How to Create a Modeling Portfolio That Draws Attention

As an aspiring model, you need to showcase talent to potential people who may hire you. But how do you do it? You do it using a modeling portfolio. Here, we face another question: how to create a modeling portfolio. 

It’s also simple. You just follow a few steps and get a professional modeling portfolio. Are you curious to know about these steps?

Continue reading this article to discover all the steps related to modeling portfolio creation in both tradition and modern (online) methods. As you scroll down, you’ll learn about what to keep on your site and see some attractive modeling portfolio examples. Hence, keep scrolling.

How to Create a Modeling Portfolio - Explore the Traditional Way

I’ll first discuss the old-school technique to create a modeling portfolio. Later, I’ll reveal the modern technique, where you’ll learn how to create a modeling portfolio website. Thus, ensure you read to the end of this article.

Before moving ahead, glance through all the steps below.

[Note: You can create any website, including a modeling portfolio website, with Dorik in just 4 steps. However, to perfectly optimize and personalize your modeling portfolio website, follow all the steps we discuss here.]

Let’s briefly read all these steps. 

1. Determine Your Type

You know, modeling has many types, such as commercial, fitness, fashion, promotion, parts, plus-size models, etc. You need to figure out your type first. To do so, here’s what you can try. 

2. Select an Ideal Photographer

Your photographer plays a key role in making your modeling portfolio appealing and professional. Therefore, cautiously choose the best photographer. While selecting a photographer, it’ll be wise to ensure the following factors:

After carefully checking these facts, pick a photographer who provides good value for money. Consider these safety measures below while meeting the photographer outdoors or in a studio.

3. Learn the Art of Posing

Once you find your preferred photographer, pay close attention to mastering the art of posing. For your information, posing is a crucial part of modeling; mastering it takes skill and practice. So, have patience and continue learning this skill.

3. Take Care of Your Hair and Makeup 

As a model, you need to create a solid and lasting impression to attract clients and win dream projects. Hence, work on all the aspects that help you appear as a professional model. You shouldn’t ignore small details, such as your hair's appearance. 

Alongside hiring the best photographer, hire a hairstylist and a makeup artist to help you prepare for a modeling shoot. While hiring these professionals (hairstylist and makeup artist), consider the factors you have followed while seeking a professional photographer. 

4. Find a Wardrobe Stylist

As I've already told you, you should pay attention to all the small details associated with modeling. So, besides hiring a photographer, a hairstylist, and a makeup artist, you can hire a wardrobe stylist to assist you in selecting the right outfit for shooting. 

Search on social media, ask for a recommendation, and review stylists’ previous work while choosing a wardrobe stylist. 

5. Choose the Perfect Location

The background you choose for your photos means a lot as it turns your photos from less attractive to outstanding. So, find the perfect location for your portfolio shots. Here’s what you can do to find your ideal photo background.

Given your modeling type, you can choose outdoor locations, such as a sunlit park or botanical garden. If you need to shoot indoors, studios are the best fit. Above all, seek experts' suggestions while picking the perfect shooting location. Additionally, consider your photographer’s recommendation, as they know the best.

6. Start Shooting 

Today is the big day - your shooting day. Hence, ensure all goes well. Here are the factors to consider on this day. 

7. Perfect Your Shots

After capturing some eye-catching photos, consider retouching them. Although a professional photographer will take care of that, remind your photographer to give all your photos a professional touch while avoiding extreme editing. 

👉 Related Blog: Best AI Photography Editing Software (SaaS) for Modern Professionals

8. Pick the Best Photos

Once your photos are ready, your photographer will likely present those photos to you for selection. Only pick the best photos that perfectly represent you as a model for your chosen modeling type.

If you need help selecting photos, you can ask friends, family, photographers, and industry contacts to help you decide which photos to use. 

9. Build a Photo Book

This is the last step in creating a traditional modeling portfolio. You now need to assemble your printed photos in a book and create several copies of that book, in other words, your modeling portfolio. 

