What is a Portfolio?
Every Model has to have a portfolio.  Some are in a book and some are on web pages, but they all serve the purpose of demonstrating to potential clients, employers, and agencies what you look like now and what you can look like.  A well crafted portfolio will show you in all your many looks and be varied enough that there is an example of every type of modeling you want to participate in.  Many different looks from many different photographers are required to create and maintain this valuable tool.  Your portfolio is just as important as a Mechanics wrenches, a Doctor's scalpel, or a Dentist's drill.  Without these tools, they can't perform their duties, and without a good portfolio, a model will never find regular work

What needs to be in a Portfolio?
To start with, a portfolio must have a great head shot, several full length shots, and a variety of clothing so you can tell a story about yourself just by looking at the portfolio.  The basic black dress is always a winner.  Sports action, beach, school activities, work activities, product promotion, etc. all need to be displayed.  If you have a specialty, such as dance or gymnastics expertise, include professional shots of those activities.  The biggest thing is that you should have is variety... in your poses, in your appearance, in your locations, and in your photographers.  Each photographer has a certain style, and no single look will get you jobs, so always keep your portfolio active in representing what you look like now and what you've done in the past.

Tear sheets are especially important to show that you have already done modeling work.  Don't make the mistake of using school or wedding photos, amateur photos, or "Glamour Shots" type photos, unless they are exactly what you want to be known for.  Bad photos, whether because of a cheap camera, bad lighting, bad poses or closed eyes do nothing to represent you to a client.  The vacation pictures of you and your BFF hanging out at the local beach bar won't get you many jobs either.  Think marketing when you build your portfolio.  You are a commodity and your portfolio is your main source of advertising yourself to the buying public. An excellent place to go to see what should be in a portfolio is the Hartford Model Portfolio Checklist.

When to Update a Portfolio?
To have a great portfolio, you must start with several basic looks and expand to show your variety.  Keep the variety and keep excitement.  When you dye or cut your hair, get new photographs. If you lose or gain weight, get new photographs.  No matter how good you look in a bikini, a portfolio full of bikini shots will get boring after a while.  The same goes for the same poses, the same backgrounds, the same locations, and the same photographers.  Your portfolio needs to be constantly flowing to show that you as a person are constantly changing and to represent those changes to the viewer. 

How expensive are Portfolios?
A beginning photographer will charge as low as $75-150 for a portfolio because he needs one as bad as you do, and you are just paying his expenses.  More experienced photographers charge $300-1000 for a portfolio session, and the top photographers charge several thousand dollars.  A session with a major New York fashion photographer can cost $1000-1500 for a headshot and up to $15,000 per day. Just remember you get what you pay for.  The more experienced photographers will provide more good shots for the amount of time spent with you and will know what your potential clients are looking for.  Would you want to have your appendix removed by a person who just bought a set of medical tools and wanted to learn on you or would you go to an experienced doctor with a long history of successful appendix surgeries?

How do I get a Portfolio?
There are many photographers who specialize in Models Portfolios, and many others who can do certain types of photos useful in building a portfolio.  Many photographers will use you for certain types of shots that they need either for their own promotions or portfolios, or just to test new equipment, cameras or lighting.  Often you can trade your time in the studio for prints, this is commonly referred to as TFP. In many cases you will have to pay for some portfolio shots, but often, you can barter your way into an excellent portfolio just by setting your goals on it, and asking around. Even if you have to pay for some or all of it, it will still be the most useful part of developing your career.

Can I get a Free Portfolio?
I try to keep my costs low for portfolios because I financed several years of my own daughter going to modeling schools, appearing in fashion shows, and pageants, and I remember what a struggle it was.  However, as a businessman, I also have to consider what it costs to produce a photo shoot and have to ask my clients to understand that it's not just a couple hours of my time, but years of training and experience, thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and the constantly rising costs of transportation, supplies, and processing.  For every hour I spend behind the camera, there are hours of preparation and hours of follow up. I sometimes offer to do a free test shoot or trade time for prints, but to keep financing this endeavor requires that I charge for my services more often than not.  If you get a freebie, feel happy, but don't expect it every time.  If I produce just one image that lands you a modeling job, you have earned more than what it cost you. 

I'm a professional model.  Why should I pay you?
Going back to the analogy in the first paragraph; Try asking a Doctor to pay you for the privilege of performing surgery or a Dentist to pay you to allow him to cap your teeth.  I'm sure you wouldn't try to cap your own teeth or reshape your nose, and the same goes for professional photographs.  If you're good enough as a photographer to do it yourself, then just set the self timer and run into position and strike a pose. You are paying for a service based on the experience and training level of the service provider.  I will often share profits with a model whose image I sell, but don't ask me to pay you unless you have a lot more experience than me, or have something to offer that I can't find anywhere else.
 

Portfolio Charges