More and more are wanting to get in to the model industry – and why not ….. However it is important that you have a portfolio of images to show for whatever genre of modelling you are aiming to follow.
The big question is “Do you need professional photographs for your portfolio?”
The simple answer is YES
You may have been informed that agencies don’t require a set of professional photographs for them to consider you for work – whilst this “may” be true having a full and varied portfolio will certainly give you an advantage. The reasons are two fold – first it shows that you are actually serious about your commitment and secondly as most of the work models obtain are from sites like Model Mayhem and Purestorm, having a professional gallery of images will set you apart from those that are displaying snaps done on point and shoot cameras or camera phones.
I cringe when I see profile galleries of poorly exposed and processed photographs and I get no end of emails asking for help and assistance with these portfolios – and to be honest my answer is always the same …. get them done professionally !
I mean seriously if you were a photographer or company looking for a model for a particular shoot would you even stop to look at galleries and portfolios that were anything short of professionally produced and were full of quality photographs ?
No I thought not ……
So then it all comes down to costs …. These can vary widely and some studios will charge £000′s for an hour with a few 10×8 prints …. that isn’t going to get you started.
The model portfolio package I provide is not just one shoot. I believe that to give anyone a good start they need to be able to show work both indoors and out and include studio examples. So I do at least two / three sessions that include relaxed and more formal dress and cover location work and studio. Should your target area include swimsuit lingerie or glamour, these can be included in the studio sessions.
From these you will get a good range of images to launch your online modelling presence and they will give you the best possible start.
You will receive a selection of web size AND full resolution images from the sessions and there will be at least 30-40 finished fully edited files for you to use online or to obtain prints from. Don’t be fooled by some companies offering to sell you the copyright to your images as models would not need this for self promotion and would instead use specific licensing agreements should they want to use them commercially.
So 2/3 sessions on location and in studio will cost you £350.00 and will include your images in both web and high resolution. You will also receive a professionally printed set of images at 12×8 and boxed, not just one or two but your fully edited set. Leather bound portfolios are available from £250.00
I can’t impress enough that you need to start right as any modelling photographs of you published on the web are there for life, and follow you however busy and successful you get – so make sure YOU are in control of the quality of your portfolio
