Portfolios

I suggest you work with established photographers — the best photographers you can get. Usually they can get the models. If you work with students, you may not get good photos. Sometimes student photographers are all you can get when you are brand new and that is better than nothing; it will give you practice for one thing.

Established photographers can use model clients and offer you to the model free as a beginner and sometimes the model will go for it; expect her to watch you closely and change a lot of your work in this case.

Go to your local modeling agency and ask them what photographers shoot their models — they should have a list. I would then call the list of photographers and tell them you need photos for your book and would be willing to work free as long as the model is real good. Don't leave out this last part. Model must be good to work free; you don't want B models in your book. (Tell the photographer that you don't want Glamour and nudes because this is for your book.) You should pay the photographer his price for the photos, but with a good photographer and a good model you should get some good stuff. Good Luck!

I use an 11x14. I got my portfolio from House of Portfolios in New York. Others I hear are good: Brewer Cantelmo in New York and Advertisers Display in NJ. I have my name imprinted on the front, and I think the book cost around $200.00 four years ago.

I suggest getting the best quality that you can afford — cheap looking books do not impress most clients or photographers.

I have 3 portfolios: one for commercial clients, one for photographers, and one editorial. You really need to gear your book to what your viewer is looking for. A photographer looks mainly at the photography and not makeup and hair. A catalog client looks at your overall style to see if it is fitting for their image. Regular people such as brides love "Before and Afters." You should only have "Before and Afters" in your bridal book, if you do brides. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Do check out the teachers' credentials at any school. You want to learn from someone who is good and successful.

You do not need a license to be a freelance artist for the entertainment industry in California. You do need a license to work in a salon. You need to check the laws in your area; they are different in each state.

No, you can't build a portfolio from bridal photos that you can show clients unless those clients are brides. Your portfolio should be made with real professional models and real good photographers.

I update my portfolio every time I get a great new photo I love. Some of the stuff I have is very old but if I like it better than anything new I keep it.

The rule is: no more than 15 awesome photos. You are as good as the weakest image in your portfolio. When your book is being reviewed that is the photo most people look for — that tells the viewer what you consider your best work and what they can expect out of you at best.

Thank you! The transformations are my favorite as well. Keep in mind however they are not part of the portfolio I carry — for some reason this is seen as unprofessional (I have no idea why) so I only put them on my website.

It sounds like you are on the right track with your career; putting together an awesome portfolio is your first step and the most important. Make sure it is only about 15 photos and make sure that each photo is great! Make sure every photo in your portfolio is good photography, a good model and of course great makeup, hair and styling.

Big mistake a lot of artists make is that they choose photos with good makeup and hair and take the photos out to show photographers who are turned off by the photo; they do not even notice the hair and makeup. This mistake cost me a lot of work! Do not bother to work with a photographer or model that will not produce very professional prints for you. This will be one of your toughest challenges.