This is extremely important in the selection process at Models Direct. All images and reels must be up-to-date and current, which means they’ll be relevant.

The best example we can use is that of a top brand looking for everyday models for their latest campaign. This scenario applies for most of our jobs. When a client comes to us with a job brief, it’s our responsibility to give them a shortlist of suitable models that fits their brief. We do this based on information included in a model’s ePortfolio: images, reels, geographical location, age etc. All information must be accurate, and all pictures must be current. If a model meets the briefs requirements but their ePortfolio hasn’t been updated for a few months, this can only minimise the changes of models being chosen.

Think of relevance / accurate information as a CV. Employers make choices based largely on three criteria: CVs, covering letters, and how candidates conduct themselves at interviews. Not all three need to “click” for the candidate to land the job, but it stands to reason that at least the information submitted by the candidate needs to be updated and accurate.

Your pictures are no different to a CV, in that they are an essential tool in gaining work. It’s a model’s responsibility to make sure they dip into their portfolios, updating personal information if required, and to refresh portfolios with different poses. If a model changes their looks, it must be reflected in their portfolio.

• Do I need professional photographs to be a model?
• From Blossoms to Big Smiles – Spring Photography Tips for Child Models
• How do I find modelling work?
• Our Guide to Modelling with Models Direct
• The Ultimate Models Direct Guide to Getting Your Child Into Modelling

Keep the word “relevant” securely in mind. If a client looks at your portfolio images and decides to pick you, then your portfolio has done its job. However, if that selection has been done based on outdated photos, the client will be disappointed when you arrive on set. And it may hinder your chances of securing other jobs.

We cannot emphasise how important updating your pictures is. Try to update every month or so. Even if you think you look exactly as you did six months ago, ask someone to take fresh pictures of yourself and upload them to your portfolio (we don’t recommend taking “selfies”, as sometimes the angles are inconsistent, and the imagery can be blurred).

Clients need to see what they’re getting. We not suggesting commercial models are commodities; they are human beings with aspirations of achieving great thigs in the industry. But what use is a genuinely enthusiastic model to a client when they haven’t presented themselves in the truest light?

Plan ahead and decide which week you’ll start to add new pictures, and then continue this trend every month. The pictures don’t need to be taken by a professional, and it may only take half an hour every month.

Just show us and our clients that you can follow sensible industry advice. It’ll be your passport to more modelling jobs, so that alone should be all the motivation models need. 

Good luck!

Our clients like to know that models are proactive. Not updating photos on your portfolio could be a major disadvantage, so we urge every registered model to keep their looks and talents current.

Most industries change; it might not be from year-to-year, but all companies progress at some point. This could be a re-branding campaign, a change in personnel, a move to a new headquarters…whatever the reason for change, you can be sure that it’s for the company’s benefit. And so, models, too, should explore new avenues and seek ways to elevate them from the others that are competing for the same successes. The best way to do that is to keep portfolios fresh and tell us if you’ve changed your looks or gained new experiences that will help you get noticed by our clients.

• Do I need professional photographs to be a model?
• From Blossoms to Big Smiles – Spring Photography Tips for Child Models
• How do I find modelling work?
• Our Guide to Modelling with Models Direct
• The Ultimate Models Direct Guide to Getting Your Child Into Modelling

A lot of models ask how often they should update their details and photos on portfolios. Every model is different, but a simple answer is as often as is necessary. The worst thing any model can do is to leave photos in their portfolios, forgetting to add fresh images and assume that clients will be attracted to models who haven’t bothered to tell them how their looks have changed or what new skills they have acquired since the last time they visited their portfolio.

Broadly speaking, models should update their photos every few months. This gives us and our clients the confidence to models are taking their careers seriously, as negligence is a tell-tale sign that models expect to be offered jobs purely because of initially completing portfolios.

This is a common mistake. We have responded to some models who mention that they haven’t been offered as many jobs as they’d like. Whilst we understand their frustration, looking at their portfolio history usually suggests they haven’t kept their portfolios fresh, current and, most importantly, relevant.

Every few months is a reasonable timescale to update photos, even if you have the same look as you did when you registered with us. We want to see varied photos in different fashions. It should be apparent that if models change hairstyles or have added some new tattoos, then this must be reflected in portfolios.

In short, think of your portfolios as the first thing our clients see – much like a CV or cover letter. Clients are not mind readers, after all.

Check your contact details are still valid – if we can’t get in touch with you with the good news, it could jeopardise a fabulous Models Direct booking.