Kelleth wrote:
Honestly, your best bet is to bring nothing (unless they specifically specify to bring something). The agency will take polaroids of you and "professional" photos are likely to be more harmful than anything unless they're absolutely top notch. Best of luck!

Do NOT go spending your money on printing photos and buying a portfolio because, if they agency is interested, they will likely help you to rebuild your book and they will select which images they want to use to represent you. They don't need or want you to come with any of this done. They simply want to meet you, see what you look like in person, and see how you'll photograph in the polaroids they take of you.

Excellent advance for non-commercial agencies...

Not, some commercial agencies and Hybrid Talent agencies do want to see commercial images, but, if they do, they will normally so say.

ksn modeling wrote:
Hi all! So I have some upcoming go-sees and open calls for agencies and I didn't know the best way to present my portfolio and polaroids? I know it is best to bring natural pictures of myself as well as any professional ones, but I wasn't sure of the best way to present them (in a book, binder, size, paper vs glossy, etc..)?......

A comp card is the main marketing tool.  Most commercial situations the comp card may be all you need .  But it is best to have a portfolio  along with you as some clients ask to see it and I have found it is good for a model to bring to shoots to show the photographer or a  client.

To make a portfolio book that's presentable to an agency you best do it the agency way.
Your competition will be arriving with such books so why not you ?

Most model agency books are standard 9" by 12" there are other sizes but 9x12 is what most agency use. 
More important than the size is the content and that content honestly needs to be top shelf work that shows your best look.  Make sure you have 3 to 4 placed up front.
Talent bookers don’t often look for and book mediocrity.

Don't fall prey to including more just because a book can hold more. Only include your very best. Look for a book that allows removing unused sleeves , as this will benefit your over all book.

Maximum number of top shelf photos shown in a book should be between 10 to 15
If your work cant show your modeling ability with 10 photos then you need to shoot better work.

You will have much more potential of securing a booking by presenting three to four strong photographs than three strong and a book full of mediocre   

Include a beauty shot which is not excessively retouched 
Bookers want to see the real deal … freckles, pores and skin conditions
If they don’t believe your beauty shot they won’t believe your book.

As explained above place your best work first.  You need to get the attention of the booker on this go-see …  if not When ?..

About your  Book
-Standard 9" by 12"
-Organize your Photos to be viewed Side by Side as when flipping pages in a text book. (Center binding of the book running top to bottom) Should you have photos where you are looking to the left or looking to the right place them so they face looking to the center binding.

-Orientate photos in the book vertically with the top and bottom of the photo along the 9 inch width of the page

-If you have photos that are horizontal ( wider in width  then height )  DO NOT  place them  vertical  in the book( top and bottom of the  photo running along  the center binding ) . This will require the viewer to rotate the book when they  come to this page which is distracting and can result in a booker loosing interest with continuing with your book and looking for the NEXT book which happens to be  your competition. 

-Should you have Horizontal Photos?
1: Try a double tuck
Have the photo printed 12”hight by 18” width then cut the photo down the middle and place the cut photo into the sleeves on either sides of the center binding of your book. ( this will keep the book orientation the same as when viewing  the previous pages of photos in your book  ) . Select a stunner if you are using 2 sleeves to show one photo. Once again mediocrity does not need to be looked at twice.

                                  or

2: Print your horizontal photo  on a 9”x12” with the top and bottom of your photo running along the 9” width of the paper
This will result with a photo that does not hav e a hight to fill 12 “hight of the page .
You can fill the page with a black border to match the filler paper in the sleeve.
Not to worry of the large border ..if it is one of your best work (that is the important concept to keep)

Jonathan Richard wrote:

A comp card is the main marketing tool.  Most commercial situations the comp card may be all you need .  But it is best to have a portfolio  along with you as some clients ask to see it and I have found it is good for a model to bring to shoots to show the photographer or a  client.

