What Every Model Should Bring to a Photo Shoot

There is a version of you that shows up to a shoot completely prepared: the right shoes, the right undergarments, fresh skin, and a bag that has the answer to every wardrobe emergency before it happens. And there is a version of you that spends the first hour of a shoot borrowing safety pins and hunting for a lint roller.

The difference between those two versions is a well-packed kit.

Whether you are shooting with a photographer, working a commercial gig, or walking into your first agency test shoot, what you bring with you says something about how seriously you take this. Here is what should be in your bag every single time.

Undergarments

This is the foundation of everything, so get it right. You need options because you never know what wardrobe will require.

At minimum, bring a nude seamless bra, a strapless bra, and adhesive bra cups or stick-ons. Nipple covers are non-negotiable. For bottoms, pack nude and black seamless underwear and a nude thong for anything form-fitting. Shapewear shorts in nude are worth having for fitted dresses or anything where you want a clean line. Compression shorts are smart for outdoor shoots or anything involving movement.

Photo by Vanesa Giaconi on Unsplash

Shoes

Your shoe selection matters more than most models realize, especially on shoots where wardrobe is being pulled from multiple directions.

The core kit: nude heels in a classic pump, black heels, a nude strappy sandal, white sneakers, and a black ballet flat. That covers the vast majority of what you will be asked to wear. Bring heel grips and cushioned insoles. Shoots run long, and blisters are not a look.

Clothing Basics

Even when wardrobe is provided, there are always gaps. Having a few reliable pieces in your bag means you are never the reason a shot gets held up.

Pack a fitted white tee, a fitted black tee, a jewel-tone blouse, a neutral blazer, dark wash jeans, fitted black trousers, and a simple fitted dress. Throw in a light cardigan or wrap for cold studios and time between shots. Everything should fit well and be wrinkle-free when it goes into your bag.

Hair

Come prepared to style your own hair if needed, even if a stylist is on set. Stylists get pulled in multiple directions, and being self-sufficient makes you easy to work with.

Pack bobby pins in your hair color (more than you think you need), hair ties, clear elastics, travel hairspray, dry shampoo, a smoothing brush, a wide-tooth comb, and sectioning clips. A small flat iron or wand takes up minimal space and earns you significant goodwill on set. If you use edge control or smoothing serum, bring it.

Makeup

Your kit does not need to be a professional's kit, but it needs to cover the basics so you can touch up between shots and adjust your look when the brief changes.

Bring your foundation and concealer, setting powder, setting spray, blotting papers, a neutral eyeshadow palette, black and brown liner, mascara, and at minimum two lip options: a nude and a red. Add blush, highlighter, your brushes, and makeup remover wipes for cleanup. Cotton swabs are small and solve a lot of problems.

Skincare and Personal Care

Studio lights are hot and drying. Outdoor shoots are windier and more exhausting than they look. Take care of yourself so your skin takes care of you.

Bring a facial mist for refreshing your skin between shots, a lightweight moisturizer, and eye drops. Deodorant is essential, and unscented is better since fragrance can transfer to wardrobe. Pack a lip balm (apply between shots, remove before camera rolls), mints, a pain reliever, bandages for your heels, and feminine hygiene products. Hand lotion is
great, but apply it well before shooting so it is fully absorbed.

The Wardrobe Emergency Kit

Every working model has a story about the safety pin that saved a shoot. Build your kit before you need it.

This section of your bag should contain safety pins in multiple sizes, double-sided fashion tape, a small lint roller, a wrinkle release spray or travel steamer, a Tide-to-Go pen, and a basic sewing kit with a needle, thread in black and white, and a few spare buttons. These items are small, light, and will make you the most popular person on set at least once in your career.

Professional Essentials

Being a professional is as much about how you show up as it is about how you photograph.

Always have printed or digital copies of your comp card. Bring your phone charger and a portable battery because you will need your phone and it will die at the wrong moment. Carry a water bottle and snacks. Shoots run long, catering is not always provided, and a hungry model is a distracted model. Keep a note with the call time, shoot address, and your point of contact so you are not scrambling through emails in a parking lot.

Use a garment bag for your clothing so everything arrives wrinkle-free and organized. A sturdy rolling bag or oversized tote keeps everything together and signals that you take your kit seriously.

A Few Things Worth Mentioning

Earring backs. Bring extras. You will lose one.

A light robe or wrap for between shots keeps you comfortable and protects your look while you wait. A tinted lip balm is useful for natural or no-makeup looks when you still want a little something on your lips. A small manicure kit for chipped polish is easy to pack and harder to find when you need it.

The Bottom Line

The models who work consistently are the ones who make every shoot easier for everyone around them. That starts before you ever step in front of a camera. A well-packed kit is not about being high-maintenance; it is about being prepared, professional, and easy to work with.

You do not need to build all of this overnight. Start with the undergarments, the emergency kit, and the shoe basics, and add to it as you go. Dedicate a bag to transport your kit and never remove anything from it, just clean items as needed and add to it over time.

Over time you will develop your own version of this list based on the specific shoots you book and the things that have saved you (or that you wished you had).

And if you are just starting out and not sure where to begin, reach out. I am happy to talk through what makes sense for where you are in your career right now.

Photo by Taylor Beach on Unsplash

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman, and Certified Professional Photographer, holding the M.Photog., Cr.Photog., and CPP degrees from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), designations held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism.

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, family, and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Learn more about model headshot and portfolio sessions

What Are Jewel Tones and Why They Look Amazing on Everyone (Especially on Camera)

September 10, 2024

Why White Clothing Isn’t the Best Choice for Portrait Photography

September 24, 2024

Tips to Making a Great Professional Headshot for Men

May 5, 2020

Smiling woman in a suit poses against a gray background.

Headshot Tips for Women

April 28, 2020