A Photographers Advice to Aspiring Models Part 1

First of all, the advice I am giving you on how to become a model is only one photographer’s opinion, but my opinion that has served me well in the past 22 years being involved with the launch of many successful modeling careers. Ask questions and learn from successful people around you, but don’t necessarily believe everything that you hear. Some advice might have an agenda, and might not really serve your best interests in getting started in a career as a fashion model. Different models will have different experiences. Learn to sift through all the rubbish you will hear. Formulate your own plan and agenda. Be aware that there is an entire modeling industry that is built around trying to make cash from your hopes and dreams of becoming a model. These are those who make my job difficult and hurt the reputation of the modeling business. Tread gently and carefully and keep your eyes and ears open. Hopefully I’ll be able to shed some light on the trip you are about to begin. If you know a model or have access to a friend with modeling connections, talk with them. Find models, agents and photographers that have been in the industry for some time. They will all have moved through their modeling careers through a variety of routes, and they will all have as many horror stories as success stories to tell you. They will have lots of advice – some of it will be relevant and some of it will be personal as it applied to them in their careers. So once again I advise you to listen, digest and then make up your own mind. Everyone tells me that I will need to start with great photographs If you are going to go and see an agent, photographer or talent scout, while you may blow them away and make a great first impression, the minute you walk out of their door, another stunning model is going to walk in and you will soon be forgotten. Having a great photo, or comp card to leave behind is the best way to make sure you are remembered after you leave. And this is why it all starts with good photography. How can I find a photographer to shoot my first modeling photos? As a photographer myself I am constantly approached by models wanting to get photos for their comp cards or portfolios. I also get referral work from modeling agencies that feel that a prospective model might do better with some professional shots in her book. When approaching a photographer make sure that his style of photography works with what you want to portray. If you are set on high fashion work, then don’t go to a glamour photographer – go to a fashion photographer. But if you don’t fit the height requirements of a fashion model then you should consider that glamour modeling is possibly what you should be chasing and find a photographer with work suited in the field of glamour and print photography. Always ask to see the photographers work. These days this can easily be viewed on the photographer’s website. Do you like his style of photography? Does he appear to be reputable and is he a published photographer with clients whose names you recognize? What makes a good photographer? Obviously this is an open-ended question with thousands of permutations. But I would recommend that you find a published photographer – that is a photographer whose work is currently appearing in magazines and commercials that you would like to be published in. Professional photographers will always welcome you bringing a chaperone or a friend on your shoots or go-sees. Beware the photographer who insists you come on your own! Why should I use a published photographer? Being published means that the photographer is creating photographic work of a sufficiently high standard and quality that magazines and clients are paying him to use his work. There are thousands of photographers who have never had any images published anywhere and using them to do your modeling portfolio might not have the desired effect you were looking for. And most importantly, published photographers are in the loop with magazine editors, clients, make up artists, hair stylists, fashion coordinators, and more especially they have access to professional talent and modeling agents. With this network, published photographers are very quickly able to recognize if you have that something special and often refer you to an agent that can accelerate your modeling career. A professional photographer whose work is published regularly can give your modeling career a significant head start. They might not be the cheapest, but in the long run, a published photographer will save you a lot of time and money, and will often help you start earning money much faster than a non-published photographer. When I have certain jobs that a highly experienced model isn’t required I often will call models I have test photographed. This affords them “tear sheets” thus shortcutting the book building process. Remember, just like the published photographer has more value, so does the published model. What is a TFP or TFCD? TFP is and acronym for Trade for prints. In this exchange a model trades her modeling time in exchange for the photographers shooting time and receives prints as a payment. TFCD is an acronym for Trade for CD (as in compact disc) whereby the photographer supplies the images to the model on a CD. Generally TFP's and TFCD's are ways for inexperienced and amateur models and photographers to both acquire images for their respective portfolios without spending much in the process. But if you are trying to break into the modeling world and proceed with a modeling career, then it stands to reason that you want a published professional photographer who knows what he is doing to take your model portfolio photos. Getting an amateur to shoot your photos is a sure fire way to ensure that your career remains amateurish and flames out before it has started. Experienced professional photographers generally do not need your photos for their book. But you definitely need their talent, expertise and experience to produce exceptional photos for your book. And for this you should expect to pay their professional photography fees / rates. I know many models who in the process of “saving money” continue to dwindle their time and confidence while shooting TFP repeatedly and really getting no usable images for their portfolios or websites. Always remember that ultimately, one great shot can be the difference between a successful career and a failed career. Never go for quantity - always choose quality. What is a Model Portfolio and what photos should I put in my Model Portfolio? A modeling portfolio is a book that you can carry around with you that contains your modeling photos. Make sure that you only put your very best photos in your model portfolio. Your portfolio is only as good as your weakest shot. If you only have 5 strong shots then only put five photos in your portfolio. Remember – always quality over quantity and always leave them wanting for more. Decide what kind of modeling you want to do – high fashion, glamour, fitness, health, lifestyle, etc. And then put images that show you in those kind of settings. Develop a great portfolio – always make a great first impression. Choose a durable classy looking binder. Mix your images – follow a good headshot (portrait) with a good full body shot. Don’t put similar shots in your portfolio, for instance two shots of the same look. Choose one, and discard the other. Mix black-and-white with color shots. As you get better photos replace your older photos with newer ones. Never just add photos. Always keep your book limited to your best images. Always select images that reflect the type of modeling you want to do. Keep it classy and keep them wanting for more! What is a Comp Card? A Comp Card is a card with one or more pictures on it, with your name, contact information and vital statistics: Height, weight, hair and eye color, bust, waist, hips and dress size. It’s called a comp card because it normally comprises several images in a composition (composite). Very often your compcard will have a headshot on the front and several different looks on the back. You can have a one-side or two-sided comp card. The size of the comp card can vary but is typically in the 5x7" range. Comp cards are designed to be printed in mass so that you can leave them with every agent, talent scout, and photographer you meet, so that they have something permanent to remember you by and also your contact information to get hold of you in the future when they need you to come and get your first paid modeling gig!