Models, Bring Something to the Table

One of the things I notice the most is the models are waiting for inspiration from the photographers. Most of the models don’t do anything unless there is a casting call for a shoot. It’s the photographer that has to come up with the idea and then find a way to draw you into the project.

Why not start the ball rolling and create your own photo shoot. If you’re a member of model mayhem, you can post a casting call there or here and find photographers MUA’s & hair stylists ready to come on board if the idea is right.

Here’s how to put together a photo shoot casting call.

1. Be specific to the idea. Don’t just say you want to update your portfolio. Tell us what theme or genre you want to shoot and what wardrobe you want to bring.
2. Use photos to illustrate your idea.
3. Look at photo examples out there of your theme and gather as many examples as you can in a folder on your laptop or thumb drive. The day of the shoot, bring your laptop or ipad (or thumb drive) and show the photographer, MUA & stylist what you’re thinking.
4. Practice posing ahead of time. Don’t expect the photographer to tell you how to pose. It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new or have shot 1000 times. If you can’t pose yourself, the photographer will get bored and not want to work with you.
5. Use youtube and vimeo for video tips on how to pose. The videos are free. If you use firefox as a browser, you can find a utility to download the videos. I’ve got almost 100 videos that I’ve downloaded from various sites. I watch them before a photo shoot and it always helps to motivate me.

Finally, one last item to help you along. One of the bigest mistakes I see is models spend so much time worrying about their pose, they don’t learn to relax and change expression. If you look at your portfolio and you have the same look in every shot, it’s time to change things up.

Good luck

Tips For New Models

I have some suggestions with regards to people interested in starting in modeling.

1. Get goal oriented. When you come to one of our open shoots, you want to have an idea about what you want to accomplish.
a. Think of poses. Cut photos out of magazines. Print out pictures and start a scrap book of poses
b. Think of wardrobe. Mix & match what you have. Borrow clothes. Don’t forget shoes. Wigs can make for great shots as well
c. Practice. Use a full length mirror and practice poses and facial expression. Don’t just try bland expressions and poses. Try different. Use a point & shoot camera to take pictures – Learn to use the self timer so you can put the camera down. Don’t hand hold the camera or everything will look like a Selfie.

2. Get ready
a. Hairstyle and color.
b. Look at your eyebrows. DON”T over pluck
c. Armpit hair and leg hair
d. Nails well cared for – no need to spend big bucks
e. Makeup. None. Let the Makeup artist worry about that.
f. Some acne is ok. We can help with that.
g. DO NOT OVER TAN. You will look orange on camera. It’s ok if you are dark skinned, but tanning makes you look like an oompa loompa from willie wonka – lol
h. lips – take care of them so they don’t chap.

3. Be prepared for the nudity question
a. There are different kinds – full, topless & implied. Full & topless are self explanatory. Implied is when you are nude with props or something covering various areas in an “artful” pose
b. Consider an escort regardless of whether there will be nudity or not.
c. Know what is being asked of you up front. Get the facts.
d. Stand by your convictions. If you’re not comfortable then just don’t do it.
e. Look at a photographer’s previous work. If their stuff looks like trash, then any nude shots they take won’t have artistic merit.

4. Safety
a. Bring an escort
b. If no one is available to escort you, then set check in times where you can phone someone at regular intervals and also setup a stress word you can use in case of coercion.
c. Know the address you’re shooting at and leave it with someone you trust.

5. Resources for models
a. onemodelplace.com – Free to join – only 5 images to start
b. modelmayhem.com – Free to join – 20 images to start, pro level is $10.00/month

6. Magazines & books
Glamour
GQ
Ebony
Grace Ormonde – Wedding Style
Elle
Vogue
Vanity Fair
Iman – The Beauty of Color

From a recent trip up towards Lowville, NY

 

SO we were driving around in Lowville, NY in a snow storm looking at the Wind turbines when this little guy flew over the truck and landed on a power line.

This is a 100% crop shat @ 85mm
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This is an abandoned farmhouse out in the middle of nowhere.

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Get Organized: Using Pinterest to share your thoughts

We’re probably all familiar with Pinterest and how it works.  I’ve taken the board to the next level.  My pinterest is chock full of ideas for possible shoots.  I’ve also got ideas on how to make inexpensive wardrobe for a photo shoot.  You don’t have to spend a ton of money to put together a great shoot.  All you need is some forethought and a little creativity.

I’ve noticed that when I send a model to my pinterrest they don’t really look at it for inspiration.  The like the photos, but they don’t really understand what I’m trying to do.  These photos are to suggest ideas for the themes I work with.  It’s not everything, but the genres include a ton of ideas to try and make a photo shoot a lot more fun.

Turn your glamour shoot into something amazing.  Plan you shoot and shot your plan.

You can find my pinterest page at http://www.pinterest.com/rjones315/

pinterest

Behind the scenes

The quirky but extremely talented Melisa Rodwell.  Love her style

I’d love love love to shoot at this location – or something similar

Another great set

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How To Get Yourself on Model Mayhem

How To Get Yourself on Model Mayhem
From A Gatekeeper’s Perspective

So, you’ve uploaded your images and created a profile but you’re rejected and don’t know why.  Here are a few tips to help you get yourself added to the most popular Web site for amateur modeling & photography talent.

First, look at your images.  Are there any selfies?  These are the camera phone photos you take of yourself trying to look sexy.  Some are in front of a mirror.  Others are taken with the camera phone at arms length.  The worst image you could post are what we call duck face.  That’s where you purse your lips at the camera thinking it looks sexy.  It would if you were the AFLAC duck.  The best suggestion I have for selfies is not to use them.  Instead, have a friend take your photos.  Another negative is to not add any of the Instagram filters.  IDK why people add the yellow filter – See Wikipedia for Jaundice.

Next, your profile.  Let me just say that if you think you’re the master of the one liner, you’re not.  You need to include relevant information about what you have done and what your goals are and what you can bring to the table.  Think of the profile as your resume.  Include hobbies that might be relevant to the type of modeling you do.  List any dance or drama experience.

So, how can you improve your chances for approval and also for landing good gigs with photos in your profile?  Well, first get more than 4 different images.  Wear multiple changes of clothes for the shoot.  Don’t apply the cheesy color and tone filters.  Get good headshots made and make that your avatar.

Hey good luck and have FUN!