If you’re preparing to submit to a Melbourne modelling agency, model digitals are the first thing they’ll look at. Not your Instagram. Not your portfolio. Your digitals.
Model digitals (also called polaroids or digis) are simple, natural photographs that show agencies exactly what you look like right now, without styling, heavy makeup, or retouching. They’re the industry’s standard screening tool, and getting them right can be the difference between landing a meeting and being passed over.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what model digitals actually are, the specific shots agencies require, how to prepare, and how to decide whether to shoot them yourself or work with a professional photographer.
What Are Model Digitals?
Model digitals are a set of unedited, natural-light photographs that give agencies and casting directors an honest view of your current appearance. Think of them as your visual CV. They’re stripped back, accurate, and designed to show your raw potential rather than a styled version of you.
The term “polaroids” comes from the days when agencies would snap instant Polaroid photos of models during open calls. Today, the images are digital, but the purpose is identical: a clean, current record of your face, body proportions, and natural features that agencies can assess quickly.
Digitals are not the same as portfolio images. Your portfolio showcases your versatility, editorial range, and creative potential with professional lighting, styling, and retouching. Digitals show what walks through the door. There is no glam squad, no complex studio lighting, no post-production magic. Agencies know exactly what makeup artists, stylists, and photographers can do. What they need to see first is the starting material.
When Are Digitals Used?
- Agency submissions: Digitals are typically the first material an agency reviews when evaluating new talent.
- Casting presentations: Agencies send your digitals to clients considering you for campaigns, editorials, and runway.
- Current look verification: Agencies require updated digitals every few months, or whenever your appearance changes. For example, a new haircut, colour change, weight shift, new tattoos or piercings.
- Booking decisions: Casting directors use digitals alongside your portfolio to confirm you match the brief before confirming a booking.
The Agency Digital Shot List
Agency digital requirements vary: some Melbourne agencies ask for as few as two photos at the initial submission stage, while others want a more complete set. What they’re all assessing, however, is essentially the same thing: your face, your proportions, and your natural features from multiple angles.
The six-shot set below covers every angle agencies commonly want to see. Submit these and you’re covered for any agency’s requirements, whether they’ve asked for two images or ten. Think of it as the complete version – not because every agency mandates all six, but because having all six means you’re never caught short.
The Standard 6-Shot Set
- Full-length front: Head to toe, facing the camera directly. Arms relaxed at your sides. This is the foundation shot. It shows your full proportions, posture, and body shape.
- Three-quarter angle: Turned slightly to one side (roughly 45 degrees). Shows depth and dimension to your frame that a straight-on shot can’t capture.
- Profile: Side-on view showing your facial profile and silhouette. Agencies use this to assess bone structure, nose shape, and jawline.
- Close-up face (front): Head and shoulders, facing camera. Neutral expression. This is where agents assess your skin, features, and overall facial symmetry.
- Back view: Full-length from behind. Shows posture, shoulder line, and overall proportions from the rear.
- Smile shot: A natural, genuine smile. Not every agency requires this, but commercial and lifestyle agencies particularly want to see warmth and approachability.
Important: Always check the specific submission guidelines on the agency’s website before your shoot. Some agencies request additional angles, swimwear shots, or specific poses. If in doubt, shoot the full set of six angles below, plus anything else they’ve specified. That way you’re covered regardless of what they ask for.
How to Prepare for Model Digitals
What to Wear
The goal is simple: show your shape without distraction. Agencies want to see you, not your wardrobe.
- Fitted, neutral clothing: A black or white fitted tank top with dark skinny jeans or leggings is the industry standard. The clothing should be form-fitting enough to show your silhouette without being distracting.
- Avoid patterns, logos, and bright colours: Anything that draws the eye away from your face and body works against you. Keep it plain.
- Footwear: For women, clean black heels (avoid wedges or chunky platforms). For men, clean sneakers or loafers. Some agencies are fine with bare feet for certain shots.
- Swimwear (if required): A simple black or neutral two-piece for women, fitted shorts or swim briefs for men. Check whether the agency has specified this — don’t assume it’s needed.
If you’re unsure, black fitted clothing against a white or light grey background is the safest combination for any agency.
Hair and Makeup
Minimal to none. This is non-negotiable for digitals.
- Makeup: Light concealer to even skin tone is acceptable. No eyeliner, no heavy mascara, no bold lip colour. If you wear makeup regularly, agencies still want to see your natural skin. This is the entire point of digitals.
- Hair: Clean, natural, and away from your face for at least some shots. You can shoot with hair down and then pulled back to give agencies both options. Avoid heavy styling products or elaborate styles.
- Nails: Clean and natural. Remove bold nail polish or acrylics if possible.
- Skin: Focus on hydration in the days leading up to your shoot. Moisturise, drink water, and get decent sleep. Your skin is the main event in digitals.
