9. MUST HAVE
WARDROBE
In most modeling jobs, the clothes are supplied by the advertisers. However, you need some in-style clothing of your own, for use in interviews and your portfolio photographs. You should have appropriate shoes to complement your outfits. If cost is a problem, you might borrow clothing from your friends and relatives, as long as it fits properly.
PORTFOLIO
Some may tell you that you don't need a portfolio. These are usually the same people that tell you they will represent you for a fee of several hundred dollars - and you've just been ripped off. But in all honesty, it IS possible to start without a portfolio, but we have only seen that work for high fashion runway work, or from agencies that ONLY work with one type of model and one type of client, such as fashion runway models and designers. Since they only work with one type of model, they really don't need to see you in any other way.
But in almost all other types of modeling, the first thing most modeling agencies ask to see is your portfolio. They will not schedule an interview unless you have a portfolio. Your portfolio is used to evaluate you, and will be the main reason for getting or not getting a position. When a booker in the agency looks through your portfolio, he or she should think, "This one looks good in the photos, so we should get many bookings for her and make lots of money." When an agency gets that kind of impression, you are on your way to becoming a successful model.
Ideally, a portfolio should have at most 24 eight-by-ten-inch photographs. However, modeling agencies will agree to interview a beginning model if the applicant has as many as 10 photographs. Here are some examples of photographs you might want to include in your portfolio:
- An informal head shot.
- An editorial-style photo, in evening dress.
- A full-length photo, in a casual outfit.
- An editorial-style photo, in a sporty outfit.
- An editorial-style photo, in a coat.
- A photo of product-demonstration.
- A full-length photo, in a swimming suit.
- A full-length photo, in a T-shirt and shorts.
- A full-length photo, in lingerie.
- A profile head shot.
- A profile head shot, in a hat.
- A head shot, in perfect makeup and hair.
- An advertising-style photo, in full-length dress.
- A full-length sport-action photo.
- A full-length editorial-style photo, outdoors in a dress.
- A situational shot, creating a "slice-of-life" image. For example, getting surprised.
- A catalog-style photo, with another model in casual dress.
- If interested in specialty modeling, a photo featuring the part of your body that you want to model.
- If interested in figure, art, seminude, or nude modeling, a tastefully-done photo showing your figure.
FINDING A PHOTOGRAPHER TO DO YOUR PORTFOLIO
When you pose for your portfolio photographs, not only are you building a portfolio, but also you are gaining valuable experience as a model. Therefore, before you choose a photographer, make sure that:
- You won't be rushed. A beginner's portfolio might take up to six hours, if done in one session.
- The photographer takes Polaroid or digital shots in order to check your makeup. This is a regular practice in most modeling jobs.
- You do your own makeup. In most beginning and intermediate modeling jobs, there is no makeup artist, and so you are expected to do your own makeup.
- You are to get all the proofs. Modeling agencies and clients often like to evaluate the proofs before hiring a model.
- A medium-format or very high quality digital camera is to be used for the closeups.
- The photographer plans to use plenty of film, about five rolls of 35-millimeter, plus at least one roll of 6X6- or 6X7-centimeter for closeups.
- There is to be no touching-up of the photographs. Touched-up images are useless to the modeling agencies. Besides, photographs without touch-up are much less expensive than portrait photographs.
- You are given ample opportunity to work on your hair and makeup every time you change into another outfit.
- The photographer varies his style and alters the backgrounds, so that the photographs do not appear too uniform.
- The photographer has the capability to convert photographs into scanned digital images or is shooting digital. The popularity of the Internet's modeling agencies is multiplying every month and you want to be able to use some of them to list yourself online.
- The total cost of the portfolio is up front. For example, get an estimate for five hours' sitting fee, plus your selection of ten 8X10 prints, plus at least five scanned images.
HINT: When looking for a photographer, don't just use the yellow pages. Visit a few photo stores, camera clubs, etc., and ask the personnel if they can recommend a good model-portfolio photographer. Many photographers convert a section of their homes into a studio. Don't let that make you decide to go elsewhere! With much lower overhead, they can pass on part of the savings to you.
After you select your photographer make sure that:
- You bring your makeup kit to the portfolio session.
- You bring enough outfits and shoes for at least six changes.
- You vary your expressions during the session. You check your makeup and hair often, or else ask the photographer to check them for you.
After the proofs are ready, study them carefully with a magnification glass, and pick not more than 10 to be made into 8X10 enlargements. If modeling agencies express an interest in representing you, they might ask you to get some more pictures taken, either for your portfolio, for your composites, or for a head sheet.
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