I'll begin by saying that I know that I have too many photos from the same shoots. Unfortunately since I've only done three in addition to some candid photos I think that I need to have more than one photo per shoot at least for now.

I'm looking for a critique of my profile as a whole including my portfolio. Which photos do you think I should have up, which should I keep for now but replace ASAP and what should I discard? In addition, if people have any thoughts on what I'm missing, I'd love to hear it.

I'm very new to this so of course I'll welcome any other advice. Thanks for taking your time to read this and thanks in advance for any comments that you might leave.

Margot

Does the first image, or the second in the second row do anything to sell you?  Not in my opinion, you need clean simple images to market yourself first and foremost.

As for what to replace ASAP, you are new you will replace all of those images ASAP hopefully.

Best of luck

The images don't do anything for me .... A little boring

Also if you are gonna work with Photographers who use fabric backdrops make sure they are fixing it each time you move around so they don't look messy (Like in your nude image)

I would start by removing these. They're simply snapshots and they're poorly processed. Think someone took pictures of you at a funeral and you thought you looked pretty in that dress.

Maybe I've lived in Los Angeles too long, but I think that if you want to model, you have  to start exercising more.
--I don't believe in starving yourself; but at 20 years old you should aspire  to have a very fit body. If this is the "work" you want to do,  being in good physical condition is a big part of it.

All the actresses and actors  out here are exercising all the time. -- If you want to make money based on your looks--staying fit is a big part of "your job."

Put simply, it'll make you look better in clothes or nude and more photographers will pay to work with you.-- It's not a sexist thing, the male actors out here exercise as much, or more than the women.--The competition is so fierce, they have to look good.

This, IMO, is the only image worth keeping. Replace the rest as soon as possible.

That nude of you standing with one knee on the pedestal is terribly unflattering. The pose is contrived and entirely unnatural.

I like how you've organized your profile into bullet lists, but the last section comes off as diva-ish and demanding. The need for references regarding BDSM work is completely understandable, but the dismal state of your portfolio belies the rest of your demands.

Thanks for all the comments so far, it's definitely helpful and I'll certainly keep them all in mind.

Obviously I have a weak profile but I don't think any of my demands are unreasonable. I ask that there be an idea because if there isn't it will be a weaker shoot and wanting to know where the images will go is just, in my opinion, good practice. Weak or not, I want to know what an image might be used for. As far as grammar and punctuation go, I think that's just simple courtesy. Just because I'm an inexperienced model with a poor profile doesn't mean that a photographer can't take the extra seconds to press shift or put in a full stop. I don't mean this to come off as aggressive but why does a weak profile make those requests so unreasonable?

Margot

The fact that you even know words like "rigger" and "Shibari", ( which I only learned as a result of being on MM.) Suggests that you  are probably more experienced than one would immediately assume.

Speaking as a photographer, who has looked at thousands of MM profiles in the the last year and a half.  I think most photographers want someone attractive, but equally important, they don't want to bring difficulty and drama into their lives.
I think most photographers have the "Director's personality"-- in other words they are a little controlling.  Thus, when any model, in her  intro, makes a number of requests or demands-- or low level complaints-- that immediately is a red flag.

Of course you want to be strong and stand up for yourself-- but the  basic dynamic in a photo shoot is the photographer is directing the model, and the model tries to do what he or she asks.

Seeing a long discussion about grammar, immediately can have photographers worrying that ( as they say in Hollywood)  you might be "difficult to work with."

Thanks for your thorough response it's very helpful particularly since you explained why.

It often seems on Model Mayhem, that Models and Photographers are inevitably adversarial-- ( and I'm guessing there are some bossy and obnoxious  and sleazy photographers out there.)-- But in the best of all worlds, Models and photographers should have fun together.
Photographers tend to be detail oriented so I doubt many of the good ones are writing you using terrible grammar.

Ultimately,If you'd rather direct than respond to direction-- maybe you'd be happier as a photographer.

Newb photographer here so I will not critique. But I can tell you what I like and don't like.

My two favorites in your port are your avatar and this one:


I am not fond of the two nude pics. Neither pose flatters you IMO.

Good luck...

My first immediate thought is you have only one photo where you're actually looking at the camera and it's a pretty weak one (with the focus missed...on your lip instead of your eye closest to the camera). You want to pull the viewer in and eye contact is a great way to do that.

I had the similar thought as Orca Bay regarding your profile, it seems a bit demand-ish considering your relatively weak portfolio. I'd be a little more welcoming to photographers in general rather than "communicate this, communicate that, have a concept ready". Really you need any halfway decent photographer to just photograph you in general.

If art nudes are you thing, you need to improve that aspect of your portfolio. The ones you have feel cheap, not really classy. Due in part to the ruffled background, due in part to your pose, due in part to just being uninspired.

All that said (and apologies if this is frowned upon in the Critiques section) let me know if you want to shoot some stuff. I think I could help you reboot your portfolio a bit.

That you know what you want and communicated it well on your profile is great.

As to your photos - you have 2 photos that are "okay" to use.  Some of the others - especially the ones with the pedestal - are very unflattering. 

Honestly - it might be a good idea to find a local photographer who is really good and pay them to help build your initial portfolio.

I wanted to follow up because I just realized that I didn't say anything nice in my post.

I also didn't mean to insinuate that you don't look pretty in that dress so that may have sounded all wrong. You look fine and you're attractive but I think you got my point?

I would most certainly work with you in a minute but you're a little far away.