How to take model digitals at home

Model digitals are straightforward photographs that show how you currently look. Their purpose is clarity. Before taking a set, open the receiving agency’s official application page and make a list of the views and file requirements it asks for.

1. Start with the instructions

Do not assume every agency wants the same photos. Make a simple shot list from the actual form: for example, a front-facing headshot, a side view or a full-length image if requested. Check whether the form asks for a specific expression, clothing or hair arrangement.

2. Find even light and a quiet background

Try a plain wall near a window. Face the light and check the camera preview for strong shadows or an overexposed face. Move away from background clutter. A phone timer or a trusted helper can make full-length framing easier than holding the phone yourself.

3. Keep the image current

Use normal camera mode. Avoid beauty filters, generated features and body reshaping. Check the agency’s guidance on makeup and clothing. Wear clothing you are comfortable in; you never need to send intimate images through ModelSubmission.

4. Check the whole frame

Look at the image at full size. Is it sharp enough to see you clearly? Did the framing cut off something the agency asked to see? Are there readable documents, a home address or someone else in the background? Retake the image if needed.

5. Prepare copies for the actual form

Keep your original files. Use our private digitals preparer for smaller JPEG copies, then compare the result against the agency’s size limit. Reducing a file does not guarantee it will be accepted by every form.

An example of agency-specific guidance

Elite’s own application page specifies its clothing, makeup and accessory preferences. That is a useful reminder to read the destination’s instructions rather than follow a universal template. Read Elite’s current application instructions. Elite is not a ModelSubmission partner; the link is a reference.

Finish with the submission checklist. Good preparation helps you send the requested materials; it does not guarantee a reply or representation.