If you're an aspiring fashion designer, stylist, photographer, or model, a professional lookbook will capture the range of your talents through bold and memorable imagery. From choosing the right photos to hiring the best printing services, there are a number of components to designing a powerful fashion lookbook. Here’s what you need to know. 

The Benefits

A lookbook is a collection of photographs that spotlights your best work. It offers compelling visual evidence of your skills and can be used to demonstrate the depth and diversity of your abilities. When meeting with potential clients or attending events where important customers or business contacts are in attendance, a lookbook serves as an easy and portable marketing tool. It will also help you establish a brand, since you can display all of your products or services. A lookbook shows that you are invested in building your business and already have a track record of growing and thriving.

The Design Features

When putting together a lookbook, quality images should be a priority. Focus on sharp visuals that tell a story; you don’t need anything complicated—it may just be a series of images united by a common theme, such as a season or color. Images with simple backgrounds will better highlight the clothing, style, or model featured in the photograph.

When choosing photos, cater to your target audience. If you design active-wear, for instance, include natural-looking images of models wearing your clothing during workouts or sporting events. If you are a wedding stylist, the bulk of your imagery should be of brides, grooms, and wedding parties. If you are a print model, the lookbook should be a collection of your best poses and looks.

The printing service provider you select is equally vital to the success of the lookbook. The company should be comfortable working with high-quality images. Select photos that are at a resolution of 300 dpi to ensure the clearest and most striking portfolio. Also, hire a printing service that can give you a professional, finished product, such as a traditional book, spiralbound book, or, for smaller portfolios, a stapled booklet.

Bestype Imaging in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood will help you design the perfect lookbook. Serving New York City, they offer a variety of printing services, including books and booklets, business cards, brochures, and large format printing. They also offer rush printing for last-minute or time-sensitive orders. Call (212) 966-6886 to start planning your lookbook today. Visit them online to learn more about the company.