Catalogue modeling in modeling: meaning, example and tips

How it works

In catalogue work the garment is the point, not the model's personality. The customer has to see the cut, the fabric, the length and how the item looks on a person, so poses are simple, light is even and the expression friendly.

It is one of the steadiest sources of a model's income. Many models work in catalogues for years, because clients like consistent faces that suit their customers.

A catalogue day is intense: dozens of looks are shot in a few hours. The key skills are speed, precision and repeating the same pose without fatigue showing on your face.

In practice

On a catalogue shoot 30 looks are photographed in a day. For each the model has 3–4 poses: straight on, a slight turn, hand in pocket, a step. The photographer asks him to repeat the same pose with every garment so the catalogue looks consistent. The day finishes on time because he works fast and precisely.

What to watch for

Learn a few clear poses that show the garment.
Wear seamless nude underwear.
Ask where the pictures will be used: catalogue, store, online.

Related terms

Types of work and modelsE-commerce modelingE-commerce modeling means product pictures for an online store: the garment on a model against a plain background, from the front, side and back.Portfolio and materialsLookbookA lookbook is a set of pictures of a brand's collection, with each look shown on a model, for buyers, press and customers.Types of work and modelsCommercial modelA commercial model advertises products and services to a broad audience: in adverts, catalogues, packaging and on social media.Money and rightsDay rateThe day rate is what the client pays for a model's working day, usually eight hours; the half-day rate covers four.Requirements and looksPosingPosing is the ability to create a frame with body position, movement and gaze: showing the garment, conveying a mood and offering a new variation every few seconds.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

01Is catalogue work good for a portfolio?

Good catalogue frames suit a commercial portfolio, but they are not usually the core of a fashion book.

02How does catalogue differ from e-commerce?

Both sell products; e-commerce frames are even simpler, often on white and from several sides.

Catalogue modeling