13 Model Photography Portfolio Secrets That No One Tells You!

So let us jump right in and see why it is vital to have your portfolio done with professional modelling portfolio photographers.

Note this is plural – firstly because it is also a good idea to have photos taken with more than one professional photographer as they will all have different angles and views to contribute. The more diverse your portfolio is, the more you can showcase yourself to an agent.

Your model photography portfolio is like your CV. You really want to try and stand out and make an agency take notice of you.

So, your photos must be the best they can be. It should be noted that if you are looking for a professional profile photoshoot, the same rules apply.

In other words, if you want to update your LinkedIn page with a professional-looking photo, then you can also have a small profile photoshoot done for the exact same reasons. As more and more work is done online it is becoming increasingly important to have a professional look on your online profiles as well.

But besides that, here are some of the great reasons to hire a professional for your model photography.

 

1. Quality model photography equipment means you have the best quality photos – this is important for printing and showcasing. A bad quality photo that is pixelated, for instance, will detract from what you want an agency to see. You want glossy, high-quality images that look expensive to really show you off. First impressions are crucial here.

2. Professional modelling photographers know a thing or two about lighting – this is important and can make or break a look in a photo. It’s essential to get many different lighting scenarios in your portfolio so that a potential agency can see how you look in all of them.

3. Access to hair and makeup artists – professional photographers often have access to other service providers who can help make you look fabulous for your photos.

4. Model photography professionals can teach you how to pose – professional photographers can also tell you how to stand or tweak a pose to make it look even more flattering. Although you will need to know how to pose anyway as a model, the photographer can work with you to make this even better. Just another way to make you stand out. This is particularly helpful if you are just starting out and only just learning as a photographer can help guide you to get the right shots.

5. Different backgrounds and locations – Photographers often shoot in different areas and know where they can take you to have additional photos taken, other than the studio (which they also should have access to or have one of their own). Like the different lighting conditions, it’s also essential to have diverse backgrounds to show contrast in your modelling photography portfolio.

6. There are generally a lot of photos to choose from for your portfolio. Photographers shoot more than is necessary to make sure they get the best shots. SO, you should have a wide range from the final edit to choose from.

7. The images are professionally edited – this means your best features are enhanced, and you can stand out even more!

Now that you know why it is vital to work with a professional, you can go ahead and book your modelling portfolio photographers and know what you want to get out of it.

 

But here is how you can best prepare for the modelling photoshoot to ensure you get the most out of your photoshoot. After all, this is a paid service and can get quite expensive, so you really want to get the best modelling headshots and portfolio you can.

• Model photography is quite diverse, so it’s important to make sure you discuss all the options with your photographer, and they and you are on the same page before the photoshoot.
• There is a difference between a model portfolio and a model photoshoot. Over time, a portfolio is built up with several modelling photo shoots, backgrounds, lighting, and different photographers.

That said, it can become a costly exercise. So, it’s essential to make each model photography session count.

• Before jumping in on the cheapest option, discuss with the photographer what is included in the package.

Do they have a makeup and hair artist on the shoot, or do you still need to book these?

How many outfits can you bring? Are you going to use different locations? How long is the photoshoot? How many photos do you get out of the shoot?

These are all questions you can ask to make sure you are getting the most out of it. It is possible to get diverse photos from one modelling photoshoot if you prepare correctly. A good photographer will also want you to get the most from the photoshoot rather than just a couple of modelling headshots.

• Poses and types of shots should also be discussed – tell your photographer you want full length, close-up, modelling headshots, seated and standing etc. This way, you can also get more from one modelling photoshoot.

If your photoshoot is in a studio, ask if they have different colour backgrounds to diversity the photos. As well as different lighting options – for instance, you can share photos with your photographer with varying lighting situations to see if they can give you something similar in the studio. The studio is a more controlled environment, so it is easier to manipulate the lighting here.

• If your modelling photo shoot is outdoors, bear in mind the time of day for your photoshoot. The best lighting usually is closer to sunrise or sunset – however, in a modelling portfolio, you may want to take photos at different times of day as well.

This is often the case with model photography on location during a shoot. Depending on who the photoshoot is for it may require a more hard light look for instance.

So you cannot rule these out of your modeling portfolio if you want to be a candidate for these types of photoshoots, as your potential agent will want to see how you look in all types of lighting situations.

Model portfolio photographers will know how to diffuse and direct light to get the best shots if they are specialised.

Be sure to choose a photographer with experience as a model photographer, especially if you are doing a location modelling photoshoot.

 

• Keep your outfits simple – A pro tip if you are just starting out – you are showcasing yourself as a model and not the clothing at this point, so you don’t want to distract from yourself as the subject too much in your portfolio.
• Think about the kind of modelling you want to do. This should come across in your photos.
• Sharing a few shots consistent with the look you want to go for can help guide your photographer in the right direction so that you share the same vision.