Portfolio Building Strategy Details Everyone Overlooks...
- Alison
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 5
There are a number of ways a new model can create a marketable portfolio, but no matter the route you take, there are some core truths that no one in the industry will explain......why? They require an already existing knowledge of the industry, marketing and art previous to making it happen.
For those of you who want to challenge yourself to create a portfolio within the top 10% of your market, here you go:
1) Understanding your skin tone and hair texture in relation to the camera and lighting.
Different skin tones and hair textures require specific professional lighting set ups in order to show talent in not only their best, but also most accurate form. The backdrop and lighting set up cannot be too stark/harsh/contrasting in relation to skin, hair and wardrobe in order for your portfolio to appear high end/expensive...not matter if you are a editorial or commercial model.
How can you begin to figure this out?
Take selfies or other images in varying types of natural lighting without filters so you understand what how your true skin tone reads.
Book trade or test shoots with photographers who have previously shot models who look like you and also those who have not. If you're actually trying to learn and not just get lucky, this may take several shoots and many hours to get a variety of images to compare and contrast. After doing this, you should have a much better idea of what lighting in which you look best and which photographers (if any) you would like to work with again in a more strategic way. It's crucially important to understand that not all photographers shoot models well and not all photographers are experienced with all skin tones. There are photographers of ALL skill levels out there offering their services and it is important to be discerning!
2) Planning your wardrobe with future marketability in mind.
The biggest disappointment when reviewing portfolios, is when the wardrobe, hairstyle or accessories a model is wearing either does not make sense or has absolutely zero use in submitting them for paying work/for bookings.
We cannot stress this enough, your images have to MAKE SENSE! You should not be posing seductively while wearing a fitness set....you should not be contorted into a high fashion pose while wearing a casual/commercial look. Too many models make the mistake of trying to directly copy existing marketing campaigns to create their portfolio instead of being realistic and presenting themselves as the "product" or main focus of the image. YOU are the product your portfolio should best display.
Wardrobe planning specifically can have a template but will 100% have changes from model to model depending on a variety of factors. Just a few of these to consider:
Height Shape/Stats Look/Cast Type/Category of model Booking Goals Special Physical Skills (ex Dance) Over All Posing Skills
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go to a shoot of any kind and just pack random wardrobe..the odds of it working out are very very low as far as images that can be used to book paying work.
3) Being comfortable with MOVEMENT
Dancers get it...models....only sometimes. When a model is not comfortable with moving freely on camera, it really shows. Stagnant poses have their place, but a models book having no movement shots is quite boring and also indicates to the client that the model is not very comfortable on camera or not very experienced. There are movements that mimic other motions specifically designed for the camera that models should begin to study before they shoot. Almost nothing photographs the way you think it does when you are a new model trying things out. There is usually always a way to change or fix the pose to make it work, but a new model does not have these instincts until being on camera many times and reviewing the results.
If you are not naturally born with phenomenal photo posing instincts (less than 1% of the human population is) take a training. Photo posing is a learned skill. How we move in real life and how our eyes see ourselves is completely different in regards to how a camera sees. It is a piece of equipment.....it has it's own rules.
Having a general body awareness, knowledge of depth and space perception, and professional lighting are skills NEEDED (not optional) to be considered a professional model.
If you are a current professional or semi professional model and these tips helped you, let us know!
If you are a new model/aspiring model seeking Development consideration with us, feel free to reach out by email or through our website submission form:
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