Then, send those copies to your selected modeling agencies to have them check your portfolios and call you for project collaboration. This is all about creating a modeling portfolio by following the traditional way.

The following section will show you the modern way of building a modeling portfolio. So, let’s read on. 

How to Make a Modeling Portfolio Online - Embrace the Modern Techniques

You’ve already made a photo book - a tangible modeling portfolio. It’ll be wise to create an online one that is in tandem with the modern world. That said, here are all the steps to follow to make a modeling portfolio online.

You’ll stick to all the steps you’ve followed to create a traditional portfolio. However, you’ll skip the step - build a photo book. Instead, adhere to the following. 

1. Choose a Domain and a Hosting Platform

2. Select the Best Modeling Portfolio Builder

3. Build Your Online Modeling Portfolio

4. Customize Your Modeling Portfolio Website

5. Review and Launch Your Portfolio

6. Promote Your Portfolio

[Note: You can make any website, including a modeling portfolio, with Dorik in just 4 steps. However, to perfectly optimize and personalize your modeling portfolio website, adhere to all the steps we discuss here]

Let’s begin exploring these steps.

I. Choose a Domain and a Hosting Platform

The domain is the first thing visitors notice once they browse your portfolio website. For your information, a domain is a unique name - specifically, an address - that identifies a website on the internet. 

Visitors type this address on their browsers to find a particular website. Hence, you need to select a domain name carefully. Here is what you need to consider when selecting a domain for your modeling portfolio website.

Finally, register the domain with a good-quality domain registrar like Namecheap.

Then, seek the best hosting provider to connect your domain. Here are the criteria to consider while selecting a hosting provider.

Alongside checking all these factors, select a hosting provider and connect your domain.

However, I won’t do the same. Instead, I’ll use the best website builder that comes with integrated hosting. As a result, I do not need to deal with hosting-related tasks.

Let’s see which builder offers such a facility.

II. Select the Best Modeling Portfolio Builder

After selecting a domain and a hosting provider and connecting your domain to that host, you need to choose the best modeling website builder to create your portfolio site. 

However, as I said, I won’t follow the hosting part as our chosen builder will do the hosting-related work for us. Still, I’ll discuss what to consider while picking a website builder before revealing our selected one.

Given these facts, I chose Dorik AI - a no-code AI website builder. It can help you create any website in minutes just by using a simple prompt. Let’s see how it works.

III. Build Your Online Modeling Portfolio

Dorik AI lets you create a website by following three website-building techniques: create with AI, with a template, and build from scratch. I’ll now demonstrate these three techniques.

Note: If you choose Dorik’s Static site option, you can enjoy another website-building technique - upload a json file to build a website - it’s for advanced users, though.

Before beginning, I recommend you register an account on this platform first. Then, visit Sites and choose which site type you want to create from CMS and Static. Both options are ideal, but the CMS offers more features. Finally, start creating your portfolio site. Here’s how.

Create Your Modeling Portfolio Website with AI

To build a portfolio site with AI, follow these steps:

1. Once you select an option between CMS and Static, click the "+ Create New Site With AI” button.

2. After that, write down your website name in the “Name of Your Website” field.

3. Now, type a well-structured prompt in the “Website/Business Description” field.

4. At this point, select your site language.

5. Lastly, click the “Generate Your Website” button.

Wait for a few seconds and let the magic happen. Cheers! Your modeling portfolio website has been created.

Now, you can start customizing your modeling website. Need help figuring out how to start? Watch this concise (literally less than 3 minutes) video tutorial for a head start.

I hope you’ve got a basic idea of how easy it is to create and customize a website with Dorik. And I also understand that some of you might need more detailed guidelines on customizing the website. Hence, I’ve added a detailed customization guide after explaining the other techniques to build your portfolio website.

Take a look at the one I built using the prompt below.

I am Dana Wilson - a fashion model. Please build me a stylist and attractive modeling portfolio site to showcase my diverse work.

Build a Modeling Portfolio with a Template

Follow the steps outlined below:

1. Log in to your Dorik account.

2. Choose a site option (CMS or Static)

3. Click the “+ Create New Site” button.

4. Type ‘Portfolio’ in the template search field.

5. Select a portfolio you like (We recommend you choose Lallene as it is best suited for creating a modeling portfolio site with the least effort) and click the “Create Static Site” button.

Right now, start customizing this template according to your preferences. You can delete one or more containers. Using the drag-and-drop editor, you can add new sections, components, and elements (I’ll show you how to do it in a while). 

You can write copies on certain sections with the AI Text Generator. You can generate high-quality images and illustrations using the AI Image Generator. So, utilize Dorik’s fantastic features to create the best modeling portfolio site. 

Make an Online Modeling Portfolio from Scratch

You can follow the steps below to build a portfolio site from scratch.

1. Log in to your Dorik account. 

2. Navigate to Sites > Static (You can choose CMS, though)

3. Hit the “+ Create New Site” button.

4. Hit the “+ Create From Scratch” button.

Now, start building your modeling portfolio website using Dorik’s drag-and-drop editor. You can read the documentation or watch our video tutorials to learn how to use it, and it won’t take much of your time.

So, these three techniques you can follow while using this site builder to create your modeling portfolio website. 

However, there’s one more technique that I mentioned earlier - uploading a JSON file. If you have a JSON file featuring codes for your modeling website, you can upload it to this site builder. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account.

2. Navigate to Sites > Static.

3. Click the “+ Create New Site” button.

4. Hit the “Import JSON” button.

5. Upload your file.

That’s it about creating the website.

IV. Customize Your Modeling Portfolio Website

After launching the builder, you can customize your website. Before tweaking, familiarize yourself with the builder’s user interface. It shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes.

You’ll see this builder’s several features at the top, such as Page Settings, Version History, Regenerate Page, Website Responsiveness, Undo, Redo, Preview, Save, and Publish buttons.

Furthermore, you’ll notice other essential features on the left sidebar of this editor. I recommend you explore each option to learn about these tools. 

You can easily customize every element by adding, dragging, dropping, or deleting. Just hover your cursor over the specific tool and click to view available options.

Concerned about building your entire website? Check out the blog below to guide you through creating your modeling portfolio.

💡 How to Create a Website Step-by-Step 

1. Add High-quality Images and Videos to the Homepage

For your modeling portfolio, images are your bread and butter, but videos? That's the cherry on top. Ensure every image and clip screams, "This is the real me!"

When you upload, think high-resolution. You want to be seen clearly, right? A blurry photo or shaky video? Not on your watch. Crisp, clear content lets you shine.

Add your fantastic video reels. It's a window into how you move, how you express, and yes, how you work the camera. You're not just striking poses; you're creating moments.

You can present your images using Dorik's  Image or Image Slider elements. To upload videos, use the Video Element.

Here is how to do it:

1. Navigate to a section where you want to add a video, an image, or an image slider. 

2. You can create a separate container to add an element, though (I’ll show you from scratch).

3. To add a container, click the “Add New Selection” button.

4. Now, select and insert a container based on your needs.

5. Afterward, click the ‘+’ button.

6. Select the Video (here, you can also choose the Image, Image Slider, or Image Gallery element instead of the Video element) element.

7. Upload your video based on its format.

8. Then, upload your video thumbnail.

9. Finally, work on your video settings, such as playing it on a loop, etc.

2. Share Your Personal Information

Alright, let's get personal! No, you don't have to share your favorite ice cream flavor, but some basics are essential. They are your name, height, body measurement, eye and hair color, or any other skills. It's how people will know you. Make sure it's front and center. You want agencies or photographers to reach out, don't you?

Now, think about a short bio. Who are you beyond the camera? You may have walked in local fashion weeks or have a passion for vintage fashion. Share it! It gives people a glimpse of you, the person, not just you, the model.

But, a word of caution: while you want to be accessible, be mindful of your safety. No home addresses or personal phone numbers. Set up a dedicated email for inquiries. Remember, it's about balancing transparency with security. 

