Answering a Reader Question #37

Celeste Wrote:

Dania, I'm so excited for you!! I'm auditioning as well in Dallas on the 21st. Your guide was so helpful! Also, I posted more photos on model mayhem, so please check them out and tell me what you think! Also, I have a question. As far as building your portfolio, how many poses of an outfit should be in your portfolio? What are some good tools to view to practice runway walks? I wish you so much luck on the possibility of Tyra picking you!!!

Hey, Celeste! Thanks for the support and encouragement--I definitely wish you the same in your casting experience...rock it, girl!!!

To answer your questions, in terms of how many poses of an outfit should be in your portfolio, this can vary but ideally one great pose for each outfit is best. Or you can do two of the best poses for each look--three would be pushing it and I would avoid it. You only have a certain number of pages to fill out in a portfolio and it should showcase diversity, not too much of the same. One layout in portfolios that I find useful is to have two poses of the same look on the same page, instead of dedicating one page to each photo. I think this layout looks great and is eye catching. Here is an example of using two different poses of the same outfit on one page in your port:



Of course if you don't have an extensive number of images to include in your portfolio yet, then definitely feel free to dedicate one picture to each page in order to fill it up. But as long as you have at least 4-5 different outfits you've shot in, that should be more than enough to get your modeling portfolio started.

As for good tools to view to practice runway walks, sites like You Tube have more than their fair share of footage from various runway shows from around the world. Doing a search with keywords like, "runway shows," "NY Fashion Week," or using the name of a designer will bring up a long list of shows that you can watch. Try to find one that has the show in its entirety instead of just a few seconds of people walking. This should be more than enough to get you comfortable with strutting your stuff in front of the casting team.

I would also recommend having a good pair of 4 inch heels that don't have a fat, chunky heel on them to practice in. These heels should be comfortable and in a solid color that is either black, white, or taupe. You should be so comfortable in these heels that when you do your walk, you have no fear of falling or losing your balance. When practicing your walk, do your best to find a solid, flat surface to practice on (wood floors, concrete like the kind found in your garage, even linoleum will work). If you don't have that, then carpet will do but make sure it is flat and not the kind that is shaggy. Think of the kind of carpet that hotels have in their rooms. Because all hotels are different, and that is where the majority of the ANTM castings are taking place, you may be required to walk on either a carpeted floor or a hardwood floor.

Good luck and please let me know how it goes!!!