...a young lady who wants to get into modeling... The very first question is: What kind of modelling are they wanting to do?
On balance if someone has NOT modelled before they do NOT need and are NOT expected to have a "portfolio." Agencies really prefer only a couple of (literally) snapshots to be submitted. In fact, most agencies want to see the model initially in photos with rather a unflattering look - hair pulled back (so they can see the facila structure) and virtually NO make-up (so they can see teh real condition of the skin and complection). A good head shot and a good 3/4 or full length wearing clothes that show the overall figure is all that is required.
A model's portfolio, in fact, is the work of many photographers over a longish time and includes tear sheets of published images. It is not created out of thin air.
On the other hand, there is also what is called a model's "book" which though similar to a portfolio contains only a set of images (typically not more then 10 8x10 / 10x12) of the (prospective) model. Often a time and money waster as far as agencies are concerned. Once they see the model... and IF they take them on... they will have the model tested with several other photographers to get the "real" portfolio pictures.
That said, if your wannabe model still wants to have some pictures done they should be in the style of modelling they plan to do - fashion, commercial / editorial, glamour, ect. For fashion magazines should give you soime idea of the style; for commercial see the typical advertising images in catalogs; for glamour the iamges would require at minimum swimsuit, topless or even nudes. The images definately need to be tailored to the market the model wants to work in.
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