What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is the first essential tool in finding a career in modelling. Contrary to popular belief all ages need a portfolio including babies.

Modelling is a visual industry so outstanding pictures are paramount in securing jobs.

A. A portfolio is simply a selection of images that are used to promote a model. A portfolio can be digital images or in a book (or both). This is the models preference, although to be promoted on agency websites you would need the digital copies. However, a client would normally ask to see more images before booking a model for a job. In a similar fashion, if attending a casting we advise always to ensure to bring as many of your portfolio images along as possible.

What is a Z card?

A. They are a marketing tool for actors and models. They serve as the latest and best of a model’s portfolio and are used as a business card.

Do I need a portfolio and should I pay for a portfolio?

A. All Models need a portfolio and contrary to some advice and belief, yes models do invest in their own portfolio. Some of the biggest fashion agencies who represent the likes of Cara Delevinge may put the portfolio cost on hold to claw it back once the model is hired,.

What does copyrights mean in terms of photography?

A. Copyright is the exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of years, to print, publish,film, produced material. In photography terms what this means is the photographer retains copyrights to their images until they are signed off. In simplistic terms, if you have bought images from a photographer you would have the copyrights signed over to you, giving you the legal right to replicate, print, use in promotion.

Rule one, the mirror is your BFF.

Stand there, perfect your poses and learn how your body shapes. The mirror is a perfect tool to show you what the camera can see.

Create separation between your limbs from your body.
Not only does it prevent the arm/leg from being squashed against you spreading out any fat, it is also an optical illusion for a slimmer appearance in terms of overall width. A basic cheat that makes a massive difference.

Be aware of ‘mothering’.

If the light has been metered to an exact spot, try to stick to it, or at least notice when you’ve crept closer to the light so you can rectify it if required.

Recognise when your eyes are over-rotating.

It is always advisable to follow the line of your nose to keep your sight central. This stops you from looking bog eyed from too much white of the eye showing.

Know how far you can turn your head before your nose ‘breaks your cheek’.

Go back to the mirror to see what angle becomes too far. This is perhaps a dying rule, but one that many competition judges still take into account so worth being aware of.

Please be honest about your size and measurements.

Nobody minds how tall or small, big or slim you are…but they do need to know in advance for obvious reasons. You may be sent home unpaid if you have exaggerated the truth and wasted time by not fitting the casting criteria. Save yourself and others the embarrassment.

Most of all be fun, easy going and willing to go that extra mile!

If you are genuinely a delight to be around, you are 100% more likely to be rebooked. You are part of a team so pull your weight, diva’s are so 2010.