Television:
so you want to be a model...
If you have some more questions about modeling that I haven't answered here, please send me a message and I will see what I can do for you. recently I have branched out into model development & model portfolio pictures. I enjoy helping aspiring models with little or no experience develop their portfolio's. I get so many e-mails everyday asking me how to get started with modeling, I decided to put some basic information right here on my profile page for all to see.
You can see more of my pictures at: www.matthewcyphert.com
MODELING RULE No. 1 For safety reasons, always take someone with you to your photo shoots!!!
1.) Decide what type of modeling you want to do, there are many great opportunities in modeling available like (print, runway, swimwear, fashion, catalog, promo). Many models also find once they are comfortable in front of the camera, that acting my be another option for them.
2.) Put together a professional portfolio with photos done by SEVERAL different photographers. Each photographer has his/her own style which will give you variety in your first portfolio. You can pay lots of money to get photos done in a studio, or you might find a local photography club in your area that would do them for you. Many photographers just getting started need models to practice with. Once again check the photographers references out before shooting and always bring a friend to the shoot.
3.) Most of the good paying jobs, like for all the department store ad's you receive every day in the mail, are only available through an agent and/or agency. There are many types of agencies specializing in different types of work. Check out the agencies vary carefully, get a client list from them to see if they will be a good match for you. Good photographers typically work with the best agencies, and will hear of good paying jobs and pass the info onto their models they work with (networking).
4.) Another very important thing to remember, ALWAYS be on TIME and PREPARED for your shoot and ALWAYS keep your appointment with the photographer you are scheduled to shoot with, even if you are shooting TFCD or TFP and not getting paid. The reason I even mention this is models & photographers ALWAYS talk with each other and about each other (aka networking).
If a model flakes out and doesnt show up for his/her shoot, it will become more difficult for that model to shoot with other good photographers because us photogs WILL NOT schedule a NO SHOW model, its a waste of our time & money. For TFCD shoots, the photographer will be shooting a model at his own expense (time away from work, travel, location, props, permits etc..) this can run anywhere from a $10 to $1,000s of dollars depending on the shoot. Check out the photographers references and list of published work, your TFCD shoot maybe YOUR AUDITION for an up coming project that the photographer has you in mind for!!!
5.) Start networking, this industry is built on it. There are many good FREE modeling & photographer websites where you can post your GOOD photos (no cellphone or webcam photos), too help get you noticed by your peers in the industry. After posting your photos to the many modeling sites, you will start getting photographer photo shoot offers (TFCD) time for photo CD or (TFP) time for prints. Shooting for free in the beginning isnt always a bad thing, most likely you will need more photos and the photographer can always use the practice. Check the photographer out, check with the models he/she has shot with. Don't be in a hurry to take every offer that comes your way, especially if the photographers style isn't what you are looking for at that time. Warning, be very careful with photographers wanting to shoot FHM or Maxim style photos, you will have little or no clothes on, and your photos may end up all over the internet without your permission. This is one of the biggest scams that models fall for, millions of FHM & Maxim style photos are taken each year with no guaranty that either magazine will ever see them. If the photographer has you sign a model release form, read it very careful, most likely you are signing away your rights and control of your photos, and the photographer may end up selling them to many internet websites.
6.) After deciding what type of modeling you would like to do, you need to start practicing your poses in the mirror at home when nobody's watching. Visit many of the modeling websites like Onemodelplace (OMP), Modelmayhem, UjenaTalent, Freelancemodels and others to see examples of the types of poses you need to master. Believe it or not many of the standard swimwear poses are also used in fashion and other types of modeling. Of course there are many books you can get on posing as well as different modeling schools you can attend to learn to pose. Once in a while you will get a photographer that has little patients for amateur models that dont know how to pose. So its always good to get plenty of practice posing before attempting your first photo shoot. Shooting TFCD is an excellent way of getting the posing practice you will need to be successful in the business. Many good photographers are also excellent directors, and will be able to help you master some of the basics. For some models, staring down the lenses of a camera can also be kind of intimidating for the first few times. It might take a several shoots before you start feeling truly comfortable at a photo shoot.
A good portfolio book $50, 8 x 10 prints $72. Finding a couple good photographers to shoot for free PRICELESS, for everything else there is MasterCard :-)
If you are a aspiring local seattle and surrounding area model, and need some help getting started with your modeling career, please send me an e-mail with your questions. Since I do not have a studio to shoot in, all my shoots are on location (aka outside in the cold) in the seattle area. I do travel to different locations to do some of my shoots once in a while. If youre a model/actor needing to update your portfolio, just send me an e-mail with the types of photos you need.
