s where We Are Models come in.
Model Portfolio | Model consultancy
We can help you discover your look, explore the type of pictures you need and show you how to market yourself in a way that maximises your chances of success.
We can help you discover your look, explore the type of pictures you need and show you how to market yourself in a way that maximises your chances of success.
When you book studio time with us you’ll get a model consultation included in the price. It’s tailor made to you, designed to create images that will market you effectively, but also to equip you with the skills, self-awareness and confidence to bring your briefs to life – on every shoot.
We have established relationships with many key industry players and reputable agencies, so we have an inside track into what they want to see.
We’ll work with you to decide on the sort of briefs you’ll be considered for, create a mood board for you and coach you on how to bring those characters to life through expression, posing and movement. We’ll also advise you with selecting the right final images for your model portfolio.
Our model consultants will show you, not just tell you – they’ll create poses with you; show you how to hold yourself, how to move. They’ll give you continuous feedback throughout the process – so you learn what it looks and feels like to do it right.
By the end of the day, you’ll not only have built an amazing model portfolio – one that agents are excited by – but you’ll have the confidence that means you’ll get rebooked again and again.