Grooming and Presentation
- No fake tan: If you do tan, allow several days for it to settle and even out. A blotchy or orange-toned tan will misrepresent your complexion.
- Shave or groom as you normally would: Agencies want to see your standard presentation, not a dramatically different version of yourself.
- Bring a second outfit option: Having a backup means your photographer can adjust if something isn’t reading well on camera.
Posing and Expression: What Agencies Are Looking For
Digitals aren’t the place for dramatic editorial poses or high-fashion intensity. The posing should be clean, relaxed, and natural.
Posture
Stand tall with your weight evenly distributed. Shoulders back, but not forced. Think “confident and relaxed” rather than “military attention.” Your arms should hang naturally at your sides for the standard shots. Avoid crossing arms, putting hands on your hips, or any pose that obscures your body shape.
Expression
This is where most models overthink it. Agencies want to see two things: a neutral expression and a natural smile. That’s it.
Your neutral expression should be relaxed and present — soft eye contact with the camera, jaw unclenched, face at ease. It’s not a blank stare; it’s calm confidence. The slight difference between a vacant expression and an engaged neutral one is something a good photographer will direct you through.
For the smile shot, think of something genuinely funny or someone who makes you laugh. Forced smiles photograph as forced smiles. A real one changes your entire face — your eyes crinkle, your cheeks lift, your energy shifts. That’s what agencies want to see.
Movement and Micro-Adjustments
Within the standard shot list, subtle variations make a significant difference. A slight tilt of the chin, a soft turn of the head, a shift in weight from one foot to the other – these small adjustments give agencies options and demonstrate that you’re comfortable and responsive in front of a camera. This is one of the key areas where working with a photographer who directs clearly pays off: they’ll guide you through these adjustments so you don’t have to think about them.
Taking Your Own Digitals vs Working with a Photographer
Agencies will accept phone-quality digitals taken against a plain wall at home. Many signed models update their digitals this way regularly, especially when they just need a quick refresh after a haircut or colour change. It’s a legitimate option, and no one should tell you otherwise.
That said, there’s a meaningful difference between digitals that meet the minimum standard and digitals that make agencies pause and look twice. Here’s where a professional photographer adds value:
- Lighting: Even, flattering light that shows your features accurately without harsh shadows or colour casts. Getting this right with a phone in your living room is harder than it sounds.
- Direction: A photographer who understands what agencies want will guide you through posing, expression, and the subtle adjustments that elevate your shots from functional to compelling.
- Consistency: Professional digitals have consistent framing, exposure, and white balance across the full set. This reads as polished and prepared when an agency scrolls through your submission.
- Confidence: Most first-time models feel awkward in front of a camera. That’s completely normal. A good photographer creates a space where you can relax into the process rather than fighting through self-consciousness alone in front of your phone.
If you’re submitting to agencies for the first time and your digitals are the first impression they’ll have of you, it’s worth considering whether that first impression should be the strongest version of “the real you” rather than a phone snap that technically ticks the boxes.
If You’re Taking Your Own
Here’s how to get the best result:
- Use natural light near a large window on an overcast day. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows across your face.
- Stand against a plain white or light grey wall with no clutter visible behind you.
- Use the rear camera on your phone (not the front-facing selfie camera) and ask a friend to shoot for you. Set the camera at roughly chest height for full-length shots.
- Shoot in the highest resolution setting available.
- Take far more shots than you think you need – at least 50–80 across all angles. You’ll cull to 6–10 selects.
- Do not edit, filter, smooth, or retouch the images. No exceptions.
How Digitals Fit Into Your Modelling Portfolio
Digitals and portfolio images serve different purposes, and you need both. For information on what goes into a great portfolio, check out our post about it.
Your digitals show agencies what you look like naturally. They’re the screening tool — the honest, unfiltered starting point.
Your portfolio shows agencies what you can become. It demonstrates your versatility, your range of expressions, your ability to work with different styles and concepts. Portfolio images are professionally lit, styled, directed, and retouched to editorial or commercial standard.
Together, they tell the full story: “This is who I am, and this is what I’m capable of.” An agency submission with strong digitals and a solid portfolio is significantly more compelling than either alone.
For emerging models building their first submission, the priority is usually digitals first (because agencies won’t look at your portfolio without them), then a targeted set of portfolio images that demonstrate range across commercial, fashion, and editorial looks. This is the exact framework I shoot to in The Core Reveal: every digital, every portfolio image, mapped to what agencies actually flag during review.
Model Digitals in Melbourne: What Local Agencies Expect
Melbourne’s modelling industry is one of the strongest in Australia, with agencies actively seeking diverse representation across body types, ethnicities, and styles. The city’s fashion scene skews toward authenticity and personality over the traditional European high-fashion mould, which means your digitals should reflect who you actually are, and not who you think agencies want you to be.
