Knowing how to take digitals at home saves you money and time when an agency asks for new photos this week. Digitals are simple, current photos that show your face and body as they are, with no styling to hide anything. A phone, a plain wall and some daylight are enough for a clean set.
Agencies differ in what they ask for, so treat this guide as typical practice and check the instructions on the submission page of each agency you contact. If you are new to the term, what model digitals are explains the basics in a few minutes.
What are digitals, in short?
Digitals are unstyled photos that let an agency or client see how you look right now. They are usually a headshot, a few angles of your face and full-length shots, taken in plain light against a plain background. They are different from a portfolio, which shows polished work.
The names vary, and many people use “polaroids” for the same thing. The difference between digitals and polaroids is mostly about history and habit.
What do you wear for digitals?
Wear fitted basics in a plain color. A simple top and jeans or leggings is a typical choice, and a close fit shows your shape better than loose layers. Many people pick a neutral shade like black, white or gray, and avoid logos, slogans and busy patterns.
Keep jewelry and accessories minimal, because they can distract from your face and neck. Remove hats and scarves unless a shot calls for them. Bring a second top in a different color if you want options, but change the whole look rather than layering.
Wear swimwear only if an agency asks for it, and only if you are comfortable. You never have to send photos you are not comfortable with, and if a request seems out of place for a first look, ask why it is needed before you send anything.
How should you do your hair and makeup?
Keep both natural. Typical advice is light or no makeup, so skin, brows and lips look like they do on a normal day. Skip heavy contouring, false lashes and strong colors.
Wash and dry your hair, and style it simply. For headshots and profiles, many people pull hair off the face so the jawline, ears and neck are visible. For full-length shots, wear it down or tied back, whichever shows your usual look.
Check your nails, skin and teeth before you start, because close-ups show everything. If you have a mark or a tattoo, leave it as it is.
What background and light work best?
Use a plain wall, ideally light and matte, with nothing hanging on it. Stand a step or two in front of it so your shadow does not fall on the wall behind you. Clear the floor too, since full-length shots show it.
Daylight is the easiest light for digitals, because it shows your skin tone as it is. Stand facing the window, or with it a little to one side, so your face and body are evenly lit. Overcast daylight is the gentlest, while direct sun through the glass can leave dark patches under the eyes.
Switch off lamps and overhead lights while you shoot, since mixing them with daylight tints your skin unevenly. Keep the window in front of you or to the side, never behind, or your face falls into shadow. Skip the warm light just before sunset too, because the set should show your everyday skin tone.
How do you set up your phone?
Use the back camera, because it usually gives a sharper photo than the front one. Select the 1x lens, since the ultra-wide lens distorts faces and limbs near the edges of the frame. Hold the phone upright, in portrait orientation.
Put the phone on a tripod, a shelf or a stack of books at about chest height, and keep it level. For headshots you can raise it a little toward eye level, and for full-length shots stay at chest height and step back. Wipe the lens with a soft cloth first.
Turn on the grid and level in Settings, under Camera, so walls and doors stay straight and the frame stays even. Apple describes both on its page about camera tools. If you want to see yourself while you frame, start with the front camera, then switch to the back camera once you know where to stand.
Test once: take a photo, step into place and check the framing on the result. A quick check now saves a whole set with your feet cut off.
Which shots should you take?
Many agencies ask for a similar core set, though the exact list varies. Check the submission page, and use this as a starting point. The full list, with framing notes, is in the model digitals checklist.
- Headshot, front. Head and shoulders, looking straight at the lens, shoulders square.
- Profiles. The same framing from each side, with your face turned fully to one side.
- Three-quarter. Turn your body and face about halfway between front and profile.
- Full-length front. Your whole body from head to feet, arms relaxed at your sides.
- Full-length side. The same distance, turned fully to one side.
- Full-length back. The same again, with your back to the lens.
Many agencies like the front shots both smiling and not smiling, so take both, and keep a relaxed, neutral face for the rest. Stand tall, keep your weight even, and avoid posing like a photo shoot. The aim is a clear, honest record of your look.
How do you take digitals at home on your own?
