ModelPages Articles

Model Advice - Should I Model?

What do you need for your Christmas Party? Crackers...Christmas hats...we have loads of Fancy Dress adult items in stock and at great prices.

Question:
Everyone tells me that I am pretty and that I should model. Where do I start?

If you already have photos, than start right here! Post your portfolio for free and wait for a response from professional photographers. If you don't have pictures, there are two ways to start:

You can visit official modeling agencies on their open call times (or call in for an appointment.) www.modelpages.tv has a great list of acceptable agencies.

When you come into the model agency, make sure to be clean-faced (little or no makeup.) Skin is very important for a model, and the agent wants to make sure that yours is marketable. Wear form-fitting simple clothes (nothing too outrageous or funky.) The agent has to be able to see your body, without bright patterns or strange clothes distracting the view. Simple well-fitted jeans, a T-shirt (visit www.steadybliss.com - merchandise section for great fitting shirts) and a pair of high heels (for women) is a good look for an open call. Make sure your hair is clean and is not covering your face.

The agent will take some polaroids of your face and body and refer you to a good photographer to create a portfolio with.

If you'd rather void the agency route, you can start is on your own.
Look at fashion magazines you like and pull out the photos that appeal to you.

Pay attention to the models' makeup, clothing and poses. Create a mental picture of what you'd like your future portfolio to look like.

Would you want to have casual photographs of you playing tennis, cooking,

talking on the phone? These photos can be very useful for the future print ad jobs. Would you rather have Vogue-like fashion pictures of yourself? These can lead to a career of magazines and catalogues. Would you prefer photographs of yourself in lingerie and swimwear? These can lead to more body-based assignments. Look in the mirror and give yourself an honest evaluation. See which assignments are best suited for you. Do you have a girl or guy next door look? Are you tall and slim? Are you curvaceous?

Plus size? Extremely muscular and fit? These are the questions to ask
yourself before your first photo session.

Decide what you want and go for it. In modeling, like in everything else, it helps to set your goals early. If you don't know the market you'd like to focus on just yet, it's not a problem. You are going to decide later, and you learn more about the business.

Don't expect to get all your photos for a portfolio in a single test shoot. You'd need different type of looks and probably three-four photographers to shoot with, before you can start getting quality paid assignments.

I'll talk more about choosing a photographer in the future, but here are the basics:

Make sure you love his work.
Check his model references.
Meet with him or her before the shoot to discuss shoot specifics.
Ask if you can have a chaperone present.
Ask if there going to be a makeup artist and a hair stylist.
What about the payment? If you are just starting out, you might need to
pay to get great photos. Sometimes it's worth it, but the only way to know is to see that photographers' work.

Once the shoot is done, pick the best photos (usually three to six will
do.) Don't pick more than one-two photos with the same look. Nobody except for your Mom would want to see seven pictures of you in the same pink dress on the same white background. Nor would this indicate your professionalism.

Choose wisely and ask your photographer for help. Put your portfolio
together. Post it at http://www.modelpages.tv/comparisons.asp and wait for a response.
Create a professional-looking website. Visit your local modeling agencies (as I mentioned before, you don't need
professional photos to do it, but if done right, the photos don't hurt.)

Good luck!

About the writer:

Anastasia is an international model, whose photos appeared in Glamour, Marie Claire, Stuff and Maxim magazines, among other places. She has worked with Prada in Milan and Vera Wang in New York, she walked the runways in Milan and posed for catalogues in Tokyo. Anastasia is also a freelance writer and wrote soon-to-be published book about the modeling business. If you are interested in publishing this internationally syndicated column, contact the writer at anastasia_d_@hotmail.com

Submit your article for posting consideration today!

ModelPages Articles

Model Advice - Should I Model?

Other Suggested Links: