Three Essentials Beginner Models Must Know

New model 'Katiegirl' has made herself well aware of the pitfalls associated with forging a career in the field of modeling.

The most frustrations for industry professionals and beginner models alike involve the public perception of modelling and model photography.

Like most beliefs that are essentially wrong, these fallacies develop a life of their own, and permeate through society, until even many models and photographers begin to believe them.

 

Presently modelling is at all time time low in the public eye, perceived as a deviant activity where naive girls are made to flaunt themselves for the entertainment and gratification of dirty old men with pony tails, a giant dose of mid life crisis, a shiny new camera and a battery of long, over sexualised lenses.

 

So if you are a girl who realizes that there are many aspects to modelling to which this horror image is complete nonsense, or that being a model is a very viable career choice, and you are wishing seriously to become a model, these three points should be firmly in your mind.

 

1. Modelling,  developing and maintaining a career is seriously hard work, 

NOT standing in front of a camera and 'doing your model stuff' or  'having a bit of a laugh' as many imply.

If you pose for the local camera club, or that studio down the road, for a couple of hours once a week, dressing up, costumed as a zombie, or a cupcake, or a sugarskull with fairy wings...

you are NOT a 'model', you are NOT in the industry, and you certainly are NOT,  (nor will a career in  modeling ever make you a 'public figure'), and NO-ONE at these types of events will ever 'make you a star'.

 

On the contrary,  if an industry professional ever 'discovers you', or does see model potential in you, valuable time and effort will be needed for you to unlearn all the bad habits, awkward posing techniques, unphotographable makeup gaffs, and totally irrelevant  modelling nonsense which you have learned. The general consensus of photographers I know is unless you have exceptional potential, that it is all too hard, and time consuming to re-teach, so basically it ain't gonna happen.

 

 

2. Hoping for useful portfolio pictures from amateurs, pretenders, and fauxpros, the majority of whom have never actually set eyes on an actual working model's portfolio is hoping beyond hope.

It seems now that every man, woman and dog who has recently bought a 'professional' camera offers 'model portfolio shoots', and it is also very true that almost all of them wouldn't know the requirements of a model's 'book'. (those who call it a 'port' instantly give away their lack of knowledge and fauxpro status).

 

Likewise anyone who chants the mantra of "it will be great for your folio", is equally a waste of time, money and effort, because invariably the resulting pictures,  if you ever see any, will be ANYTHING BUT SUITABLE for a working portfolio.

3. Modelling does not, I repeat DOES NOT, involve getting naked...

Regrettably the requirement of nudity in modelling has become a staple of the public perception of the 'evil arts', and of course nothing could be further from the truth.

 

Any photographer, model or hanger-on who tells you that nudity is required for you to get anywhere as a model is at best naive, but more likely an ill informed amateur, a pretender, a charlatan, or a pervy old wanker.

 

There are three major things to consider here, even if you strongly desire becoming a nude model...

• A. Posing in the buff for amateurs or pretenders will never get you anywhere, except a reputation as the girl who gets her gear off for anyone with a camera.

• B. The actual market for photographs of the nude is so small, and already overfilled that ONLY work from a very small, well established, highly respected, AND HIGHLY SELECT group of photographers and models is ever accepted, with most opportunities being well and truly sown up, and well beyond the dreams and abilities of any neighbourhood snap-shooter.

• C. Contrary to the bleatings of socially challenged amateur snappers, not every girl looks good with her clothes off. Unless your body is equal to or better, than the girls already doing nude modelling, even the girls appearing in those cheap rag-mags, i.e. close to PERFECT without relying on 'fix it in Photoshop', well you simply won't be good enough.

And very important to remember also: everything you do in front of a camera, including nudity, IS YOUR CHOICE!

For more detailed information have a read of my blogs specifically on unreasonable demands for nudity:

https://thedefinitearticlephotographyandvideo.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/nudity-naked-truth-part-one-of-three.html

https://thedefinitearticlephotographyandvideo.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/nudity-naked-truth-part-two.html

https://thedefinitearticlephotographyandvideo.blogspot.com.au/2016/07/nudity-naked-truth-part-three.html

Stephen Bennett is available for Guest Speaking, Seminars, and Workshops in a group or on a one to one basis for:

Models and aspiring models on all things Modelling, including Successful Portfolios and Building a Modelling Career … please visit my website to contact me.

©Copyright: Stephen Bennett, MMXVI

Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including any photographs and files down-loadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.

The Australian Copyright Act allows certain uses of content on the internet without the copyright owner's permission. This includes uses by educational institutions for educational purposes, and by Commonwealth and State government departments for government purposes, provided fair payment is made. For more information, see www.copyright.com.auand www.copyright.org.au.

We may change these terms of use from time to time. Check before re-using any content from this website.

Interesting Links:

Visit my website

Visit my facebook photography page

Model Portfolio Checklist:

A Clear, unmanipulated head shot is at the heart 

of a good portfolio

A model’s portfolio is her most important asset, and should be compiled and constantly updated to present the owner as a competent, wholly professional and very employable commodity - a totally respected member of the model photography community.

Model Portfolios have constantly evolved over the years into a very streamlined and universally accepted formula, and every model, whether female or male, should do their utmost to comply with the well accepted conventions of the standard “book”.

Portfolios today can also exist as files on CD’s or DVD, or as pages on a website, but the traditional printed portfolio contained within a presentation folder is still the most valuable and useful possession a model of any experience level can possess.

It might be useful to note carefully, because seemingly many models, and far too many photographers who claim to provide model portfolio photoshoots, seem to misunderstand this important point: the collections of pictures appearing on Model Facebook pages, or on profiles on model social media sites, such as Modelmayhem, and Starnow, are NOT portfolios in the true sense which Industry Professionals expect. They are in fact simply collections of disparate pictures.

• A good portfolio should be highly focused, presenting the best of the best.
• It should consist of a minimum of eight images, and a maximum of twenty.
• It is not unknown for people in the industry to refuse to look at portfolios of more than 20 pictures.
• It should also provide the viewer with a strong idea of what the model is good at, and the direction she wishes to take in the future.
• It is not a collection of pics to illustrate her past history as a model.

What a Model’s Portfolio Should contain:

Not good photography, but Excellent photography, with excellent lighting, showing superb makeup skills, perfectly exposed and properly processed images, with accurate attention to detail.

Preferably colour images, however if black and white images are included, they should show an excellent tonal range and proper post processing. B and W should not be artsy farstsy crap, which might make the photographer look “creative”, but should first and foremost be about the model.

Colour and B and W versions of the same images should NOT be included.

Having stressed the importance of excellent photographs the whole portfolio is about the model, not the photographer.


Images to include without fail:

A good figure shot is essential

• One professionally shot image of the model’s face without makeup.
• At least one if not several headshots, the full head showing hair and with nothing lopped off by careless cropping out of frame.
• A bust shot, from between the bust and the waist upwards to the top of the head
• A three quarter figure shot, from thigh upwards to the top of the head
• These pics should be frequently updated, as the model, changes or grows older, changes hairstyles, gets teeth straightened, or other evident tweaks.
• Several pictures showing a variety of poses and clothing styles ...from casual to formal, and including beachwear. Bikinis, one piece swimsuits, shorts and blouses, jeans, slacks, dresses, skirts for girls and the equivalent styles for men.

Makeup for all portfolio shoots should be light and designed to enhance rather than disguise, and either professionally or skilfully applied specifically for photography: social or formal evening makeup does not photograph well.

Further pictures should show the type or genre of modeling you wish to concentrate on: for example a fashion model would have images of fashionable clothes complete with suitable accessories, a catalogue or advertising model would be shown presenting or demonstrating products, an aspiring television host would be photographed in a suitable set with broadcast legal clothing colours, etc


As Career Develops:

A model who has been successful enough to get paid work , should where possible include tear sheets from paid jobs she has completed and which have been published. Tear sheets should no longer be torn from magazines or wherever they appear, but high quality photographic copies of the pages should be made for inclusion in your portfolio, and any photographer who provided you with great folio pics, also has the expertise to do these quality copies for you.

