Putting Together Your Own Modeling Portfolio

If you want to break into the modeling world by signing up with a modeling agency or as a freelance model, you need to remember what every model can never live without - a portfolio.

IMPORTANT MARKETING TOOLS FOR MODELS:

A composite

A portfolio

A websiteThe composite is simply a piece of paper with your head shot printed on the front page while your vital statistics and additional photos are printed on the back. This is going to be your "business card" that you give out to photographers, fashion designers, editors, and people looking for models/talents. THE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio is a book containing a model's photos and tear sheets (proof that a model has appeared in print). If you're a beginner, then you still won't have tear sheets and all you'll have are test shots in your portfolio. Since your portfolio is the second most important marketing tool in launching your modeling career, you need to ensure that all the photos you use are of excellent quality.

PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR PORTFOLIO

You'll need a portfolio case.

You'll also need to do several test shots and creative shots with a variety of photographers. If only one photographer does all the shots, then chances are your portfolio will only contain photos depicting that one and only photographer's style of capturing your looks. Your portfolio needs a variety of your images as seen and captured by different photographers.

Choose photos that show your personality and body shape. You'll therefore need:

A good head shot.

A few full-length shots including a bathing suit shot.

Excellent quality shots that capture your show-stopping good looks/captivating shots similar to those you would find in marketing brochures.THE PORTFOLIO CASE

If you find work by signing up with a modeling agency, it's very likely you will be provided with a professional-looking portfolio case bearing the logo and trademark color of your agency. Some agencies, especially big modeling agencies, either provide for or sell these portfolio cases to their models. However, if you're a freelance model, you'll have to buy yourself your own portfolio case.

Appearance - your portfolio must be clean, functional, and presentable. It need not be the most expensive portfolio case in the world as long as it carries a professional look. Its cover must not only project a good image but must also withstand the wear and tear of handling.

Size - this usually depends on what the agency wants/prefers.

Small cases - hold 8" x 10" photos

Medium cases - like those typically preferred by bigger agencies are about 9" x 12"

Large cases - can hold large prints of up to 11" x 14" including tear sheets and other printed material/flyers

Pages - most convenient to use are those that are of the "pocket-style" pages that are open at the top and sealed on the other 3 sides. The "pages" are what holds your photos in your portfolio and can be made of vinyl, polyester, or Mylar. Use pages that are held inside a portfolio by a ring binder for flexibility in the number of photos you can put or add.

Style - you can choose from either the OPEN BOOK or the CLOSED/ZIPPERED STYLE. The most preferred style these days is the open portfolio that reads easily like a book.To know which portfolio case is just right for you, it will have to depend on/be appropriate for your modeling level, your budget, and of course, your market.

Once you have these vital items, you are prepared to begin looking for work as a professional model.