If you’re serious about modeling, digitals (also called “polaroids”) are a must. Every agency and casting director asks for them — and the good news is, you don’t need a professional photographer or fancy camera to take great ones.
In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to take agency-ready digitals at home, even with just a smartphone.
📷 What Are Digitals?
Digitals are simple, natural photos of you with no makeup, no filters, and no heavy editing. They show your true appearance, including your face, body type, skin tone, and posture.
They usually include:
- Full body
- Side profile
- Close-up headshot
- Smiling + serious face
🏠 What You Need
✔ A smartphone or digital camera
✔ A plain white or light-colored wall
✔ Natural daylight (no flash)
✔ Tight-fitting, neutral clothes
✔ Clean hair and skin
✔ Someone to take your photos (or use a tripod)
👕 What to Wear
Women:
- Fitted tank top or plain t-shirt (black or white)
- Skinny jeans or fitted leggings
- Neutral heels (optional but helps posture)
Men:
- Fitted plain t-shirt or go shirtless if applying for fitness
- Slim jeans or shorts
- Clean sneakers or bare feet (for height)
Avoid: Prints, logos, accessories, dramatic makeup, or filters.
🧍♀️ Poses to Include
You’ll need 5–7 key shots. Keep posture tall and natural, arms relaxed.
- Full body (facing front)
- Full body (side profile)
- Full body (back, optional)
- Close-up headshot (no smile)
- Close-up headshot (smiling)
- Half body / ¾ shot (optional)
- Detail shots: If requested (like hands, skin, or tattoos)
💡 Tips for Best Results
- Use natural lighting: Stand near a window. Don’t use flash.
- Keep it clean: Plain background, no clutter.
- No editing: Agencies want raw, honest photos.
- Hair down and natural (unless curly — then show both curly & tied back).
- Show your full height: Don’t crop legs or feet.
- Keep angles straight: Don’t tilt the camera.
📤 How to Send Your Digitals
When applying to agencies or uploading to your profile:
- Save photos in JPG or PNG format
- Name files clearly:
firstname_lastname_fullbody.jpg, etc. - Keep file size under 2MB if uploading online
👀 Example Set
Here’s a typical 5-photo digital set:
| Shot Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Full body (front) | Standing tall, neutral face |
| Full body (side) | Straight side profile |
| Close-up | No makeup, no smile |
| Close-up smiling | Natural expression |
| ¾ Body | From mid-thigh up |
🚀 Final Advice
Digitals are the first thing scouts see. Keep them:
- Simple
- Natural
- Professional
Update your digitals every 3–6 months or when your look changes (e.g., haircut, weight loss, tattoos, etc.).
💼 Ready to Get Discovered?
Upload your digitals to your Model Connect profile today and start getting seen by photographers and brands near you.