If you are lucky, you may also be able to obtain outtake pictures from the campaign shoot to use in your folio, but do not ever expect to be able to use, or even get copies of the actual images used in the campaign, especially before the campaign is entirely completed.

Be aware though that amateur publications, photographs entered or taken as part of competitions
( such as swimsuit, or wet tee shirt comps and similar) are not suitable for use in your portfolio.

Neither are photographs which appear in vanity or exploitation online magazines, due to the very low level of acceptance, the non existent payments to models or any contributors, and the extremely poor overall quality of these “magazines”, they are not recognised by industry professionals as published work.

Remember if it is not PAID work, and it has not been published through normal channels, it is not really worth including in your portfolio. Be guided by photographers and artists when compiling their own portfolios: if it has to be explained it doesn't work.


Should NOT Contain:

• Nudity: Topless, full, or even “implied”
• Lingerie or sheer: although becoming acceptable in some quarters, the majority of industry professionals still frown on this kind of work in a normal working portfolio
• Zombies, sugar skulls, disaster victims or any similar “theme shoot” material where your identity is disguised or obliterated by makeup...your portfolio face should be a “blank canvas” to be considered for its suitability for a job, not a "work of art" advertisement for some “creative” makeup girl.
• Theme shoots may or may not be fun, but they are strictly amateur...consider just how many times in a publication or an advertisement you see a girl dressed as an ice-cream sundae pushing washing powder, or a horribly disfigured zombie as a featured cover girl?
• Any picture which isn’t quite up to the mark, but was included to make up the numbers.( Go out , do another shoot, and get a better picture)
• Bad photography, either or both technically or creatively, and posing which looks posed or forced.
• Photo-shopped images: no images should use photoshop tricks, screens, filters, over-saturation, HDR, or any of the multitude of “artistic”plugins. Photoshop correction should be limited to correcting tonal range, colour, and sharpness, and eliminating distracting background elements: skin blemishes, moles, freckles, operation scars should not be removed and figure altering manipulation is especially taboo.

If your photographer/s isist that any of these are "necessary" or "great for your folio". it is time for you to walk out and find a professioonal photographer who actually knows what s/he is doing, and has actually not only seen , but also photographed model portfolios in the past.

You would be surprised just how many have not!


 ©Copyright: Stephen Bennett, MMXV
Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including any  photographs  and files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.
The Australian Copyright Act allows certain uses of content on the internet without the copyright owner's permission. This includes uses by educational institutions for educational purposes, and by Commonwealth and State government departments for government purposes, provided fair payment is made. For more information, see www.copyright.com.au and www.copyright.org.au.
We may change these terms of use from time to time. Check before re-using any content from this website.
Interesting Links:
My Photography Webpage
Facebook page for Professional Photographers and Models
The Definite Article Photography and Video on Facebook
My Pond 5 Page

10 Ways to Improve your Photography

A wink is as good as a nod.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase your Credibility

  Appear More Professional

 

 

and become trooley awesome!

 

 

 

 

To be taken with a grain of salt, and a dash of vitriol.

NUMBER 1: stop pilfering other people's works for “inspiration”, because they are so awesome, then announcing to all and sundry that you wish to conspire with other equally imaginative creatives to blatantly copy them, or at least make an awesome derivative work from them, while of course clearing yourself of all the blame by adding the useless disclaimer: “No copyright violation intended.”
Far from using these as inspiration to learn from you will simply be compounding the poor technique and mistakes of the 20 or 30 generations of the awesome brain dead copyright violators since the original image was made, to reach the depth of awesomeness that you have found in the bowels of the Internet.

NUMBER 2: look at some good photography and study good photographers.  There are hundreds both from the past and present, and even if all you do is look at the work of Ansel Adams you will still be streets ahead of all the armchair experts who drop the only name they know all over Internet forms.

