The most common question I am asked is, "Do you think I have potential as a model?" My general response is, "What kind of model do you want to be?" There are all different types of modeling, and each type has specific requirements. We are probably most familiar with RUNWAY modelings. Most of your supermodels got their start on the catwalk. This is the most selective type of modeling there is. The height, weight and body type requirements are quite stringent. Very few women (or men) meet them. Does this mean unless you're tall and thin you'll never make it as a model? Not at all. There are many different types of modeling to persue:
The first thing to realize is that you have almost NO hope of becoming a top mainstream model by hanging around the Internet. While many of the top agencies have a web presence, none of them actively recruit from it. Also, forget about modeling schools. Many agencies do not consider people who admit to have gone to a modeling school. They (the agencies) feel that they will need to spend too much time retraining the model to bother with them. If you already have gone to modeling school, then never admit to an agency that you have. To get into modeling, you have to approach an agency and present yourself to them.
First, research what agencies handle the type of work you want to do. Most of the top agencies have divisions that handle fashion, catalog, editorial and parts. Many do not handle glamour models. Try to see what models they are currently handling, and see what they look like. Many agencies have a 'signature look' that they try to keep. You'll have a better shot of getting into an agency that is looking for people like you.
The next step is crucial. While some people have walked into an agency with just a snapshot of themself and gotten signed, a more realistic approach is to have some professionally produced images to show when you get there. Do not have the guy down the street who has a new camera, the guy who took your school picture or the glamour place at the mall produce these pictures. Find a studio with a photographer who has extensive experience in taking portfolio pictures to do them. Go to his studio and look at his prior work. Ask for references. Find someone else and do the same. Do not consider dollars at this time. Good work is expensive, and the cost should only be a factor when two or more photographers produce the same quality of work.
You will want at least 5 images in your initial portfolio:
Now that you have your pictures in hand, find a good reproduction company (not that 24 hour one). Take your five prints and tell them you want a "composite" (also called a "zed" card) made up. Your headshot will go on one half of one side, and the other 4 will be displayed on the other, along with your contact information and your personal statistics. The difference between full color and black in white is not great, so get it done in color! The contact information should include a mailing address and phone number. Rent a post office box and get either an answering service or another voice mail system. You don't know who's going to be seeing these cards, so you don't really want to put your home address and phone number on them. The personal statistics should include your age, height, weight, body measurements, hair color and length, eye color, dress size and shoe size.
Get a list of addresses of the top agencies (a link to some are included HERE). If you don't happen to live near where they are located, address a card to each one, and mail it out. A day or two later, send a cover letter introducing yourself, the type of modeling you are interested in, and attach another zed card. If you don't hear anything back in a month, send a second letter asking if they had recieved your original letter. Make sure you attach a zed card to this, too. Most agencies will at least respond within a month. Be prepared. It's more than likely going to be a 'sorry, but...' letter. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you only get rejection letters. Don't worry - try again in 6 months. The agency's need change from time to time and what may not be what they want this month, may be what they need next. Just keep following up with postcards every 4-6 months. You may be surprised.
Now, if you DO get a positive response, it will probably be in the form of an offer to go out to their office and speak with someone. Plan a couple of days for this. As long as you're there, you will want to stop into the offices of EVERY agency you've written to, on the pretext that you were in town and just wanted to say 'hello' to whomever sent that rejection letter. Appropriate wear for this event will be jeans, t-shirt and little to no makeup. They want to see the 'natural you'. Also,remember that you aren't 'signed' yet. They are at least interested, but want to see you in person first.
Now, you've just come back from the 'Big City' and you're still not signed. Is this the end of the road? Not at all. Just set your sights a bit lower, and go through this same process again with the smaller regional agencies. Try this after the first month of sending to big agencies. The good news is, it will be easier to 'drop' in on them once you've sent out your card and cover letters. Again, jeans, t-shirt and no makeup when you go to visit.
OK, you've exhausted all your other options, haven't been signed anywhere, but you still want to model. There are plenty of photographers on the Internet who are looking for models. A large percentage of them are amateur or advanced amatuers who are serious about photography. The rest of them are either professionals in other areas of photography who are looking to do different types of work, or the other extreme, people who know nothing about photograpy and have other motives in hiring models. Because you're booking jobs yourself, it's your responsibility to check out every photographer and make sure he (or she) is what they say they are.
The first thing you need to do is decide that your posing limits are. A bulk of what Internet photographers are looking for are nude models. It's up to you to figure out how nude you want to get. Many are looking for figure work. This is relatively acceptable nudity in the art world. Others are looking for nude glamour. A large number are looking for models to provide web content. You have to make sure you clearly tell any photographer exactly what you will and will not show. These limits must be written into you "model's release" to prevent problems later on (more on releases later).