Now, let’s discuss how you can share this information on the homepage. You can create a container on a particular homepage section to do so.

1. Then, go to the left-side panel of the editor and click ‘Components.’

2. After that, tap into the ‘Library’ tab.

3. Go to the “Testimonials & clients” feature (You can also use the Team or Portfolio components. I recommend you to play along with the components to find the one that best suits your needs).

4. Finally, find a testimonial, drag and drop it into a container, and customize it according to your preferences.

Besides sharing your personal information on the Homepage, you can create a separate About Me page. Here’s how to do it. 

1. Go to the left-side panel of Dorik’s editor and click on the ‘Pages’ feature.

2. Another panel will appear now. Click the ‘+’ icon.

3. A page as ‘Untitled’ will automatically be created. You can now edit the page name and slug by clicking the vertical three-dots option.

4. Now, hit the “Update Slug & Name” option.

5. Edit the page name and slug, and click the ‘Save’ button.

That’s how you can easily create a page using Dorik’s editor. Nonetheless, using AI is another way to follow to build a page. Remember, I clicked the ‘+’ icon while creating a page. 

You can see an AI icon right beside it.

Click this icon and follow a few steps to build a page. Once you create a page, start customizing it by adding sections, containers, elements, etc. 

Also, while you customize your About Me page, you can seek design ideas from some About Me Page Examples. 

3. Create a Contact Section

Now, move to your homepage and create a contact section to let potential employers or clients reach out to you! Every portfolio needs a contact section. Think of it as your open door to the modeling world.

First, your name. It's how they'll address you, so make it visible. Next, create a business email address. This lets potential clients or agencies connect with you. Considering a contact form? It's a great idea! It makes reaching out to you super streamlined and straightforward.

Last thing: always check your messages. Opportunities knock when you least expect them. And with a clear contact section, you're just making it easier for them to find you!

Let’s talk about how to create a contact section now. It’s pretty simple. 

4. Go to the left-side panel of the editor and click the ‘Components.’

5. Then, click the ‘Library’ tab.

6. Go to the “Contact forms” component.

7. select a contact form you like and drag and drop it into your preferred section. Later, customize it as you wish.

Alongside this, you can also create a separate Contact Me page. 

4. Add a Social Bar to Your Homepage

Let's get social! Your website is your main stage, but your social media? That's where the magic happens daily. Adding a social bar is like giving visitors VIP access to your life behind the scenes.

Got Instagram? It’s where they can see your daily looks and life snapshots. Got a Twitter or TikTok? Perfect for showing off your personality. Maybe you're on LinkedIn for professional connections. Add that, too!

Including these icons not only boosts your online presence but also builds trust. It tells everyone, "Hey, this is the real me. Everywhere."

Remember, your website is your polished resume, but your social channels? That's where they get to know the real you. So, make it easy for them. Link up, stay active, and let your true self shine through every post and tweet!

Here’s how to add a social bar to the homepage.

1. Go to the bottom of your homepage (footer area).

2. Click on “Add New Section.”

3. Select a container with multiple columns to add many elements such as logo, primary menu, contact us, social media, etc.

4. Click the ‘+’ button to add a social media element.

5. Choose the “Social Icon” element and insert your social media profile links.

Finally, design other areas of the footer. Take inspiration from this website footer examples article.

This is the last step associated with the customization of the Homepage. Remember to make it eye-catching and use clear CTAs across the homepage, essentially the entire website, to increase dwell time.

5. Add a Portfolio Page

Although you’ll add some of your best work to your site's homepage, build a separate portfolio page to include and display all your best projects. I recommend organizing your work into categories, such as fashion, commercial, editorial, and runway.

Add a separate section to exhibit high-resolution photos. Also, include a video section on this page to share behind-the-scenes clips and other necessary modeling footage.

Present your work visually appealingly by integrating images in a slideshow, grid, or masonry layout. Lastly, don’t forget to showcase the brands, designers, photographers, and agencies you’ve worked with. Include testimonials or quotes from past clients, photographers, or agents.

