How to Find a Photographer for a Photoshoot? 

If you are just starting out as a model, you must build up your portfolio/model book. A portfolio will work as your resume. This is where you showcase your versatility, experience, skills, and expertise as a model. 

If You Are Signed with an Agency

If you are signed with an agency, you should ask your agent for recommendations on photographers you could work with. Agencies usually have a list of great professional photographers that they can pair you with, additionally, agencies are often able to get discounted rates for test shoots for their models. 

Your agent will also know what type of looks and images your portfolio needs to make you stand out and secure bookings. 

Cost of a Photoshoot

Photoshoots can be very expensive and can range anywhere from $200-$5000 it all depends on why the photographer is, what type of images are taken and how many edited images you receive, the shoot location, and if there is a stylist and hair & makeup artist involved. 

The more edited pictures and looks you walk away with the more expensive it will be. 

When you are first starting out as a model, and you don’t have an agency or much money to spare on photoshoots, building your portfolio can be challenging. 

However, there are lots of websites that cater to models and photographers where you can find someone to collaborate with for very low cost and at times even for free. 

Collaborations

You can also advertise yourself on these sites as a model and sometimes photographers looking to build their portfolios will reach out to you to set up a Photoshoot. You can always choose if you want to collaborate on something a Photoshoot where there is no monetary exchange (TFP) or you can choose to charge the photographer a fee in order to work with you.

It’s important to note that if you are just starting out and have no portfolio to show you shouldn’t be asking people for payment to shoot you. Once you’ve established yourself as a model, you have signed with an agency, and are booking work, then you should only accept paid shoots. 

Just like in any industry, models also don’t work for free!

Facebook has some amazing groups for models, photographers, stylists, and makeup artists. Here you can easily find people to collaborate with. 

Websites such as Model Near and other similar websites and forums are a great place to start your search. 

Safety First

Be careful when setting up photoshoots and agreeing to meet with someone you’ve never met before. Google them, check their social media profiles, and be wary of any scams. Bring a friend with you for support and protection. 

There are unfortunately many out there who will try to take advantage of a young beautiful girl, don’t let that be you!

If something feels off, follow your gut instinct. 

Make sure you have agreed ahead of time on what looks you are going to shoot, and if you ever feel pressured to shoot something you aren’t comfortable with please walk away. 

Photoshoot Types

Before you set up a photo shoot it’s important to establish what kind of pictures you need and want. And what kind of modeling you are hoping to do? 

There are lots of options: Commercial Modeling, Print Work, E-Commerce, Beauty, High Fashion, Runway, Lifestyle, Fitness, Petite and Plus Size. 

If you are unsure of what category suits you best do a Google search on each of them to see what type of images pop up and what type of models are in each category. Most models do a variety of categories but we often have our strength in one to three categories. 

To give a proper sense of what you look like and what you can achieve it’s good to have variety in your book starting out. 

Simple, clean commercial looks where you are happy and smiling. A few lifestyle images. Some closeup beauty shots so we can see your beautiful face and a few fashion looks are a great place to start. 

If you know for sure that you want to work as a Fitness model then build up a portfolio around that and add in some commercial work. Fitness modeling is a very different category and often requires specific measurements and body composition.

Your Portfolio

During the shoot work together with the photographer to make sure you are happy with the images captured. Ask to see them. This way you know if your poses and facial expressions are working or if you need to adjust something. 

Building your book should be fun and exciting! And as you develop as a model so will your book too. The portfolio you start your modeling career with is not the portfolio you retire with.