Your Portfolio & related questions

What makes a great portfolio?

A portfolio is a key element to any career. There are several steps you can take to improve your portfolio.

What to include:

• When putting together your portfolio, it is quality not quantity that counts. Aim for about twenty photos.
• When considering pictures for inclusion, be ultra critical: everybody else will be.
• Do not include more than one shot from a particular shoot: pick the best from each location/ style/outfit - the more variety the better.
• People who look at portfolios see possibly hundreds; a bad photo will kill your chances as they pass yours over and look at the next.

How to organise it:

• Group your photos by theme, starting with a stunning black and white editorial style shot, followed immediately with an outdoor commercial style shot filled with color and smiles can be too great a contrast and confusing.
• Include at least one or two black and white images in your portfolio. Black and white images are considered “artistic” and can convey a specific mood. This adds diversity and emotion to your portfolio; some portfolios are 50% black and white.
• Include at least two shots swim wear or lingerie shots. This is not a necessity for every model, but the more that you are willing to do, the more opportunity is available.

How to get a portfolio:

• Most agencies do not charge you for a portfolio before they consider your application; if they do, be very wary!
• Try and use more than one photographer, even if they are good they will have their own style, and variety is the spice of life.
• There are more photographers than girls willing to pose; look around locally, camera clubs, local photographers etc. and arrange TFP or TFCD shoot with talented amateurs.
• TFP = Time for prints, TFCD = Time for CD , you pose for no fee and they supply you with portfolio material in exchange. Usually there is an agreed quantity.

What is TFP ?

• Also called prints for time (PFT, or TFP or CD ), it is shoot for mutual benefit: The model puts in her/his time, resources and effort, and the photographer does the same. No money changes hands. Both benefit from each other's skills and talents.
• Other names used are test, testing, test shoot - but this is not always the same.
• TFP also normally means that nobody has commissioned the photographer to take the photographs. There is very little likelihood being able to sell any of them.
• TFP is meant to be low budget . More often than not, the model will be required to do her (his) own hair and make-up, and supply her (his) own clothes.
• Approach a TFP shoot with professionalism. Treat it as work, not just a bit of fun. Of course, you are allowed to have fun at work ...

Why do TFP?

Models

If you are in the process of building a portfolio, you can save a huge amount of money compared to hiring a photographer. More importantly, working with different photographers will build your portfolio and give you valuable practice in front of the camera. There is always the possibility that if all goes well you will be called back for future commercial shoots.

Photographers

They also need to practice especially in an environment where there is no client breathing down their neck, and it is a good way to get to know new models that they can store away in their "for future use" notebooks.

Model release Forms:

• A model release is a legally binding agreement between the model and the photographer that assigns certain rights to both parties. The photographer will always retain the copyright (i.e. the right to make or permit reproductions - this includes the Internet!), the model will be given the right to use the photographs in her/his portfolio, which can or cannot include use on the Internet.
• Some models try to charge a fee for signing a model release because they assume that the photographer can earn serious money with the photographs. This is a common misconception. If the photographer is lucky enough to sell an image from a TFP shoot (e.g. through a picture library), the fee will be negligible and go only towards recovering a part of the cost of the shoot.
• The model, on the other hand, will hopefully get new work/find an agency, etc., on the strength of the photographs, without paying any money to the photographer.
• Model release forms give the model the right to use the photos. If you do not have a model release form signed, your rights are in doubt!

Your CV:

• Keep a record of your experience as this often gives an indication of what you can manage.
• Do not exaggerate your CV: everyone has to start somewhere and if they know what to expect they are likely to be more patient.

Appearance.

• If you agree to do your own hair and make-up, do it as well as you can.
• Even if no make-up artist is available, always arrive not made up and discuss the make-up with the photographer. Many shoots will be "clean-clean", with clean hair and no make-up.
• It can help save time to arrive with your nails done, but it depends. Discuss it with the photographer.
• Discuss your hair style with the photographer and ensure that you arrive with your hair freshly washed.
• Have a good night's sleep the night before the shoot and, ideally, restrict your alcohol intake for a few days before the shoot - it all shows in your face.
• Make sure your hair, nails, skin are in faultless condition.
• If you eat during the course of a longer shoot or before, have a toothbrush to remove unwanted food from between teeth!