One of your biggest marketing tools, as a model, is your portfolio. A portfolio should contain at least 6 to 8 pictures, and no more than 24 pictures. Every picture needs to be of a very good quality, although it isn't necessary to pay for professional photography from the very start. As you progress through your modeling career, winning your first shoots and working with photographers you should aim to include the best shots from each of your jobs. If you can afford an expert portfolio photographer then it may pay dividends towards landing your first shoot.

Your first portfolio should consist, at the very least, of two different head shots, two fashion shots, and possible even an action shot. One full length body shot, including feet, should also be included.

Try to get a strong balance in the photos you include. Try to include studio shots and outdoor shots. For the head shots use two different expressions and you might also consider using one color photograph and one black and white. In one of the head shots you should use very little makeup so potential agents and clients can get an idea of your natural look.

Once you have a greater stock of photographs to choose from, you can tailor each portfolio to the particular person viewing it. If you're contacting an agency that deals primarily in fashion shoots then provide your fashion portfolio. This means that the agency has much more information to go on in order to determine whether you have what they are looking for.

Quality always wins out over quantity when choosing pictures for your portfolio. Average and even good photographs simply do not belong in a successful portfolio. Those pictures that will make you stand out from the crowd should take pride of place for any portfolio and including sub-standard photographs only detracts from the high quality of your best shots.

To start, six to eight photographs is ample. You may include more, even as many as 20, but it is essential that you only include photographs that are all a very high standard. Once you have some shoots to your name, you can begin to include tears from magazines and other publications to also show off your experience, but primarily because these are the exact types of photographs that agencies and clients are looking for.

The quality of your portfolio is also portrayed by how well kept and presented it is. Keep your portfolios in excellent condition and they will do the same for you in return. If necessary, get another copy. Always check your portfolio before attending an interview or call and look for crumpled, bent, or torn photographs and remove them.

Your portfolio is what will sell you to agencies and clients. Everything about the portfolio needs to smack of quality and really stand out when people view it. Offering a good range of high quality pictures makes it much easier for an agent or client to see just how good you look on camera.