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.

We like to make our processes as easy as possible, which is why applying to join us takes a couple of minutes, complete with two clear photos models may take with a Smartphone. Any registered model has access to their ePortfolio, which our vetted clients have access to, helping them choose the right models for the right job.

We cannot emphasise how important portfolios are. As we do not (and have never) pick models for jobs, models must regularly log into their portfolio accounts to upload current photos. Our clients want to see that a model is being proactive, the evidence being a full range of accurate, up-to-date images from which they can choose their preferred model. Simply uploading a few photos when you start with us isn’t going to be beneficial in the long term. We need to see that models have understood what is required from them; we’ll do all we can to recommend the right models to big brands, but models must also help themselves.    

And even a small tweak in a model’s appearance can make a big difference. Haircuts, hair colour, tattoos, piercings, new background scenery, adapting with the seasons, current fashions…they can all change, and our clients must know about them. It’s futile for clients to see what a model looked like months ago – assignments are built and created on true representations, so models need to visit their portfolios every month or so to keep them stocked up with the latest images.  

• 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

When we recommend models to our clients, they rely on a model’s portfolio. A name, age and location alone aren’t that much use to them; most modelling jobs require posing / acting on film or in photoshoots, so portfolios are the primary source for clients to see what a model looks like. And this is where keeping your looks up to date is crucial in whether a models will be picked. Please don’t let your portfolio photos become stagnant and outdated! You won’t be helping yourself.

Additionally, please keep your contact details current in portfolios. Often we’ll need to contact our models, especially if it’s a last minute booking, or if there has been a delay with clients. Communication is key to bookings; if your details are not accurate, it could affect present and future jobs. Likewise, if you have to cancel a job at short notice, please get in touch with us immediately. Common sense and courtesy go a long way!

As you know, we at Models Direct have a glorious array of models of all types on our books, from babies and toddlers, to children, teenagers, men and women.

Our clients come to us asking for people to play the parts of members of the general public in their advertisements, campaigns and promotions.

Therefore, we need models of all ages, looks, backgrounds and types to be able to offer them.

Once a model has joined us, they create an e-portfolio – and this is what we and our clients look at when trying to find just the right model for every booking.

Our process is simple: clients make specific requests to us, explaining who they would like; we offer them a selection of models that fit the bill and then they make the final choice.

And so, in order for a model to stand out from the others who also match requirements, they should ensure they have fresh, up-to-date photos on their e-portfolio  – images that really show them as they look now and that reflect their personality.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter…at Models Direct, we always suggest updating modelling e-portfolio shots with the arrival of a new season.

That way a model’s latest pictures will always look current and of the moment.

So, although the weather is not yet sizzling summer-hot, why not try to get out and about on a sunny day to take some pictures that suggest it is?

Rummage through your wardrobe, flick through the secondhand apps you sometimes buy through and put together one or fabulous new summer looks.

Think cool and collected, bright and beautiful, and try to bring in items of clothing and accessories that will bring a unique summer glow to your pictures.

Then, wait for a lovely sunny day, ask a friend or relative to help you out and head off to somewhere with a lush, green, summery backdrop to start taking your pictures.

Keep snapping away, trying out different poses in different locations, making sure we can see your face at all times.

Then head home, choose the best one or two and upload them to your e-portfolio ready for the arrival of summer.

That way, if you get put forward for a job in the next few months, our clients will see photos that look as fresh as a summer day!

Gone are the short days of winter. Lengthy periods of light are restored. Most of us generally feel less lethargic. We wake up more regularly as the morning light dictates our natural sleeping patterns.

The season should be the “springboard” for models to change, develop and adapt. It’s a time when people think about altering their look to coincide with the shift in climates and the feel-good factor. It could be a new streamlined hairstyle to accommodate warmer weather, experimenting with different shades of mascara, trying out a fresh wardrobe in preparation for the summer, or trying out trendy fashion accessories. Whatever you choose to change your look, we’d like to see it by updating recent photos in your portfolio account log-in.

It’s a model’s responsibility to upload new photos. Regularly updating your portfolio has two main benefits, namely:

1. It allows our clients to see any model’s current look. It’s largely futile for a brand looking for a certain type of model to be interested in a model’s portfolio, only to find out that the model has completely changed their image or, perhaps even worse, hasn’t revamped their portfolio for months. Our clients must have a fair idea of what a model will look like before they choose them.

2. Clients like our models to be organised and take the industry seriously, and regularly uploading photos tells us that a model has followed recommendations. It’s pretty much imperative, in fact. Ignore your portfolio at your peril!

Most of our models don’t get offered work purely by chance. Every model that registers with us has expectations, and so they should. But a lot of models with repeat bookings continually refresh their portfolios – not exactly out of necessity, but out of professionalism. 

So spring is a fantastic time to re-gather and adapt your look so our clients (and we) can see what you have to offer. This time of the year gives models the perfect atmospheres and backgrounds to really let your photos do the talking.

For outdoor photos, gauge the amount of light before snapping away. Too much light can reduce the intensity of what really matters: you. Try to avoid too many background distractions, although clear photos detailing a fine spring day will help capture the mood.

Alter your look with spring clothes. However, make sure your eyes and hair are not covered – our clients need to see your most important features before they make their decision.

Spring can be just as influential as the New Year to realise ambitions. Don’t leave it to chance by ignoring your portfolios this spring. With so many brands looking for engaging models this 2024, it’d be shame to be overlooked by letting your portfolio pictures slide into obscurity.