Most Melbourne agencies accept digital submissions through their websites. Requirements vary — some ask for two images to start, others want a more complete set. The six angles outlined above cover you for all of them. Some agencies also request measurements, a brief introduction, and a few candid or lifestyle images alongside your formal digitals.
If an agency’s website lists specific guidelines for submissions (particular angles, clothing requirements, or file specifications) follow them exactly. It signals that you’ve done your research and take the process seriously.
How Often Should You Update Your Digitals?
Update your digitals any time your appearance changes noticeably: a significant haircut or colour change, visible tattoos or piercings, weight change, or any cosmetic procedure. Even without major changes, refreshing your digitals every four to six months keeps your submission current and shows agencies you’re actively maintaining your career materials.
Safety: Red Flags When Getting Digitals Taken
This section matters, especially for models early in their career. Digitals should be a straightforward, professional process. If anything feels off, trust your instincts.
- Never send lingerie, partially nude, or nude images as digitals. No legitimate agency requires this for initial submission. If someone asks for these types of images as part of a “digitals shoot,” it’s a red flag.
- Bring a support person. Any professional photographer will welcome you bringing a friend, partner, or parent to your shoot. If a photographer objects to this, don’t proceed.
- Know the location in advance. Professional shoots happen in studios, established locations, or public spaces. Never attend a shoot at a residential address you haven’t verified.
- Understand usage rights before you shoot. You should receive clear, written agreement on how your images will be used and who owns them. Don’t sign anything you haven’t read.
- Be wary of “free” shoots with unclear expectations. Legitimate TFP (time-for-prints) collaborations exist, but they should have clear terms, a defined concept, and mutual benefit. If the arrangement feels one-sided or pressured, walk away.
Model Digitals: Frequently Asked Questions
What are model digitals?
Model digitals (also known as polaroids or digis) are simple, unedited photographs that show your natural appearance. Agencies use them to assess your face, body proportions, skin, and overall potential without the influence of makeup, styling, or retouching. They’re the universal screening tool agencies use for new model submissions and ongoing representation.
Are model digitals the same as Polaroids?
Yes. The terms are interchangeable. “Polaroids” is the older term from when agencies used instant Polaroid cameras. “Digitals” or “digis” are the modern equivalent. They have the same purpose, same format, just captured digitally.
Do I need professional photos for my digitals?
Not necessarily. Agencies will accept clean phone photos taken in good natural light against a plain background. However, professionally shot digitals with controlled lighting, proper framing, and posing direction tend to make a stronger first impression, particularly for first-time agency submissions where you only get one shot at that initial review.
What should I wear for model digitals?
Fitted, neutral clothing that shows your body shape without distraction. The standard is a black or white fitted tank top with dark skinny jeans or leggings. Avoid patterns, logos, and bright colours. For footwear, clean black heels for women or clean sneakers for men. Some agencies also require swimwear shots, so make sure to check their submission guidelines.
Should I wear makeup in my digitals?
Minimal to none. Light concealer to even out skin tone is acceptable, but agencies want to see your natural features. No eyeliner, heavy mascara, bold lipstick, or contouring. The point of digitals is to show the real you.
What poses do agencies want in digitals?
Clean, simple poses that show your proportions: full-length front, three-quarter angle, profile (side), close-up face, back view, and a smile shot. Arms relaxed at your sides for standard shots. Avoid dramatic poses or anything that obscures your body shape.
What background should I use?
A plain, uncluttered background. White or light grey is standard. The background should be distraction-free so the focus stays entirely on you. Professional photographers use seamless paper backdrops or studio walls for clean, consistent results.
How often should I update my digitals?
Every four to six months as a baseline, and immediately after any significant appearance change: haircut, colour change, weight change, new tattoos, piercings, or cosmetic procedures. Agencies need your digitals to accurately reflect what you look like today.
Can model digitals help me get signed by an agency?
They’re the entry point. Digitals are typically the first thing an agency reviews in your submission, and strong digitals can be the reason an agent opens your portfolio rather than moving to the next applicant. They won’t guarantee representation on their own, but weak or outdated digitals can prevent you from being considered at all.
Should model digitals be retouched?
No. Digitals should be completely unedited — no retouching, no filters, no smoothing, no colour grading. Agencies expect to see your natural skin texture, features, and proportions. Retouched digitals misrepresent your appearance and will damage your credibility.
Ready to Build Your Agency Submission?
Your digitals are the first impression an agency will have of you. If you’re preparing your first submission or updating your set, a focused session with clear direction and controlled lighting can make the difference between being overlooked and getting that meeting.
Premier Portraits works with emerging and established models across Melbourne, shooting agency-ready digitals alongside portfolio sessions designed to land representation. Every session includes posing direction, real-time feedback, and a structured shot list that covers everything agencies need to see. For examples of our model portfolio images, make sure to check out the Model Portfolio Gallery. Find out more about our Portfolio Reveal packages.