NUMBER 3: learn about lighting techniques and when and why they are used.  A good starting point for portrait photographers are Beauty, Rembrandt, Butterfly, and  Loop lighting, although there is a technique coming to prominence called “cheap skank ” lighting which in any of its many variations is guaranteed to affect even the most flawlessly attractive model.

NUMBER 4: study just some of the many more useful elements of composition and open your mind far enough to realise that you will not make your image instantly awesome by superimposing an imaginary tick tack toe gird across it.

NUMBER 5: refrain from trying to make that hugely oversized, ugly, designed-it-yourself logo an essential design element of your image.  Better still throw it away completely and use the tried and tested, conventional copyright cut line as a watermark.

NUMBER 6: limit the application of the “Reduce to Mud” Photoshop plug-in to a maximum of three times per image. No don’t Google for it: just learn  how to process properly!

NUMBER 7: search out one or two models whose beauty, personality, charisma, self respect and pride in their appearance actually make it worth taking your lens cap off for, rather than any person you come across in your desperation.  If a model herself is deluded about her ability or her prospects surely it is the photographer’s professional responsibility to tell her she has not presented acceptably or is possibly not even model material.
Be aware that “Snog, Marry, Avoid” is a satire, not a training film about what to look for in a potential model.

NUMBER 8: pay attention to details: garish, inappropriate makeup; ugly,broken or bitten nails; worn or chipped  nail polish; badly fitting clothes; unclean hair; awkward posing; unrelated, badly framed or poorly chosen background; skewed horizons; bony feet in “Minnie Mouse” shoes, etc.

NUMBER 9: show it little professionalism, and a serious approach to your work rather than hoping for the best from a Neanderthal Facebook grunt: “Wanna shoot…make woman look awesome”

NUMBER 10: have some kind of useful concept which some imagination can be applied to, and/or a viable useful purpose for the resulting images in your mind before the shoot.  If the best you can come up with is

a ) my Facebook friends will tell me it is awesome and I could be a professional. 
b) it will be awesome for your folio.
c) it will be awesome exposure.
Then the iconic phrase from the movie “The Castle” springs to mind: “Tell’im he’s dreamin”
d) “possible magazine submission – no pay” is also a notorious laughter maker these days too.

BONUS NUMBER 10: and possibly the best solution for so many: sell all your photo gear and take up stamp collecting, at least you will then be exposed to some well designed, and maybe even some truly awesome images.

What Does your Portfolio Say about You?

All creative artists either have or need a portfolio of some sort, so this post does not only apply to models or photographers.

• Do you have a printed portfolio?
• Do you have a business card, postcards, mailers, brochures,  comp card, example portfolio, folio or show reel on CD or DVD, to anything to leave behind for reference?
• Do you have a website which showcases your work?
• Or does your portfolio only exist on Modelling/photographer sites such as Starnow, or ModelMayhem or any of those similar sites.
• Or, better than nothing (almost), are you one of those Facebook only models, photographers, artists?

It seems that portfolios broadly fall into one of four categories:

1. Full Steam Ahead: those which show of a definite individual style, creative, tightly edited, technically excellent, and highly focused on the artist and future development. The product for sale or hire is you.
2. Steady as She Goes: those which are varied, and confident, but still showing creativity and untapped potential, professional and competent in tackling all assignments made available.
3. At Moorings, in Ballast: the general majority which show a limited range , low to average quality, and exhibit a sameness with so many other portfolios: no challenges attitude, just give me more of the same thankyou.
4. Under Tow to the Breaker’s Yard: those who spring about in all directions, chase trends, follow every piece of poor advice and bad information, worship false gurus, jump at every casting call which promises that “this will be great for your portfolio”

Amongst these broad categories only Category number One shows any understanding of the proper purpose of a portfolio to an artist:
Portfolios are not meant to document the past: they are to represent what you want to achieve in the future.
Family and friends look at a portfolio to feel proud of what has been accomplished: an industry professional looks at a portfolio to ascertain just how well your individuality, personality, creativity,knowledge, ability technique, professionalism and flair will be able to make his future project the best it can be, and to single you out from all the other portfolios he will be looking at in relation to enhancing his own image and reputation.
So take a second look at your portfolio, or when you are assembling your first portfolio, (as the case may be) look objectively at every image you wish to include, not as an artist, not as a photographer, and not as a model but as a prospective client, a future employer of your skills, as a prospective buyer of your services.