6. Create a Booking Page

Many models ignore building this page, but you shouldn’t. Instead, professionally create this page and include a booking calendar or availability section where clients can see when you are available for shoots or events.

You can integrate Calendly to your modeling portfolio website for booking and appointments.

Also, discuss the process for booking you, including any requirements or special conditions.

7. Add a Privacy Policy Page

Create a privacy policy and terms of use page to protect your rights and inform visitors how you handle their data. You must share this information if you collect contact information through forms.

If you're not sure what to include in your Privacy Policy page, read our detailed blog on how to write a Privacy Policy page.

8. Share Your Knowledge With a Blog

Ever thought about sharing more than just your photos? How about your experiences? If you start a blog on your website, it can be a game-changer.

You've been on sets, right? Share those behind-the-scenes moments. Did you learn a trick for a perfect pose? Write a quick post about it. Remember that audition you were super nervous about? Tell your readers how you overcame those jitters.

A blog isn't just words. It's your voice. It's you opening up, guiding, and even mentoring aspiring models who look up to you.

And guess what? Agencies love to see models with a voice, an opinion, and a presence. Your blog can be your edge in this competitive world.

So, get typing! Share your highs, your lows, and everything in between. You never know who you might inspire or impress. Plus, it's another way to connect and be genuinely you.

So, build a blog page to educate visitors about modeling and inform them of upcoming events or any media coverage you’ve received. You can use this page to write modeling-related articles and organically grow your portfolio site through SEO.

Dorik makes blogging easy peasy with its CMS. Learn how to use Dorik CMS for blogging.

9. Integrate Analytics into Your Website

Include an Analytics tool in your portfolio website to track how visitors interact with your site, which pages are most popular, and where traffic is coming from. This tool will help you optimize your site over time.

V. Review and Launch Your Portfolio

After building essential pages and adding necessary features to your portfolio website, thoroughly review it several times. Check the user experience by asking your friends and family about their experience when they visit your site. 

Additionally, consider the following factors:

After that, follow these steps to publish your site under a custom domain. 

VI. Promote Your Portfolio

Alright, you've got your stunning portfolio up and running. But what's next? It's time for you to shine and show the world what you've got! Promotion is key. By promoting, you can increase the traffic of your portfolio site. 

First off, share your website everywhere. Every social media platform you're on, share it there. You never know who's watching, right? Your next big opportunity could be just a click away.

Join online modeling communities. Engage, interact, and let others see you and your work. Don't be shy. Every comment, every like, and every share counts. And you? You deserve to be seen.

Don't forget about the real world, either. Business cards with your portfolio link can do wonders. Hand them out whenever you meet industry folks.

Networking events? Attend them. Fashion shows? Be there. Photoshoots? Join them. Every place is a chance for you to make an impression.

And remember, you're your biggest promoter. Believe in yourself, stay persistent, and always be ready to present your best self. Because you have so much to offer with your unique talent and style. So go on, start promoting, and let the world see the star that you are!

Learn more about promoting a website from the following article, 

💡 How to Promote Your Website Like a Pro

Essential Elements Your Modeling Portfolio Must Have

Every modeling portfolio website needs to feature the following elements. Make sure your one has them. 

1. Beauty Shot

Your website should have beauty shots if you want to excel in fashion modeling. So, get a professional hair stylist, a makeup artist, and an expert photographer to capture the photos we often see in fashion magazines. 

2. Headshot

A high-quality headshot lets you appear appealing. Thus, take a good headshot showing your face and hair from the shoulders up. Remember to display a natural and honest look through this headshot.

3. Full-length Shot

Include a few full-length shots in your modeling portfolio, also known as a body shot. These photos help clients see your body type and physique. 

4. Emotional Shot

Consider including a few emotional shots displaying a wide range of facial expressions on your website. These photos are essential if you want to become a commercial model.

