Free guide

How to Take Model Photos With Your Phone

The free guide to model "digitals": the 6 simple phone photos agencies want to see, how to light them, what to wear, and how to send them.

Agencies don't need a professional photoshoot to decide whether to work with you. They want digitals: simple, honest phone photos that show what you look like today. Here's how to take them in about 15 minutes.

The 6 shots

1. Face, front: looking straight at the camera, relaxed, no big smile needed.
2. Face, side profile: turn your head 90 degrees.
3. Half body: from the waist up, arms relaxed.
4. Full length, front: head to toe, standing naturally.
5. Full length, side: turn to the side.
6. Your tattoos: close-ups of your favorite pieces, plus one wider shot showing how they sit together.

Light and background

• Stand facing a window in daylight. Avoid overhead lights and direct sun.
• Use a plain wall, light or neutral if you can.
• Have a friend take the photos from chest height, or prop your phone up and use the timer.
• Use the back camera, not the selfie camera, and wipe the lens first.

What to wear

• Fitted, simple clothes in a solid color, like a tank top and jeans.
• Show the tattoos you're proudest of.
• Little or no makeup, hair natural and off your face for the face shots.
• Nothing revealing is needed. Digitals are about how you look day to day.

What to skip

• Filters, face-smoothing, beauty modes and heavy editing.
• Sunglasses, hats and big jewelry.
• Group photos and mirror selfies.

How to send them

Put the photos in a Google Drive, Dropbox or iCloud folder, set it to "anyone with the link can view," and paste the link into your application. Never send ID photos or personal documents with your digitals.

Ready? Apply to Tat Brat. It takes about 2 minutes.