1. Does your portfolio tell prospects what you do – the subjects you cover well and how you do it with effective creativity, technique and individual style?
2. Do your visuals have marketability? Are they saleable?
3. Are the images geared to specific markets? Specific clients? Or able to fill an existing or niche need?
4. Is your book well edited and do the images have a relationship to one another?
5. Do the images flow well as the viewer progresses through your portfolio?
6. Does your folio “sell” you, your abilities, your creativity and your individual style?

©Copyright: Stephen Bennett, MMXIV
Except as permitted by the copyright law applicable to you, you may not reproduce or communicate any of the content on this website, including any  photographs  and files downloadable from this website, without the permission of the copyright owner.
The Australian Copyright Act allows certain uses of content on the internet without the copyright owner's permission. This includes uses by educational institutions for educational purposes, and by Commonwealth and State government departments for government purposes, provided fair payment is made. For more information, see www.copyright.com.au and www.copyright.org.au.
We may change these terms of use from time to time. Check before re-using any content from this website.
Interesting Links:
My Photography Webpage
Facebook page for Professional Photographers and Models
The Definite Article Photography and Video on Facebook
My Pond 5 Page
The Definite Article at Publicise Me

What does an Industry professional want to see in a Model´s Portfolio?

In Summary:

The best advice that anyone can give to a beginner model is:
Learn to recognise and appreciate a good photograph.
If only a small percentage of  models actually knew what a good photograph was supposed to look like, there would be a swelling of the ranks of trainspotters and stamp collectors overnight as so called ¨photographers¨ flooded ebay with second hand photo gear, because they wouldn´t be able to get photo-savvy models in front of their cameras.

(This advice could equally apply to many present day picture buyers, magazine editors, and stock picture library curators, and possibly ninety percent of ¨photographers´ could also benefit from knowing what a good photograph looks like as well.)

Monika in red shirt, published several times 

over the years

 in many different markets

Don´t limit your knowledge or research to the internet, or worse still Facebook only, but actively look at magazines, books, brochures, photographic exhibitions, television, advertising, and anything which uses photography and models in the real world.

In other words, research the real world industry, and not just the world of internet modelling, which although it seems very active will not get you very far if you are a determined, ambitious model.

Avoid trapping yourself in the amateur photo club style posing nights, and the meat market ¨theme¨ shoots: these may seem like a very good place to get experience, and an easy ¨ in ¨ to the industry when first starting out: however sadly the truth is that most of the particpants in this scene, including photographers, makeup artists and models, reach a certain level, and never advance any further ...even a cursory glance at the multitude of theme night photos on the internet will reveal a sameness of models, posing (or lack thereof), lighting, background and technique, and an overall low level of expertise and inspiration.

• And if you don´t believe me ask one of the many models who have come away disheartend from applying to real world model agencies, after being told that they do not want to see certain types of photos ( including many who REFUSE [the agents´ words] to look at anything to do with THEME SHOOTS),

• and possibly the most common comment these days according to agents I have spoken to :¨we can´t really tell if the model has any potential or not because the photos are ABSOLUTE GARBAGE! [again the words of agents...not mine]

Traditionally there was always one severe bar to real world modelling: if a girl had done ¨adult¨ work, of even the most mild kind, she would never be taken seriously as a model.

However now as the interent modelling phenomena and real world modelling increasingly diverge, a second barrier has become more evident.

