How to Shoot a model portolio?

[kristoffee]

I have a friend and she wants to audition for this modeling agency and she wans me to put togather her portfolio. I have no experience in a portfolio can someone give me some advice:)
thank u

[janetg]

yah - turn on vh1 - and watch america's top model - it's on for the whole week - you'll get a great idea of what kind of shots to get -

[R & J Photography]

check out our model site at www.thegirlfactor.com

[srwatters]

Auditioning for an agency is completely different from putting a book together to show prospective clients. The agency doesn't want to see flashy lighting and over edited photographs. They want a clean full body shot and a natural headshot with very little makeup. There should be very little editing done if any at all.

Call up the modeling agency where the friend wants to submit their photos if you don't believe me.

[dbphotos]

Ditto to what Scott said. If they are just wanting to be considered by a REAL agency you will need simple shots against a white or light gray background with the following shots:

A head shot
A head a shoulders shot
A 3/4 body shot
A full body shot

Basic lighting, no (or not much) makeup or hair styling and basic clothing so they can see the basic shape of the model. You can check out all the major agencies and they have a link on their sites to submit images and they tell you exactly what they want to see.

No if she wants a portfolio so she can get jobs, that's a whole different thing and Scott would be the man to talk to about that.

[DavidsStudio]

I'd recommend Professional Model Portfolios by Billy Pegram (ISBN1-58428-137-5) published by Amherst Media. The first chapter shows you how to shoot and put together a profile sheet that will be submitted with any portfolio you might send to the agency. It includes the items that Scott and David mentioned plus a few others.

Best to you.

The other David

[dreemes]

Ok now I have a question... A new model takes those 4 photos to a REAL agency and they want to sign her.. Would REAL agencies have their own photographers create a portfolio or do they hand the model a list of photographers and say go to one of these and pay a price to have a portfolio created?

I seem to hear different things on that.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by dreemes

Ok now I have a question... A new model takes those 4 photos to a REAL agency and they want to sign her.. Would REAL agencies have their own photographers create a portfolio or do they hand the model a list of photographers and say go to one of these and pay a price to have a portfolio created?

I seem to hear different things on that.

Brick & mortar agencies don't have 'staff' photographers and they NEVER pay for the model's photographs. The model is responsible for building her portfolio with both photographs and tear sheets. Some agencies will have a list of photographers their clients have used and may even suggest shooters that produce the look they prefer. Each one is different. In Dallas you'll hear different stories from Kim Dawson and Campbell. Kids are a different story. I've worked with KD kids agents in the past and they want something far different than the Campbell agents I've spoken with. It's best to ask the agency what they want to see and what they think will get the model work.

Another fact is that a good portfolio should include several different photographers. Any book that is filled with images from one shooter shows that the model can only work with one. Different styles and looks make a complete book.

That's my experience over the last three plus years. YMMV.