Photographic Model - PART 4

Portfolio

The portfolio is a series of photographs and presented in a book or folder format. The portfolio is not generally given out, as they are expensive to create and duplicate. The portfolio is generally called on when you get an interview for some prospective work or when you are on a job and wish to demonstrate your different styles. Never let your portfolio out of your hands unless you can be sure you will get it back.

A complete portfolio should have approximately to 20 to 24 photographs. This is a lot for the beginning model so strive for at least 12 shots using the below list. Build up your folio from here including photographs that complement your particular style.

1. a head shot showing natural looking hair
2. a head shot with hat in profile
3. a well styled head shot with accessories, hairstyling and makeup
4. an evening gown shot full length
5. a sporty, casual shot out of studio on location full length
6. a swimsuit shot or T-shirt and shorts on location full length
7. a double shot in formal evening or sports attire half length
8. a coat shot half to three quarter length
9. a doubles shot with a model of the same sex
10. a half to three quarter length displaying a product
11. a sports action shot full length
12. a dress shot full length

Building a portfolio isn't something that happens overnight. It takes time to execute the steps to achieving a satisfactory portfolio and can take many months of groundwork. Without some experience or help it usually takes 8 to 12 months to complete a portfolio for presentation. An excellent approach would be to aim toward one test shoot per week, as it can take anything from two weeks to a month for your photographs to be processed.

There are many creative ways to display your portfolio. The simplest is to buy a zip up folio book with page inserts from your nearest art supplier. The suggested photograph size to show is 8 x 10in - so it's best to buy a folio book one size up, 11 x 14in. This gives the photograph a boarder - most folios come with page inserts with a background sheet, usually black.

Online Portfolio

With the increasing us of the Internet, model agencies are designing web sites and presenting their models online. Both composites and portfolios are available to view online. The advantage of this system is the prospective client can view model photographs at any time and make a booking via email. However, there are not many agencies in Australia that have introduced the Internet Model Agency, but there are a few. Some allow you to create your own composite or portfolio by uploading photographs and filling out a model sheet.

If you wish to pursue this marketing method you will have to either have digital photographs taken or have your existing photographs scanned and prepared for web display.

Casting and Testing Shoots

Casting Shoot

A casting shoot is a photographic session where a prospective client or photographer asks a model to participate in a photographic session for the sole purpose to see if he/she is suitable for an assignment or for representation. The model is usually asked to participate for no fee or a nominal fee, as it is uncertain whether they are suitable or not. Sometimes photographs resulting from the shoot may be offered to the model. This may be negotiated. Participating in a casting shoot is a method of building your portfolio, but you need to be invited to participate. Always insist on a release even though this is not a job (see section on legal issues).

Testing Shoot

A testing shoot comes from a photographer who wishes to test a certain technique, equipment, aesthetic or anything to achieve a desirable outcome, and wants to test first. The photographer will call in a model for a test session so that the image can be worked out. The model doesn't charge for time neither does the photographer. The photographer agrees to provide the model with any successful prints that are derived from the session. The result is that the photographer sorts out his issue and gets a shot for his/her portfolio; the model also gets a shot for his/her portfolio too. It's a cooperative fusion that's been around for a long time, providing an economical way to build portfolios; both photographer and model benefit.

Testing is also a way of building your portfolio, but again you need to be invited. You may also turn it around and ask the photographer to test you. But remember, there is time and materials cost in testing and not all photographers will do it, particularly if they have all the models they require. If you think you have a new look, or the photographer is looking for additional models, it's a way of getting those additional photographs, or even your first photographs for no cost.

Another scenario in testing is the photographer will test you and may or may not get anything from the session he can use. He may provide the session and film for free and put it down to a loss, but offer you any prints you want for a fee. Again, this is an economical way of getting some photographs for your portfolio and insist on a release (see section on legal issues).

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