Therefore if you are serious about modelling, even if you are just beginning on what can be a very varied and exciting career path,

• seek the advice of, and hang out with professionals involved in the industry, and work with like minded individuals: and do your utmost to avoid amateurs, fringe-dwellers, wannabes, pimps and svengalis...and beware: give a wide berth to the photographer who claims that his wonderful concept will be ¨great for your folio.¨

In other words:  Appear professional from day one!
Be serious, dedicated and enthusiastic about your modelling and where you want it to take you: but above all if you want to succeed be genuine

What does an Industry professional want to see in a Model´s Portfolio?

Part Five:

How do I go about getting good pictures for my folio?

There are several avenues available to a would be model to get photos for her folio...called a "book" in professional circles, and a "port" by the general run of internet wannabes.

Some avenues will provide good portfolio standard pics...others will be a complete waste of time and energy, and the worst will be a complete waste of money.

• Go to a legitimate agent - (really you only have a choice of about ten or so here in Australia) - they will most likely recommend suitable photographers.

• Go to an ¨agency¨ : they will probably insist that you go to their own in house, or highly recommended ¨Internationally Famous, Award Winning Photographer¨ and cost you anything from $500 to $3000

• Go to one of the glamour portrait studios (Starshots is the kind of thing I'm talking about). Cost anything up to $5000, and you will get pictures totally unsuitable for a folio, simply because they are designed specifically for the lady who wants a feel-good pampering, a boost to her ego, or an intimate glamour portrait for her husband, boyfriend or lover (existing or potential): a different purpose entirely to a portfolio.

• Go to an amateur photographer, friend with a camera,or the guy down the street with a studio in his garage ; no need for me to comment further.

• Go to a commercial ¨social" photographer- you will get varying quality, some tenuously suitable for a portfolio, but the majority will be really portraiture rather than showing you off as a potential model.

• Volunteer to pose for a camera club model night, or a meat market ¨theme" shoot,: you may or may not get pictures from it, but those which you do get will be all about what the photographer thinks a model should be, and the ¨skills¨ of the makeup artist : not about you as a potential model: pics will vary in quality from average to abysmal,  and unfortunately, especially with theme shoots, will be almost identical to hundreds of other theme shoots from around the country.

• Go to a professional photographer skilled and knowledgable in shooting model/actor portfolios. Cost will be about $300 to $500, but you and your photographer will be dedicated to getting pics which will showcase you and your potential as a model, and nothing else.

A pic specifically taken for a portfolio by a practising portfolio photographer, but just different enough to grab attention

Remember, that all photographs accompanying this blog are Copyright (All Rights Reserved) and may not be used for any purpose whatsoever without written permission from the photographer.

NB: It has long been a tradition that professional photographers will work on a TF* basis with a beginner model who shows better than average potential.
However most, these days, are wary of such arrangements for a variety of reasons :

•  Internet experts have decided that models have a natural born right to free photos.

•  the concept of TF* has been distorted and corrupted to such a degree by the concept of ¨internet modelling¨, that very few newcomers actually know what TF* actually means any more.

•  girls use the term ¨model¨ loosely to get free pictures to impress their Facebook friends, with no intention of becoming models.

No legitimate photographer has a problem if a girl decides during or after her first shoot that modelling is not for her...after all that is a prime reason for a first folio shoot...but if a photographer is used by a time wasting wannabe,  it is a completely different matter: and professional photogaphers do talk amongst themselves.

( I myself have been almost ´burned´ twice in recent months; a girl wanted foliopics ...I think she was quite relieved that the pictures she was under orders from your boyfriend to do, although a valid branch of the industry, would never be done during a legitimate folio shoot..
The other girl was simply testing whether her ¨posing techniques´ would still have an effect after a few years away from the dating game, but why she picked a jaded, useless old git like me to try out her ´charms´ is beyond me.)

So if you are a model who would benefit from a TF* folio shoot, make certain that you impress your chosen photographer with genuine enthusiasm, dedication, and at least the promise of ability.

