Modeling portfolio with Channel
How do you start a modelling portfolio? I get a lot of requests for modelling photos. I was lucky enough to have Chanelle come to my studio from Quebec City for her session. We took the opportunity to shoot many looks, each more extraordinary than the last.
Over the years, I’ve had people from the Saguenay, Côte Nord, Trois-Rivières, Montreal and all over Quebec come to my studio in St-Georges to see me in Beauce. I always feel blessed that people travel so far to come and experience this with me.
The session with Channel
I don’t live in a big city. So I’m used to working with people who have no experience in front of the camera. So I’m super comfortable making you feel relaxed, yes, but also placing you from head to toe, including with beautiful, graceful hands, and also various facial expressions. I have to say that this Channel girl completely surprised and charmed me for her first experience with a photographer! She came prepared and knew where she was going! She was a pure delight to photograph.
To create her most varied portfolio, we used several setups, either directly or created at my studio. She brought lots of different clothes, which I always recommend.** Pstt the girls always arrive with a big suitcase; better to have all the options than to have forgotten things at home and regret 😉 For modelling portfolios, I often recommend having the basics, like fitted leggings and a camisole, plain clothes of your choice (jeans, jacket, pants, shirts, etc.). Sometimes you can have funkier options, depending on you. Generally speaking, I often go with plain options in neutral colours.
We were able to play around with the lighting and take the basic photos often required by agencies.
A model’s portfolio
I’d like to talk about a subject I get a lot of questions about, the famous Model Portfolio. I’d like to illustrate why it’s so important to have good photos to sell yourself in a very competitive field like modeling.
First of all, a modeling portfolio is much more than just a photo album. It’s a marketing tool for the model. It allows agencies, potential clients, photographers and casting directors to judge a model’s potential. A good portfolio can open doors and attract opportunities in an extremely competitive market. Some freelance models, before being recruited by an agency, even set up their own personal website, with a variety of beautiful images to enhance and illustrate their talents.
A successful and complete portfolio includes several types of images. It should reflect the model’s versatility and ability to embody different styles. A good portfolio also includes simpler, more natural portraits, which are mandatory for applying to an agency. Modelling agencies have specific requirements, which can be found on their websites, for the photos to be sent in to join their agency. I often provide a list of agencies to people who come to do their portfolio with me. It’s a good starting point.
Secondly, a quality portfolio shows agencies that you’re committed and willing to put in the effort to break into the business. But the most important thing, in my opinion, is that you gain experience by trying out different looks, testing poses, practicing your ease of moving your whole body, but also your famous hands, which take a lot of practice to place correctly. Doing all this with an experienced photographer will give you lots of little tricks up your sleeve that can help you in future castings with agencies.
I think a good portfolio isn’t just a tool: it’s an undeniable asset. It plays a key role in building a model’s image, and is often the first step towards a career in the field. In an environment where appearance and presentation are essential, investing in a quality portfolio, produced by a professional photographer, is an excellent way to get started in the modeling industry.