The awkward part is pressing the shutter while the phone sits away from you. The Camera app’s built-in timer works, though each new countdown means walking back to the phone. The Camera Remote app on an Apple Watch or a Bluetooth remote also works, if you own one.
An auto-shutter app removes that step. ViaCamera is an iPhone app that takes the photo for you, with no timer, remote or Bluetooth clicker. These are real photos from your iPhone camera, not AI-generated images.
For front headshots and three-quarter views, use AI-FACE mode, which fires when your face is in frame and your eyes are open. For profiles and full-length shots, use AI-BODY mode, which fires when it sees you in frame. You tap the shutter once to start, and ViaCamera keeps taking photos each time it sees what the mode waits for, until you tap again to stop.
That lets you hold a pose, turn a few degrees and hold the next one, without returning to the phone between frames. It works with the front or the back camera. To compare the two modes, read the guide to the AI modes or the explainer on the auto shutter.
What if your space or light is not ideal?
A small room still works for headshots, which need only a step or two of space in front of the wall. For full-length shots, put the phone across the room or in a doorway, and keep it level rather than tilting it down to fit your feet in. If you have no plain wall, a closed door or a plain sheet pinned flat can stand in for one.
If the daylight is weak, move closer to the window and face it, so the light reaches your whole face. When the room is still dim, wait for a brighter day rather than adding lamps, since a set in steady daylight looks consistent. A short delay costs less than a set you have to redo.
How should you stand and move?
Stand tall with your weight even on both feet, shoulders relaxed and chin level. Look straight at the lens for front shots, and let your eyes follow your face for profiles. Keep your arms loose at your sides, since digitals should show your shape without a pose hiding it.
Hold each position for a moment, then move to the next one rather than shuffling between frames. Between angles, shake out your shoulders and take a breath, so your face does not tighten. A relaxed, neutral expression reads better than a held smile.
Take your time, and plan on a session of about half an hour. The first frames are usually tests, and a slow, calm rhythm gives you more usable shots than a rushed one.
How do you review your frames?
Go through the set at full size, not as thumbnails, and look at each frame on its own. Check that the eyes are open and sharp, that your head is not tilted, and that nothing is cut off. Look at the edges for odd items poking out of your hair or hands, and at the floor for clutter.
Compare each pair of similar frames and keep only the clearest one. If every frame of an angle has a flaw, retake that angle rather than choosing the least bad. Keep the originals somewhere safe, and send the version you checked.
Make a short note of what worked, such as the wall, the time of day and the height of the phone. Next time you need new digitals, you can set up the same way and finish faster.
Should you edit your digitals?
Keep changes light. Typical practice is to crop or straighten a photo, and nothing more. Agencies generally want digitals that look like you, so leave out filters, skin smoothing, reshaping and color effects.
If a frame needs more than a crop to look acceptable, retake it. A clean, honest photo will serve you better than a polished one that does not match you in person. When in doubt, read the agency’s instructions or send the plainest version.
How do you name and send your files?
Start with the agency’s submission page, since it sets the rules: a form or an email, the file type, any size limit and how many photos to send. Follow it exactly rather than guessing.
Give each file a clear name, such as your name plus the shot, for example “jane-doe-profile-left”. Keep the filenames consistent, so the person reading them can see the set at a glance. Send only the shots you were asked for, in the order that makes sense.
Be wary of anyone who asks for payment up front to look at your photos or to represent you. The guide to sending polaroids to modeling agencies covers submission and red flags in more detail.
What are the most common mistakes?
Most weak sets fail for a few simple reasons. Watch for these.
- Messy or patterned backgrounds. They pull the eye away from you. Use a plain wall.
- Loose clothes. They hide your shape. Wear fitted basics.
- Heavy makeup or styling. It stops the photos showing your natural look.
- A tilted or low phone. It distorts proportions. Keep it level, at chest height for full-length shots.
- Harsh or mixed light. It casts shadows and uneven color. Face a window and turn lamps off.
- Closed eyes or blur. Check every frame at full size before choosing.
- Cut-off feet or hands. Leave a little space around the full-length shots.
- Filters and retouching. They make photos look like someone else.
Review your set against the checklist once, retake what is weak, and update the photos again when your look changes.
