DevelopmentYour First Shoot.
Congratulations, you're officially signed. Here's exactly what happens next, step by step, so you always know what's coming.
6 Simple Steps
The Mood Board
Before anything else, we'll put together a mood board together. This is a visual plan, a collection of images, colours, and styling ideas, so you know exactly what we're aiming for before we ever step into a studio. Nothing on shoot day should be a surprise. You'll get to see and understand the look and feel of each of your three looks in advance.
What Happens at Your First RAW Scout Photoshoot
Getting Shoot-Ready
You don't need to do anything drastic. Simple, consistent care in the days before the shoot makes the biggest difference. Here's your checklist.
Skin
- ›Cleanse, tone, and moisturise twice a day in the run-up to the shoot
- ›Exfoliate gently 2 to 3 times in the week before (not the night before, it can leave skin sensitive)
- ›Drink plenty of water in the days leading up, hydrated skin photographs much better
- ›Get a full night's sleep the night before, tired skin shows on camera
Hair
- ›Wash your hair the day before the shoot, not the morning of (freshly washed hair can be harder to style)
- ›If you're getting a haircut or colour touch-up, do it 5 to 7 days before, not the day before
- ›Come with your hair down or in a loose style, avoid tight ponytails or buns as they leave kinks
Nails
- ›Keep nails clean, trimmed, and neat
- ›No polish, we need a completely natural nail so retouching stays simple and your nails don't clash with wardrobe
- ›Don't forget your toenails if open shoes are involved
Makeup and skin marks
- ›Arrive with a completely bare face, no makeup, no foundation, no brows filled in
- ›We have a professional makeup artist on the day who will do this properly for the shoot
- ›Avoid self-tanner unless you already use it regularly and know exactly how it looks on you
- ›Avoid tight bras, socks, or jewellery for a few hours before you travel to the shoot, they leave marks on the skin that take time to fade
General
- ›Avoid alcohol the night before, it shows in puffiness around the eyes
- ›Eat normally and stay hydrated on the day
- ›Wear loose, comfortable clothes to travel to the shoot in, so nothing leaves lines or messes up your hair before we've even started
None of this is about changing who you are. It's about giving the camera, and our team, the cleanest possible canvas to work with.
Nothing on shoot day should be a surprise. You'll never be shooting blind.
The Shoot
This is our job, not yours. RAW Scout will:
- ›Book a professional studio
- ›Put together the full creative team (photographer, hair and makeup artist, stylist)
- ›Shoot three distinct looks, based on the mood board we agreed together
On the day, we'll walk you through the running order so you know what's happening and when. You'll never be shooting blind. Bring a friend or someone you trust with you if that would make you more comfortable, that's always fine.
Retouch & Edit
Once the shoot wraps, the images go into post-production. We'll select the strongest shots from each of the three looks and have them professionally retouched and edited to a portfolio standard.
Your Portfolio
Once editing is complete, this becomes your first official portfolio. You'll receive your own copy of every final image, these are yours to keep and use.
Going to Market
With your portfolio ready, RAW Scout takes it to agencies on your behalf and works to get you signed. We handle the outreach, the follow-ups, and the negotiations, so you can focus on being camera-ready when opportunities come in.
A Few Things Worth Adding
A couple of extra details that make the process smoother and set the right expectations from day one:
Paperwork on the day
You'll be asked to sign a model release form at the shoot, this simply confirms you're happy for the images to be used for your portfolio and for placement purposes. We'll always explain anything before you sign it.
Timeline
Give retouching and editing roughly 1 to 2 weeks after the shoot before your portfolio is ready. We'll keep you updated throughout, you won't be left wondering.
Communication
You'll have a single point of contact at RAW Scout throughout, so if anything comes up before, during, or after the shoot, you know exactly who to speak to.
Costs
As agreed in your contract, there's no upfront cost to you for any of this. We invest in your development and are paid through commission once you're earning, not before.
Rescheduling
Life happens. If you need to move the shoot date, just let us know with as much notice as possible so we can rebook the studio and team.
If anything here is unclear, ask. There's no such thing as a silly question, especially before your first shoot.