Before the portfolio, before the test shoots, before anything: digitals. Also called polaroids. Simple, unretouched photos showing exactly what you look like right now. Agencies request these first because everything else can be faked. Digitals cannot.
The formula is fixed. Front, both profiles, and back, headshot and full body. No makeup, hair natural and pulled back, simple fitted clothing or swimwear, plain light wall, daylight. Smile in one set, neutral in the rest. That is the whole recipe. Deviation is not creativity here; it is a red flag.
Update Them Constantly
Digitals expire fast. New haircut, weight change, new tattoo: shoot new digitals that week. Agencies submit these to clients for castings, and showing up looking different from your digitals is a fast way to never get called again. Keep a fresh set on your phone at all times.
Do not pay for digitals. Anyone charging you for polaroids is selling you something you can shoot on a phone in ten minutes. Save your money for the portfolio shoot that comes after an agency actually wants to sign you.
Shoot digitals in the morning when your face is fresh and the light is soft. Afternoon light through a window works too; overhead indoor lighting does not. Stand about six feet from a plain white or light gray wall. Have a friend shoot or use a tripod with a timer. Crop nothing important: agencies need to see your full proportions. Save the originals at high resolution and keep a labeled folder on your phone. When a booker asks for fresh digitals, you should be able to send them in under five minutes. Speed and freshness both signal professionalism.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.