As a seasoned model, I rarely get rejected when reaching out to a photographer for a TFP, but it took years of experience and learnings to get to this point! In this article, I am going to give you all of the nuggets of advice you need to get the best chance of getting responses from photographers and usable images for your portfolio.
If you’re an unsigned model, and you’re not getting any interest from agencies, one of the best steps you can take toward getting signed is to build a portfolio with TFP images.
However, if you don’t show you have experience modeling, many experienced photographers will be unwilling to work with you. In this article, I will teach you how to market yourself so that when you pitch to photographers for a TFP on Instagram, they are more likely to shoot with you.
How to “Fake” Modeling Experience When you have no modeling experience
You’ll most commonly reach out to photographers for TFPs on Instagram, so your Instagram must be public for photographers to decide if they want to work with you. If you’re trying to get signed and booked, it needs to be public anyway.
How do you get photographers to shoot with you if you have no experience? The answer is to “fake it”. Here’s how.
Take Photos When You Go Out
Anytime you wear a cute outfit around town, make sure to get 3 good photos in it. Play with your poses, be playful, be serious, try different facial expressions. Take some full body photos and ¾ body photos. Choose your 3 favorites and post these on Instagram.
While I call this “faking modeling experience,” that’s not really true, because any photos you take–regardless of where or who takes it, is modeling experience. 🤷🏻♀️
Invest in Self-Timer Shoots
Invest in a tripod. You will need this for self-tapes when you get signed anyway. Do some self-timer iPhone shoots. These can be in a park, in your house, in front of a plain wall, you get the idea. Styling doesn’t have to be over the top. In fact, simple styling might work better over more complicated styling looks. Post these on Instagram.
Every self shoot you do to post on Instagram should be in different outfits. Try to get at least 4 – 6 solid series.You want to show photographers, clients and agents what your natural face looks like.
Organize these photos to be at the top of your grid
With the Instagram feature of re-ordering your grid, you can make sure that the first two rows include model-adjacent images, regardless of when you uploaded these posts.
Having an instagram that looks like a model’s Instagram will help you generate interest when reaching out to photographers. After all, before others take you seriously in your modeling career, you need to take yourself seriously.
With the images that you post, make sure that your makeup is light and styling relatively simple. Feel free to show your personality, but don’t go over the top such that your body shape and natural facial features are hidden. Photographers and agents should be able to see your bare face and your natural facial features.
How to Increase the Chances of a Photographer working with you
I’m going to share one hack that has always increased the chances of me and the photographer actually following through with a test shoot. That is approaching the photographer with a pitch of what I want in a test shoot. I send a mood board of images that I want to create, as well as suggestions on where to shoot the project.
This works phenomenally well from two perspectives.
- It removes the mental energy needed from the photographer to figure out what they want to create.
- You then also get to take the lead on what you want to add to your portfolio.
Coming up with a test shoot concept is not easy! You’re a director, producer , stylist, makeup artist, and most importantly, a model. But in doing this work you ensure that the images you create with the photographer are aligned with what you can add to your book to market yourself to agents and clients.
As this is a TFP, I always follow up my pitch with “Here are the ideas I’d love to execute with you, I’m open to any other ideas you have as well.”
This ensures that they have the chance to create the images they want for their portfolio if they’ve been sitting on an idea as well. It is a collaboration, after all.
I typically don’t do more than 2 looks for a TFP shoot, because it’s just a lot of organization around styling, location, and makeup.
A Case for Building a Portfolio Before you get signed to an agency
I always preface, you should never have to pay for a test shoot before getting signed to an agency. You can if you want to, as it will give you what you need much more quickly than doing TFPs with perhaps less experienced photographers. Read more of my thoughts below.
While it’s true that you don’t need a portfolio to get signed with an agency, if you have applied to agencies through multiple cycles having heard nothing back, investing in your portfolio is one of the best steps to take to catch the interest of agents.
A starter portfolio has around 8 – 10 images. 3 different styling looks with distinct backgrounds. You should choose 2 images each from these 3 looks. Additionally, you need 2 strong headshots (1 serious, 1 smile).
Once you have this, an agency can start marketing you to clients.
If you approach them with a solid working portfolio already, they don’t have to wait to start pitching you and potentially start booking you.
They may suggest another test shoot to fill any gaps you have in your book.
Just like how clients like to see models in images that reflect the campaigns they want to shoot, agents also want to have materials where they can visualize the type of work you can do in the industry. While they can make the leap arguably better than clients can, it still helps to present them with strong, relevant work that demonstrates your potential.
Key Takeaways
If you are an unsigned model, the best way to get photographers to work with you for TFPs is to present your Instagram as a signed model. The best way to do this:
Post self shoots and simple images to your public Instagram profile.
In order to get collaboration opportunities, you need to show that you have modeling experience. This is the best way to show it in an easy manner.
When reaching out to photographers, approach them with a pitch of an idea you would like to execute. Create a moodboard of your vision, this ensures that you get the images you need out of the shoot.
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