Also keep in mind if setting up a folio shoot is too easy, too cheap, or too expensive , especially if ¨photographers¨ are leaping at the chance to get a totally unknown and inexperienced girl in front of their camera) the results from the shoot will probably be of little or no use to you in the long run


https://www.facebook.com/groups/645731338825617/
https://www.facebook.com/thedefinitearticlephotography
http://publicize.me/definitearts
https://www.pond5.com/artist/definitearts

What does an Industry professional want to see in a Model´s Portfolio?

Part Four:

What will have them immediately look elsewhere!

Below is a short list of the things ¨models´ do either unwittingly, or under the (mis)guidance of others, which will immediately lose them work, gain them the wrong type of reputation, or even get them blacklisted by reputable photographers and work providers.

• The most revealing fact that you can state on an internet modelling site is that you are ¨registered with Brutus and Desire@ripofftalentagency and pizzaria.com. This will speak volumes about your knowledge or lack thereof, of the modelling industy.

Industry Professionals know ALL of the agencies operating at any given time, the reputable, the OK ones, and the downright shonky, and if they need an agency represented model for any of their projects, they will book one through one of the 10 or so reputable Australian agencies with which the entire industry deals.

They will not book a model from an internet modelling site, only to have to deal with ¨agency¨ demands later on in the workflow.

• Just as revealing is the sentence in an email ¨I am with shonky.com, but they allow me to find my own work¨ (!?!)

As the sole reason for existence of a legitimate modelling agency is to find their clients work, surely a model would query the idea that after a long wait through months of silence from their ¨agency¨, they are told ¨but we allow you to find your own work¨: and then of course the agency hand goes out for the commission.

Other things which can be only an annoyance to many, are an anathema to most, such as:

• An answer from a model which arrives two weeks or more after the inital contact. Believe me you will be forgotten if no answer arrives within a day or two at the most. So check your account everyday if you are really serious about modelling.

• An email exchange which continues until everything is arranged: time and day are set, location chosen, costumes sorted, and then goes mysteriously dead.  Although you may still be able to play at being a model with many of the internet amateurs, your career as a serious model has just gone mysteriously dead as well

• A model who turns up late, or not at all (with no notice of course), or cancells at the last moment, or even tries to constantly rearrange the date, will be regarded as nothing but a time waster, or to use the current lingo ¨a flake¨.

• A model who turns up, inappropriately dressed, or with the wrong clothes, or clothes she decided would be more suitable.

• Allied with this is the model who turns up poorly made up, with ugly chipped nails, or worn nail polish, dried out skin or hangover eyes, unwashed hair, and/or a  totally unprofessional attitude will soon be shown the door because a shoot requiring extensive photoshopping after the event is not a worthwhile shoot.

• And then there is the model who arrives with an unagreed and unannounced boyfriend, manager, minder, pimp, etc or entourage of dogsbodies...how many girls would attempt to take the same entourage to their job behind the counter at Maccas?

And lastly the dead giveaway of a model who is on a internet site for anything other than actual modelling:

• A model who´s folio page is obviously written by someone other than herself, and communication which is obviously answered by someone other than herself, or someone who is ¨looking out for her welfare¨

 Remember, that all photographs accompanying this blog are Copyright (All Rights Reserved) and may not be used for any purpose whatsoever without written permission from the photographer. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/645731338825617/
https://www.facebook.com/thedefinitearticlephotography
http://publicize.me/definitearts
https://www.pond5.com/artist/definitearts

What does an Industry professional want to see in a Model´s Portfolio?

Part Three:

What Industry professionals DO NOT want to see!

Selfies... and distorted phone pics.

Faces obscured with ¨creative¨ zombie or theme shoot style makeup

Nudes, not even topless. ( only exception is if you specialise in nudes to the exclusion of everything else...and really the internet modelling sites are not the way to get established as a professional art or glamour nude)

Heaps of almost identical pics of over made up, over photoshopped, badly lit, and obviously amateur efforts identical to everyone else on the site.

Huge and ugly watermarks on your photos placed there by photographers who want to use your portfolio to advertise themselves.

