Back in 1999 I was one of the early adopters of shooting digitally shot model portfolios in London when digital cameras came in. Its funny looking back now the resistance I had from the model agencies against digital and how now the industry thinks nothing of using digital but back then it was contact sheets and film which previously had been around for years. I just pushed and pushed digital as a model testing medium and finally and slowly I managed to break one agency and then it took off.

Shooting film you didn’t really have to do that much retouching and the trick was to get great prints from the darkroom as of which having previously been a colour printer it was rather easy for me. Retouching digital was new and I spent near 2 years trying to get it right often over retouching when it wasn’t needed. But that was part the learning process of digital.

I spent the next 5 years predominately shooting model portfolios for most of the model agencies in London when in 2005 I abruptly stopped. Main reason being I didn’t want it becoming like a McDonald’s restaurant churning models out just because I could becoming just a photo factory.

Since then I have only shot portfolios when I wanted too and restricted to only two shoots a week or when time permitted. I’ve seen new photographers come and go churning out the portfolios with no real photographic skills, some photographers were good but most just having brought a digital camera thinking its easy money and a couple of applications in photoshop later their photo is retouched and often over processed with skin modifiers (I know I’ve been there myself). Back then the models came from recommendation from model agencies. Now its photographers trawling Facebook trying to raise money from girls who would have no chance as a model in the real world.

Today I only still work from recommendation for model portfolios and even then I have to see a picture of the potential model before Im willing to shoot.

On our model portfolio page we have created something a little new for those who wish to shoot with us. What we now offer and its thanks to some modern technology is when ordering images you not only get the original enhanced image you also get a black and white one as well as a choice of looks for the third one. (see image above) So now three different versions of the same image for the price of one. Its gone down rather well so far and is proving a hit. Its the initial retouching time for the first image which takes the time and once you have it its rather easy to run a look on the image to give it a different style.

Check out the model portfolio section on this website.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Anyway here is the result! 12 great glamourtorial images of Sophie Reade to keep 2010 warm and happy. Keep an eye on www.SophieReade.net as her official shop where the calendar will be released.

We purposely kept the Sophie Reade official 2010 Calendar underwrap till today so Sophies Reades fans can see what a professional model she really is. We also shot some great video footage of which I will place online in the next few days to compliment the calendar. Syndication images now available at www.PoutSyndication.com

Aimed at more international looks with a glamourtorial edge it will run with a small selection of images from around the world with unique content. www.poutsyndication.com

Click here to view the embedded video.