First thing, is to take your 5 images produced above and get them scanned (most photoshops will do this for a small fee). Make sure that you get them in JPG format, and usually less than 50k. Now, you need to create a 'homepage' of your images. Tools like "Front Page" make this easy. Now, find a host where you can store your page. There are a lot of free sites available (The creation of a home page, locating a host, and loading the host is beyond the scope of this document). Make sure you remember your address.
Now, start following some of the photography forums. "Lurk" on them for a while to see what kinds of photographers and
models post there, and what type of photography they do. If it happens to be what you are interested in doing, you will
need to post a message there, telling the world that you are available for modeling. Your initial post should look
something like this:
My name is Susie, and I'm a new model based in East Nowhere, Nebraska. I am interested in doing non-nude glamour work within an hour of my location. Please look at my page for samples of my previous work.
Make sure you post the URL of your webpage with the message (most forums have a space for this) and also post one of your pictures with your posting. You will probably get responses looking for things outside your stated limits. Ignore them. Also ignore the 'mash notes' from 'admirerers'. They are nothing but trouble, and in my opinion, too scarey to respond to. You will also get a lot of sincere offers. The trouble is, some of the sincere ones are fronts for other things.
When you get a response, if there isn't a URL attatched with samples of his work, ask for one. Most Internet photographers have a webpage with some of their work, or at least will email you some. Do not persue any offer where the photographer can not show what he's already done. It's asking for trouble. Also, ask for references from models he has worked with in the past. If he's unwilling to do so, then write him off. Make sure you write to the references, and if anything doesn't sound right, then don't commit to a shoot with him.
OK, you've looked at photographs, and checked the guy's references. Everything looks good. Do you jump in the car and take off? Not at all. The number one rule is to protect yourself. The easiest way is to bring a chaperone with you. Most photographers have no problem with this at all, as long as he/she does not get in the way of the shoot. If a photographer does not want you to have a chaperone there at all, then cancel with him. It may be innocent, but you can't take the risk. Now, what if you can't find someone to go with you? Set up a silent alarm with someone you trust. How does this work? Have someone aware of where you'll be, what time you'll be there and what time you'll be leaving. If they don't hear from you by a certain time, they are to call the police and have them go to the address you gave them. MAKE SURE YOU CALL BACK WHEN YOU LEAVE! You don't want the police to show up and hassle the photographer for your mistake. If you get there and the location changes, call your contact and tell them. A cell phone is ideal for this.
Now you're there, and the photographer is making you very nervous; he's invading your private space, he's touching you too much, he's talking about his sex life (or lack thereof) and asking you for a date. If you've warned him to stop and he continues, you should LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! His behaviour is totally inappropiate. DO NOT sign his release, DON'T wait to get paid, just get out of there. Your safety is the primary concern.
This section isn't here to scare you out of modeling, but to make you aware of the dangers in walking into a stranger's studio. There are very few photographers like this (thankfully) but the ones that do exist are the ones you need to be prepared for.
In simple terms, a release gives the photographer permission to use any image of you he produces. A contract is a binding agreement between you and the photographer to provide a service and expect compensation. The standard release allows the photographer unlimited rights to use any image he takes of you in any way he pleases. A dual release also gives you the right to use those same pictures for promotional use only. Unless otherwise stated in the release, the photographer owns the copyright to those images. This means that although you have rights to show them, you can not sell or otherwise distribute those images. Sometimes, you'll sign a release which gives both of you only the right to use the pictures for promotional use. This means the photographer can not sell those images without having you sign a different release. Always try to get a copy of the release beforehand and see exactly you're signing. Make sure you read the release before you sign it, too. Make sure that your modeling limits are clearly stated in the release. This will prevent images of you that are more explicit than intended being shown. Also, make sure you are paid before you sign a release. If you dont' sign, he can't legally use the images from that shoot.
The contract states the who, what, when, where and how much of the shoot. Again, make sure your limits are in there. Also, you should have a cancellation clause (in case he decides to cancel the shoot, you get some minor compensation). Also it should state that you will sign a release upon being paid. This is his guarentee (and notice) that if he plays fair, so will you.
Again, the photographer owns the copyright on the images, and generally grants you the right to use them for promotional use (in your portfolio, or website). You can not sell any of these pictures on your own, you can not include them in a CD collection for sale, and in some cases, you can not use them on your site if it's a pay site. The penalties are very strict for copyright infringement, and you want to avoid this trouble.
This is a quick primer in how to go about becoming a model. It's a long, hard road, and it takes it's toll. It's a lot of hard work, and not all celebrity and parties. It takes a long while to build up a reputation and only a short time to ruin it. Always be on time, prepared for the shoot, and cooperative and you'll go far.
(c) 1999 by Frank M. Longo, Jr. Fotos By Frank, Stratford, CT