Preparing your first casting photos
Your first casting photos are three simple shots: a clear headshot, a waist-up, and a full-length, taken in daylight against a plain wall with no filters and no professional styling. A phone camera held steady, or set on a shelf with a self-timer, is enough. Scouts are reading your face, proportions and how you carry yourself — not the quality of the photography — so honest and plain beats polished every time.
The three photos to take
Keep it to three. A headshot: face to camera, neutral expression, hair away from your face. A waist-up: same angle, showing your shoulders and posture. A full-length: standing straight, arms relaxed at your sides, feet visible. Shoot in landscape or portrait, but keep the same framing across all three so the set reads as one person on one day. Meridia's application form asks for exactly this — nothing staged, nothing paid for.
Light, background and clothing
Use daylight: stand facing a window, or step outside into open shade so the light is even and there are no hard shadows across your face. Pick the plainest wall you can find. Wear simple, well-fitting clothes in plain colours — a fitted top and jeans work — so your shape is visible. Keep make-up minimal or none, and skip jewellery, hats and sunglasses. The goal is that a scout sees you, not a look.
Common mistakes to avoid
Filters and heavy editing
Smoothing, reshaping and colour filters all work against you here. A scout needs to see your real skin, face and proportions. Send the photo as the camera took it.
Group shots and old photos
No holiday pictures, no photos with friends cropped out, nothing from two years ago. Take the set fresh, on your own, in the last few weeks.
Paying for a shoot to apply
You never need a paid photographer or a portfolio to apply. If an agency says you do before they have met you, read what a legitimate open casting looks like.
What happens after you send them
At Meridia, every application is reviewed by the scouting team. If your photos and details fit, you are invited to a short meeting — in person on one of the 2026 tour dates, or remotely when travel is not possible — for digitals and a conversation. There is no fee at any stage, and no purchase in between. The full eligibility and rules are on the contest page, and Meridia's legal entity and terms are on the about page.
Questions people ask
Do I need a professional photographer?
No. A phone camera in daylight is what casting teams expect for a first application. A professional shoot comes later, if an agency signs you — and it is arranged by them.
Should I edit or filter my photos?
No. Crop them if you need to, but do not smooth, reshape or filter. Edited photos make it harder for a scout to assess you and can cost you the meeting.
How recent do the photos need to be?
Recent — taken in the last few weeks. They should look like you today, including your current hair. New to all of this? Start with how to become a model in Europe.
See the full contest rules or check the 2026 tour dates in your city.