To make a portfolio book that's presentable to an agency you best do it the agency way.
Your competition will be arriving with such books so why not you ?

Most model agency books are standard 9" by 12" there are other sizes but 9x12 is what most agency use. 
More important than the size is the content and that content honestly needs to be top shelf work that shows your best look.  Make sure you have 3 to 4 placed up front.
Talent bookers don’t often look for and book mediocrity.

Don't fall prey to including more just because a book can hold more. Only include your very best. Look for a book that allows removing unused sleeves , as this will benefit your over all book.

Maximum number of top shelf photos shown in a book should be between 10 to 15
If your work cant show your modeling ability with 10 photos then you need to shoot better work.

You will have much more potential of securing a booking by presenting three to four strong photographs than three strong and a book full of mediocre   

Include a beauty shot which is not excessively retouched 
Bookers want to see the real deal … freckles, pores and skin conditions
If they don’t believe your beauty shot they won’t believe your book.

As explained above place your best work first.  You need to get the attention of the booker on this go-see …  if not When ?..

About your  Book
-Standard 9" by 12"
-Organize your Photos to be viewed Side by Side as when flipping pages in a text book. (Center binding of the book running top to bottom) Should you have photos where you are looking to the left or looking to the right place them so they face looking to the center binding.

-Orientate photos in the book vertically with the top and bottom of the photo along the 9 inch width of the page

-If you have photos that are horizontal ( wider in width  then height )  DO NOT  place them  vertical  in the book( top and bottom of the  photo running along  the center binding ) . This will require the viewer to rotate the book when they  come to this page which is distracting and can result in a booker loosing interest with continuing with your book and looking for the NEXT book which happens to be  your competition. 

-Should you have Horizontal Photos?
1: Try a double tuck
Have the photo printed 12”hight by 18” width then cut the photo down the middle and place the cut photo into the sleeves on either sides of the center binding of your book. ( this will keep the book orientation the same as when viewing  the previous pages of photos in your book  ) . Select a stunner if you are using 2 sleeves to show one photo. Once again mediocrity does not need to be looked at twice.

                                  or

2: Print your horizontal photo  on a 9”x12” with the top and bottom of your photo running along the 9” width of the paper
This will result with a photo that does not hav e a hight to fill 12 “hight of the page .
You can fill the page with a black border to match the filler paper in the sleeve.
Not to worry of the large border ..if it is one of your best work (that is the important concept to keep)

No. An agency will create your portfolio and comp card FOR you if interested. Having either created beforehand would be a complete waste.

ksn modeling wrote:
Hi all! So I have some upcoming go-sees and open calls for agencies and I didn't know the best way to present my portfolio and polaroids?

above is very good information on how to develop a presentable agency looking book to have with you at your scheduled upcoming go-sees.
Being Agency Represented Model  or Not   ....  your look , modeling abilities and the client interest with you at the time of the go-see  ....can make you as   marketable  for that client as any agency model  sitting next to you  holding  a similar looking book.

ksn modeling wrote:
.... However, any major modeling agency does ask to bring snap shots or polaroids, so I just wasn't sure i there was a proper way to present these is all I'm asking.

Agency Open Calls  very often  will shoot  the so called polaroids  to see how you photograph and look without wardrobe styling or elaborate makeup
and  to help determin their interest in you as a model during  the meet. The agency if interested  will  link you up for some new professional work for inclusion in your book .

If you believe that the agency open call is asking for you to provide the  palaroids ?? ....Then you need to speak with the agency for clarification or look up the submission info on the agency website.

ksn modeling wrote:
I'm not trying to create a comp card because as stated by others, I understand that if an agency is truly interested in me they will invest the money. However, any major modeling agency does ask to bring snap shots or polaroids, so I just wasn't sure i there was a proper way to present these is all I'm asking.

Generally agencies will shoot these polaroids of you themself. If they state that they want you to bring in snapshots when you come in to meet them do so. There is no need to bring in anything else.