sports illustrated: Go & See

Go-sees play a fundamental role in a model's day-to-day existence and usually involves trudging from one end of town to the other chasing appointments. Upon arrival at the client's designated address, the model switches from her comfortable flats to heels and walks the length of the room, stopping, turning, and walking back. The client or casting agent then takes a a series of polaroids usually a front and side profile shot, and the go-see is over in a matter of minutes. It may seem like an uncomplicated, seamless process however, imagine trying to make a lasting impression within the space of three minutes whilst being scrutinised from head to toe amongst an endless stream of model hopefuls.

Ezra Petronio the editor-in-chief and creative director of Self Service Magazine has mastered the art of capturing a model at her best within a simple polaroid shot. The beauty of a polaroid is that there are no props, styling, and visual wizardry to distract from the model's face. In essence, the focus is entirely on the model, her face, skin tone and presence. Either the goods are there, or they ain't. The following series of go-see polaroids taken by Petronio of some of modelling's biggest names and emerging new faces illustrate best how to impress.