Modeling Portfolio

[Miss Monique-Lovely]

HEY! I'm sorry if this is already in the Forums or a Thread somewhere - I did look but my searching skills aren't always the best :(

I'm finally quitting being lazy and am currently putting together a paper portfolio ( I am modeling at a huge meet-and-greet in Vegas in October and want to have this to show my work)

MY QUESTION IS:

How many photos is appropriate in a portfolio? What do you want to see and what do you not want to see as a photographer? models advice would be great here too!
Also - Is it appropriate to hand out business cards?

Thanks ALL

xx Monique-Lovely

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I did a little digging and found a few sites that might help. None are for a pin up portfolio, but they should provide a few guidelines.

http://insidestories.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/how-to-build-the-perf...

This is for teens, but could also be a good read for beginners:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Teenage-Model-Portfolio-Guidelines-and-Re...

http://modeling.sgbphotography.com/Modeling-FAQ/Model-Portfolio-Req...

http://www.modelresource.ca/Model101/portfolio.shtml

Good luck!

[Miss Monique-Lovely]

Thank you soooooo SO much! The first one was especially helpful!

I really appreciate you taking the time to get this information for me

<3

Roxy Tart {Madam} said:

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I did a little digging and found a few sites that might help. None are for a pin up portfolio, but they should provide a few guidelines.

http://insidestories.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/how-to-build-the-perf...

This is for teens, but could also be a good read for beginners:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Teenage-Model-Portfolio-Guidelines-and-Re...

http://modeling.sgbphotography.com/Modeling-FAQ/Model-Portfolio-Req...

http://www.modelresource.ca/Model101/portfolio.shtml

Good luck!

[Tessa LeTaunt {★}]

Ooh, yes. The first link Roxy suggested is really spot on to all of what a physical portfolio should contain. Professionalism is key, that's for sure.
I used a plain black 12"x12" scrap book filled with photo sleeves. Simplicity is best when it comes to overall presentation of the album itself. Nothing crazy that'll draw attention away from what lies beneath the cover.
It's also best to have the order of your photos appear by category, if your portfolio is rather diverse. Flow is a nice thing to have going throughout the photos in your overall port. For instance, start out with basic head-shots (it's also really ideal to include an 'au naturale' head-shot of your face without any makeup. People that would be looking to hire you love nothing more than to see the blank canvas they would be working with.), then move into "commercial" and fashion, if you got'em. Anything considered as being "themed" would come after, including Pin Ups and anything "alternative". Nudes would obviously come in last. If you have participated in any fashion shows, some snap shots also would be a keen thing to include. The same goes for any ad work you may have been printed in. If you have a tear-sheet, it would be a good idea to have that in somewhere.
My portfolio is rather extensive, and there was no way I could fit a sample of ALL of my work into a single book. I felt as though I wasn't really able to give myself as much credit as I know is there, so I went ahead and printed off a full sheet of credentials including all of the photographers, makeup and hair artists, clothing designers, and companies that I have done work for, and placed it in the very last sheet.
Don't be modest when it comes to mentioning your achievements. It's not considered bragging if you earned it, and becomes relevant in conversation.
And, yes! Cards! You can't leave your entire book behind, so be sure to have cards printed and on hand.

[Ellie Monster{★}]

Great information, thanks so much! I am currently trying to build my portfolio too. This is gonna be invaluable!

Tessa LeTaunt said:

Ooh, yes. The first link Roxy suggested is really spot on to all of what a physical portfolio should contain. Professionalism is key, that's for sure.
I used a plain black 12"x12" scrap book filled with photo sleeves. Simplicity is best when it comes to overall presentation of the album itself. Nothing crazy that'll draw attention away from what lies beneath the cover.
It's also best to have the order of your photos appear by category, if your portfolio is rather diverse. Flow is a nice thing to have going throughout the photos in your overall port. For instance, start out with basic head-shots (it's also really ideal to include an 'au naturale' head-shot of your face without any makeup. People that would be looking to hire you love nothing more than to see the blank canvas they would be working with.), then move into "commercial" and fashion, if you got'em. Anything considered as being "themed" would come after, including Pin Ups and anything "alternative". Nudes would obviously come in last. If you have participated in any fashion shows, some snap shots also would be a keen thing to include. The same goes for any ad work you may have been printed in. If you have a tear-sheet, it would be a good idea to have that in somewhere.
My portfolio is rather extensive, and there was no way I could fit a sample of ALL of my work into a single book. I felt as though I wasn't really able to give myself as much credit as I know is there, so I went ahead and printed off a full sheet of credentials including all of the photographers, makeup and hair artists, clothing designers, and companies that I have done work for, and placed it in the very last sheet.
Don't be modest when it comes to mentioning your achievements. It's not considered bragging if you earned it, and becomes relevant in conversation.
And, yes! Cards! You can't leave your entire book behind, so be sure to have cards printed and on hand.

[Miss Monique-Lovely]

SO much GREAT INFORMATION! Aweeeeesome!

[richardwangphotography]

Miss Monique-Lovely

The question depends on who you're presenting the portfolio too.

An agency's objective is to book models, the more bookings the more money comes in. That's why they want the most versatile models possible. Someone capable of runway, editorial, lifestyle, glamour and commerical.

If you're presenting the port to an agency then include as many "looks" possible.

A casting call is looking for a specific "look". So your port should include the best photos that match that "look". If they're casting for a "young mother" and you include glamour and swimwear shots, you're probably not going to get the job.

The absolute minimum for a portfolio is a beauty shot, a full length shoot, and as Tess LeTaunt mentioned, a portrait without makeup.

A few words of caution.

Sometime a model will show up with a portfolio full of photoshop'd images. Well that's all fine and good and you want to show your best, but I'm casting for a model not for someone who can do post. Show what you look like.

Oh and try to include recent photos. Had a portfolio which showed someone in their early 30's. When she showed up for the "go see", she was definitely not in her early 30's.

Finally, the nature of portfolios has really changed. At one time, you carried around a big leather bound binder, left it and picked it up a few days later.

That's all changed. Instead of an actual portfolio, publish a small book from shuttlefly, iPhoto or Blurb, give it to the potential client. Inside the book are some of your strongest images and your website address.

Your website should be your main portfolio and the book is to drive traffic to it.


richardwangphotography.com