5. Statistical Information

Add information about yourself, such as age, height, weight, body type, hair and eye color, to your portfolio. Include any physical features you think a potential client might need on your portfolio.

6. Contact Information

Lastly, don’t forget to add contact information to your portfolio. Include your email address, phone number, and other communication channels on your portfolio to help potential clients reach you. 

Study These Modeling Portfolio Examples for Inspiration

The more research you conduct before/during creating your online modeling portfolio, the better the end result will be. Thus, explore these top modeling portfolio examples, learn what makes each unique, and apply what you have learned to your portfolio. 

1. Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss's website features a minimalist and elegant design. It reflects her brand as an American supermodel. Karlie Kloss’s homepage exhibits a large, striking image of Karlie that immediately grabs attention. 

The navigation is simple, with links to her projects like Kode With Klossy and her involvement in fashion and technology. The website features a clean, white background with black text, creating a modern look. 

The site also has Karlie’s social media and multimedia content, enhancing the user experience. 

2. Lia Vasilek

Lia Vasilek’s portfolio is clean, modern, and visually appealing. The website’s hero image contains a full-width image of Lia, a welcoming message, and a clear call-to-action button inviting you to see her work. 

Furthermore, the site features a grid layout with filter options, allowing users to browse different categories of Lia’s work easily. This is an excellent way to display work, and you can also try it. 

The overall minimalist design uses a white background that contrasts nicely with the images. This simplicity keeps the focus on Lia's work without distractions. 

3. Kristina Smolyar

The design of Kristina Smolyar's website is sleek and visually engaging. Its homepage comes with a dynamic video background with bold typography. Aside from this, the entire website is organized into sections. 

This clean, minimalist design utilizes plenty of white space to keep you focused on the visuals. Additionally, this site features interactive elements like sliders and carousels to display various content. 

All these make the website modern and attractive. You can implement some of these design strategies into your online modeling portfolio. 

4. Caitlin Christine

Like the other portfolio websites mentioned above, Caitlin Christine’s site is also visually captivating. This website has a powerful hero image of Caitlin in cosplay, instantly displaying her niche and grabbing attention.

The gallery section highlights her work with a series of high-quality images. The icons for Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X are prominently displayed, making it easy for visitors to connect with her across platforms.

The website is visually striking and user-friendly. It effectively exhibits Caitlin Christine’s talents and brand identity.

5. Kayla Arianne

Kayla Arianne’s portfolio website is minimalistic and can immediately capture attention with its design. Its homepage has high-resolution, full-width images, and its layout is clean, with intuitive navigation that makes the site captivating and easy to explore. 

The website is simple and paired with solid visuals, effectively displaying Kayla Arianne’s versatility as a model.

What is a Modeling Portfolio?

A modeling portfolio is a collection of professional photos showcasing a person’s talent as a model. It tells clients about your skills and diversity as a model. 

That’s why professional models tend to have modeling portfolios. You should also have one you can send to agencies, clients, or anyone wanting to see your work. 

Do Beginner Models Need a Portfolio?

Every model needs a well-crafted modeling portfolio, irrespective of skill level. A well-curated portfolio works as a powerful magnet, drawing the attention of clients, agencies, brands, and photographers looking for models for various projects.

It will open doors to many new opportunities. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional model; you need to have a good-quality modeling portfolio.

How Many Pictures Should Be in a Modeling Portfolio?

According to data scattered across the web, an ideal modeling portfolio should feature at least 3 to 20 high-resolution photos. If you are a beginner model and want a headstart, you can create a portfolio with 3 to 8 photos. Gradually, you can add up to 20 photos. 

That’s a Wrap

We’ve reached the end of this article titled “How to create a modeling portfolio.” As you can see, creating such a portfolio is a two-minute job if you use Dorik AI. It may take a little longer if you choose to build your portfolio site from scratch. 

But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend several hours developing a professional modeling portfolio. Still, we recommend you take your time, conduct thorough research before building a portfolio, and start creating one.

We hope you’ll find this guide beneficial while creating a modeling portfolio.

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