Your portfolio should be to showcase YOU and nothing else. ...if your photographer doesn´t treat you as the subject, and the sole reason for a folio shoot, simply get another photographer who understands what a model´s folio is all about.

A Model who also claims to be a MUA, stylist, stage crew, actor, full time mum, nuclear physicist, rousabout, photographer, ...Oh and I forgot has a full time job as well.

A good clear figure pic suitable for a folio

 Remember, that all photographs accompanying this blog are Copyright (All Rights Reserved) and may not be used for any purpose whatsoever without written permission from the photographer.

What to avoid like the plaque!

One self description which will send fear into even the most hardened professional photographer:  Model/Photographer

The words: ¨No experience´ next to ´Professional Model- paid work only.¨

Great long lists of everytime you have ever appeared in the same room as a camera, since the maternity ward you were born in .



https://www.facebook.com/groups/645731338825617/
https://www.facebook.com/thedefinitearticlephotography
http://publicize.me/definitearts
https://www.pond5.com/artist/definitearts

What does an Industry professional want to see in a Model´s Portfolio?

Part Two:

What Industry Professionals are looking for!

A pleasant personality evident from the model´s words as well as her photos.

Between three and twelve photos maximum. No one will bother wading through more than that to get to other relevant information.

The three essential shots are :   
One good clear face shot with minimum makeup, and a pleasant, not outstanding , expression.

                    
One good clear three quarter or full length photo of your figure in either swimsuit, or figure hugging tights and top.
                      
One good clear photo of you wearing fashionable, relaltively conservative clothing: like the perennial little black dress, Tshirt and jeans or similar.

The rest of the twelve pictures are made of a variety of different styles of clothing, casual, formal, etc.

If you have actually done some professional work* they want evidence of this, such as photos from the shoot, or tearsheets from the finished work ( eg a scan from a magazine page or advert)

*professional work can be either commissioned or spec work, tfp or paid, done with a professional photographer with the aim of being published...it does not include amateur camera club shoots, ¨workshops¨, theme nights, or amateur ¨glamour¨ shoots


Remember, that all photographs accompanying this blog are Copyright (All Rights Reserved) and may not be used for any purpose whatsoever without written permission from the photographer. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/645731338825617/
https://www.facebook.com/thedefinitearticlephotography
http://publicize.me/definitearts
https://www.pond5.com/artist/definitearts

*What does an Industry professional want to see in a Model´s Portfolio?

The biggest complaints I hear from models are :

Nobody ever contacts me on internet modelling site_of your_choice.com.
I get lots of enquiries from idiots, perverts, amateurs etc...

I do a shoot which promises everything, but never get any pictures or ever hear from the guy again.
I get booked for shoots and then f***ed around with venue, time, day changes, ignored for two hours and then treated like nobody when I arrive (very common with Music video clip shoots)
I get promised great shots of myself for my folio, and then get muddy, badly composed, over photoshopped things in which I am hardly recognisable and hidden behind a huge ugly photographer´s watermark. (the watermark is ugly, and Iĺl keep my comments about the photographer to myself)

Don´t despair: simply be aware that internet modelling sites are specifically designed for amateurs and wannabes from both sides of the camera.
However some industry professionals do seek new models and sometimes established ones from these sites.
But also be aware that they are looking for very specific things in an online portfolio ; these are the very same things they look for and have always looked for in printed folios ever since photographic modelling began., but unfortunately they are the very things they rarely see.
Knowing what they are looking for is the first part of gaining a real advantage: the second part and the hardest to achieve is supplying what they are looking for , and appearing to be the odd one out in a vast sea of misinformation and photographic crap.

The next post in theis series will discuss more fully exactly what type of shots need to be in a model´s  portfolio



Remember, that all photographs accompanying this blog are Copyright (All Rights Reserved) and may not be used for any purpose whatsoever without written permission from the photographer. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/645731338825617/
https://www.facebook.com/thedefinitearticlephotography
http://publicize.me/definitearts
https://www.pond5.com/artist/definitearts