As the Content Manager for Cams.com, I spend a lot of time sifting through model submitted photos. Whether it’s for social media posts, magazine features or trade show materials, I’m always on the lookout for images that represent our brand and models well. After all, it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our talent and for models to get exposure in the industry and market themselves to potential customers.
It’s important for models to be ready for these opportunities when they present themselves, and part of that means always having good promotional photos on hand. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go all out and hire a professional photographer. It’s great if you have the means to do it, but you shouldn’t have to miss out on a great opportunity to build your brand just because a glamorous photo shoot is out of your budget. Here are five tips to help you take your own promotional photos and make them stand out.
Rainbow and puppy face filters are cute for social media posts, but not for promotional use.
Stick to High Quality, High Resolution Pics
Webcam photos, photos taken with zoom and heavily pixelated photos are very hard to work with and should be avoided at all costs. Luckily we’re in the age of the smartphone, so all the tools you need to take a great high-res photo are probably sitting in your hand as you scroll through this article. The key is knowing how to use your camera phone properly. For example, if you’re using an iPhone, you can get the highest quality pics by simply going into your Settings and setting the camera to “Most Compatible.” Also, avoid the Square mode when taking pics as this gives editors less to work with. Choose Portrait or Photo instead and let someone else worry about how to crop your photo. If you have an Android phone, maximize the quality of your photos by always choosing the highest number of pixels. You can do this directly from your camera app in the “More Options” menu.
Avoid Snapchat and Instagram Filters
Rainbow and puppy face filters are cute for social media posts, but not for promotional use. If I’m going through model photos looking for an image to use for a trade show flyer or feature story, I’m going to skip right over anything that involves floral crowns, butterflies, or mouse ears because it’s just not a good look for professional marketing materials.
Keep PG Shots on Hand
If your platform asks you for promotional images, be sure to submit a variety of photos including at least one PG/PG-13 shot. This greatly increases your chance of appearing in mainstream press releases, trade show materials and Instagram posts, just to name a few. We may be in the adult business, but you’d be surprised at how often the need for non-nude model images arises.
Clean Up Your Background
Nothing takes away from a great photo quite like a messy background, so try to clean up a bit before you strike a pose. You don’t want to have your photos passed up for social media promotion (or something even more exciting) because you have dirty laundry strewn about behind you. What’s more, if you can take at least one or two photos against a solid backdrop, that could make a graphic designer’s job a lot easier if they need to cut and paste your image over a different background. I keep a folder full of model photos that meet these criteria on my desktop, so when an immediate need arises for a model image and the graphics team is pressed for time, I have something ready to go. It’s a win-win, because the model gets free promotion and I don’t have to waste time putting out a casting call.
Lighting is Everything
A lot of people rely on filters and editing software to correct bad lighting, but keep in mind that they can only do so much. The best photos start with great lighting, so take that into account when you take your photos. Natural lighting is free and works wonders, so even just standing in front of a window can drastically improve the quality of a photo. If you have a ring light on hand that you already use for broadcasting, even better!
Jackie Backman is the content manager for Cams.com. She has been working in the industry for over 12 years and specializes in copywriting and social media management. If you would like to contact Jackie, she can be reached at CamsJBackman@gmail.com.
