Guide · Digitals
Model digitals: what to wear, poses & phone setup
Digitals are the most useful images a model has, and the easiest to get wrong. They should be plain, honest and current — and you can shoot a strong set at home, on a phone, in under an hour.
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IN THIS GUIDE
When I look at a new face, digitals are what I trust most, because they show what a person looks like on a normal day under normal light. They’re also the part of a modelling portfolio that people skip. Here is exactly how to do them well.
01
What digitals (polaroids) are for
The term “polaroids” comes from the instant-film photos models once carried; today they’re called digitals and they’re shot on any camera, usually a phone. Their whole purpose is honesty. A client looking at them wants to see your natural skin, your hair as it is, your real proportions, and how your face reads from different angles.
That means the rules are almost the opposite of a styled shoot: no heavy makeup, no retouching, no filters, no dramatic poses, no busy background. The less there is to look at, the more clearly they see you.
02
What to wear for model digitals
Keep it simple and fitted. The clothing should show your shape without becoming the subject.
- A fitted plain top — a black or neutral tank top or a simple fitted tee. Black is the most common choice because it’s clean and doesn’t throw colour onto your skin.
- Fitted jeans or leggings — dark, plain, no rips or big logos. Skinny or straight cuts show leg line best.
- Footwear — simple heels for full-length shots are common for fashion; also take a set barefoot or in flats so your true height is clear.
- No prints, logos, slogans or heavy textures — they distract and date the photos.
- Minimal or no jewellery — small studs at most.
- Swimwear is optional, never required. Some fashion clients ask for it later in a process. You should never feel pressured to send it, and never to someone you haven’t verified.
Hair and makeup
Clean, natural skin. A little concealer and a touch of mascara and lip balm is as far as most people go; many shoot completely bare-faced. Do one set with hair down and natural, and one with hair pulled back off the face so your face shape, jawline and hairline are visible. No hair extensions unless you wear them every day.
Ethnic wear?
Save sarees, lehengas and festive looks for your styled images — they suit many Indian briefs beautifully, but they belong in the portfolio edit, not the digitals. Digitals need to show your shape and natural look, and heavy drapes and embellishment hide both.
03
The poses clients expect
Digitals follow a fairly standard set. Shoot all of these, with a neutral expression and then a soft natural smile where it makes sense:
- Front headshot — shoulders square, face straight to the lens, chin level.
- Left and right profile — turn your whole head, not just your eyes.
- Three-quarter headshot — face turned slightly, eyes to the lens.
- Smile — a real one, with teeth. It matters for commercial and beauty work.
- Waist-up — front and three-quarter.
- Full-length front — standing straight, weight even, arms relaxed by your sides.
- Full-length side and back — shows posture and proportion.
- Hair back — repeat the front headshot with hair off the face.
Avoid “posing”. No hand on the hip, no pout, no head tilt, no hand near the face. Stand naturally, breathe out, relax your shoulders and keep your hands loose. The point is to look like yourself.
04
Lighting: window light does the work
The best light for digitals is free: daylight from a large window, ideally indirect. Stand facing the window, a step or two back from it, with a plain wall behind you. The light falls evenly across your face and shows true skin tone.
- Avoid harsh direct sun. In much of India the midday sun is strong and creates hard shadows under the eyes and nose. Morning and late afternoon light is softer; an overcast or monsoon sky is excellent for digitals.
- Don’t mix light sources. Turn off tube lights and warm bulbs when shooting by the window; mixed light makes skin look green or orange.
- No ring light glare or flash. They flatten the face and leave reflections in the eyes. If you must shoot indoors at night, a large soft light in front of you is better than anything small and bright.
- Plain background. A white, grey or light neutral wall, clear of furniture, switches and posters. Stand a little away from it so you don’t cast a hard shadow on it.
05
Phone setup: settings that matter
Any recent phone is enough. The settings matter far more than the model:
- Use the rear camera, not the selfie camera. It’s sharper and handles light better. Ask a friend to shoot, or use a tripod and the timer.
- Use the main lens (1x), never the ultra-wide (0.5x). Wide lenses stretch faces and distort proportions. For headshots, the 2x setting or stepping back slightly is more flattering and more accurate.
- Turn off beauty mode, filters and portrait blur. Many phones smooth skin automatically — switch it off. Portrait mode can blur hair edges unnaturally.
- Camera height: at eye level for headshots; around waist or chest height for full-length shots, so your legs aren’t shortened.
- Keep the phone straight — turn on the grid so verticals stay vertical. Shoot portrait orientation.
- Tap to focus on your eyes, and lower exposure slightly if your skin looks washed out.
- Wipe the lens. A smudged lens is the most common reason for soft, hazy digitals.
- Don’t edit. Cropping and straightening are fine. Skin smoothing, reshaping and filters are not.
06
Labelling, sending and keeping them current
Choose the clearest frame of each pose — usually eight to twelve images in total — and name the files simply (your first name and the shot, e.g. “front”, “profile-left”, “full-length”). Add your current height and measurements in text alongside, not written on the photos. If you want a one-page summary to send with them, make a free comp card in your browser.
Reshoot whenever you change your hair colour or length, or your look changes noticeably. Old digitals are worse than none, because they set up a mismatch the moment you meet someone.
When you create a free YKS Talents portfolio, honest digitals are exactly what I want to see. There’s no fee, no paid tier, and no need for an expensive shoot first.
Questions, answered straight
What should I wear for model digitals?
A fitted plain top (black is common), fitted dark jeans or leggings, simple heels plus a barefoot or flat set, no prints or logos, and minimal jewellery. Swimwear is optional and should never be pressured.
Can I take model digitals on my phone?
Yes. Use the rear camera on the main 1x lens, turn off beauty mode and filters, shoot in soft window light against a plain wall, and keep the camera at eye level for headshots and around waist or chest height for full-length.
Should I wear makeup for digitals?
Little or none. Clean skin with at most a touch of concealer, mascara and lip balm. Digitals are meant to show your natural look.
What is the difference between digitals and polaroids?
They mean the same thing. Polaroids were originally instant-film photos; today the same plain, unretouched images are shot digitally and called digitals.
How often should I update my digitals?
Whenever your hair or look changes noticeably, and in any case regularly enough that they always match how you look today.
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