Modelling portfolio

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Kim

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Kim
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Hiya guys and girlies.........................

Looking for a bit of advice on behalf of a young friend of mine.

She is looking to get into some modelling and has asked my advise about portfolios. Thing is I haven't got a clue.

Has anyone delat with creating portfolio shots for models? What should she be looking for in a photographer?
Shouyld she have in mind what "looks" she want or would a tog help with that to create the images?

Should she expect to be signing model releases?
How much (average) would she be looking at paying for a shoot?

Anything anyone can thinks of that would help in the waqy of advice would be of a greatfully recieved by both me and her.

Thankies in advance.
 
Best asking these questions on purestorm.com if i'm honest and you could try modelmayhem and net-model as well as the other popular ones but they're a bit over-ridden with ********s and cliques :)
 
Hi Kim,
Although very keen on this type of photography, I'm not a professional tog and in no way take this advice as gospel. ....but generally I think the advice is that there isn't any need to spend out for portfolio shots, most of the respectable agencies find the models from general photos as it is the confidence of the model in front of the camera that gets noticed. I would tend to look through the fashion mags and try and get some poses from there but try and add your own spin of it don't just blanket copy.
There are many pro model togs on here so I am sure one will be along with some more informed info very shortly.

Paul
 
hate to be completely contradictory but unless the model is stunning then that's not entirely true, as with any business an agency can see the effort a model is putting in through their portfolio which is essentially the product she's selling.

paying a decent photographer is well worth it however i'd suggest some time for prints/time for cd first to see how it goes and i'd check up on the references on the sites i've mentioned and look at their styles and skillsets :)
 
might be better in business perhaps?
 
Stock photographers especially are often looking for models and will do "Time for Prints" and will require a model release signed. This might be one way to go as both she and the photographer can discuss things so they both get something out of it (prints for her and stock photos for the photographer).

The alternative is for her to pay for the shots as she would for a normal portrait sitting in which case she would not need to sign a model release, she should have in mind the look she wants to portray as she is the one who knows what sort of modelling she is aiming at (hand, leg, full body, catwalk, hair, catalogue etc etc)
 
Pm sent.
 
alexkidd said:
hate to be completely contradictory but unless the model is stunning then that's not entirely true, as with any business an agency can see the effort a model is putting in through their portfolio which is essentially the product she's selling.

paying a decent photographer is well worth it however i'd suggest some time for prints/time for cd first to see how it goes and i'd check up on the references on the sites i've mentioned and look at their styles and skillsets :)
Click to expand...

Are you a pro tog? (nothing implied just a honest question :D) ....... Sorry but that sounds like a sales pitch to entice a potential model into parting with money when there is possibly no chance of a result and your comment of being "stunning" sort of points that out. I'm sure with the help of the OP it is possible to get a number of shots that can be used to make a good start of a portfolio, there will need to be something in those shots that shows something different though so be creative. The model will know what type of modelling she/he is prepared to do and can target the agencies direct they will be honest about the chances of making it. The advice to go for TFP/TFCD is the best advice and also registering on the purestorm/model mayhem may be worthwhile which has also been mentioned. As I said I am not a pro tog so just trying to be helpful.

Paul
 
Thanks for all the repiles and the pm's. I am passing all the info on to my friend so she is aware of all her opitions.

You are all being a huge help as I have no idea about togging down the modeling route. Mostly I shoot for fun and help out friends where I can when they want shots of things. But this is "out of my leauge".

I am sure with my help and yours she will be better infromed. :thumbs:
 
I have asked this question before and never actually got a specific answer (either because it depends on the model or because nobody knows ! :) ).

What SHOULD a models basic portfolio contain? - seems like a reasonable question.

I have spoken to a few togs away from here and one model and something like this would seem to be a start (but I would also like to know if this is about right!):

2 x fashion shots, 2 x beauty shots, 1 head and shoulders, 1 bikini, 2 different!! shots (situation/out of the ordinary)+ special shots such as hands/feet etc if the model considers these a speciality + optional dependant of the model - topless, tasteful nude, lingerie shots. Too many shots could mean that the prospective client does not even bother looking through them all.
 
I think it does depend on the persons age - my son does modelling (he is 14) and has been doing this for the past 4 years, all his agency needed to sign him up was a basic snap shot!

They then sent him to their own photographer who did a complete portfolio set of photos at a highly reduced rate - and they are excellent photos :D

I advised that it might be a good idea for anyone thinking of getting into modelling to phone a few agencies and ask them what they need/want in the way of pictures before spending huge sums of money.

Hope this helps a few people.

Tracy.
 
i have contacted the op and stated to the model that tfp/tfcd is a good option however the best portfolios generally are those that are paid for, if you're serious about it you'll invest money otherwise you'll generally just be another face on the modelling sites with a "decent" portfolio rather than a "very good" one

and i'm semi professional at the moment but that's a whole different thread based on what is and isn't pro and what amount of your income comes from where :P

not that the above has any bearing on anything whatsoever

(i'm sure you can use the search function to dig those threads out)
 
I work with a lot of models from Model Mayhem, I would say do some TFCD shoots first to get used to the camera, then pay for a good portfolio if she enjoys it. Be realistic with her expectations though, height, weight and looks will limit which types of modelling she can do. MUA (make up artist) and a good retoucher (photoshop) are also required for a professional portfolio.
 
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