What Is a Model Portfolio?

A portfolio (a professional photo folder) is a model's passport in the modelling world. Abroad it is simply called the Model Book. If you are wondering whether you need one, our answer is "absolutely YES!" Remember that a portfolio is essential if you want well-paid work. Below we go through some basic rules that will help you put together your own personal portfolio.

What goes into a model portfolio (book) and how big it should be

A portfolio usually consists of ten pages, with photos placed on both sides. It typically contains between 12 and 30 carefully selected, professional, high-quality photos, which must include:

• the model's face and a full-length shot of the body;
• colour and black-and-white photos;
• photos that show the range of the model's looks, from commercial (commercial/beauty) shots to fashion images.

Beautiful portrait photos are essential for a modelling career. Clients looking for models also usually want to see what the model's body looks like. That is what full-length shots are for: the model is photographed in close-fitting clothes, a leotard, a swimsuit or underwear. This way the client can clearly see the model's style and body lines.

To build a dynamic and varied portfolio, you need photos that use clothing and expression to show how versatile you are as a model. Remember that models usually compete with hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of other models for the same jobs. For this reason, portfolio photos must be as striking, dramatic, stunning and memorable as possible.

Why you need to keep your model book up to date

Take care to update and edit your portfolio regularly, because a client hires a model based on the look they see in the portfolio. As you gain experience and get good new photos, we recommend replacing the old ones. Even if your look has not changed, it is still worth doing new shoots, as this gives you valuable experience in front of the camera.

If you have changed your look, get new photos taken straight away and add them to your portfolio. Otherwise it will come across as unprofessional.

Imagine this: a client hires you, judging your look solely from the photos in your portfolio, and you turn up to the job with a completely different haircut and hair colour. Naturally, people who have invested a lot of money and time in you will no longer view you favourably. Even if the photos are very good, if they do not reflect how you look now, you must take them out of your portfolio.

Model portfolio sizes

Portfolios come in different sizes. The standard dimensions are 20 x 25 cm, 23 x 30 cm, 28 x 36 cm, 41 x 51 cm and 51 x 61 cm. The most common are 23 x 30 cm and 28 x 36 cm. Large-format photos generally look much more impressive and professional.

The cost of a professional portfolio

A professional portfolio can cost several hundred euros. It depends on where it is made and which photographer or photographers work on it. We do not advise spending thousands of euros on your first shoots, because at the start of your career all you need are photos that clearly show your body lines and facial features.

The latest trend: a portfolio on an iPad

As technology improves and more attention is paid to protecting the environment, the industry is moving towards digital ways of presenting a portfolio. Apple's iPad is ideal for this.

Keep in mind that even photos shown on an iPad must be selected with the help of your mother agency. The agency can decide properly what should be shown to a particular client or foreign agency. For example, Japanese clients may like one style of photo, Greek clients another and Italian clients a third, so photos have to be chosen with the client in mind and with a clear idea of what needs to be emphasised.

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Want to become a model and think you meet the measurement requirements for models? The Supermodels model agency is always looking for new faces! If you are a girl aged 14–22 and at least 170 cm tall, or a guy aged 16–25 and at least 185 cm tall, we look forward to seeing you at our office.