edu LIBRARY

1. “When I look through a portfolio (whether photography or modeling) I can tell who has experience and is a professional.”

Just a reminder that having experience & being a professional are to completely seperate things.

2. “Most (if not all) professionals have shot so many photos, learned so many things, and tried so many techniques that they know their style and can make that shot time and time again.”

Some would also say that those people have found their comfort zone & have stopped trying to push themselves.

Is this education or opinion?

I disagree with your assessment. I think if you have a hard time picking which photos to keep “because they are all so good”… then you simply aren’t being critical enough.

Many great, famous, super-talented, amateur photographers alike will make 100 captures and only end up with 5 shots that they consider “great”… if that.

If you took a grain of salt for everything that you read on the internet that you don’t pay for, you might have heart problems. But metaphorically, that means taking it all as opinion. Which can be educating, even if it just shows you what someone else thinks.

I’d just say nice shots to Kirsty and Francesca, and obviously GLAMtography! Well done!

the only problem i have with this article is that with glamour, it is easy to fake being good because the model is beautiful/sexy/naked

the only things worse than this article is the over-photoshopped and poorly exposed photos he attached to it.

of course Francesca knows “exactly how she looks” because she has the same vacant expression in every shot in her portfolio.

That word “professional” keeps getting thrown around a lot. Why is it no one adds the “characteristic” of ethics into the mix? I know several “professional” photographers that have consistently great photos, get published, etc, yet have ethics worse than someone skulking in the dark alleys looking for someone to take advantage of.
Please, when using the word “professional” add something about ethics in there, too.

you are insane

what would the guy writing this know about being a professional? look at his portfolio. come on mayhem… why do you let people like this write this crap?

In any profession having the technical knowledge and skills is important, but a person will not succeed by adhering these above characteristics alone.

really?,

he took the time to write an article which has some merit to it.

let’s see how much better you can do since you’re SO opinionated.

I am not sure I see the point of your article, it isn’t as though it’s new information? It seems more like a place to showcase glamtography work and dig up old information that isn’t really relevant just to accomplish this.

It isn’t misinformation in most respects but the one statement you make I disagree with and I quote you “An unfortunate reality for models is that you have to be born with a certain look. But just because you consider yourself “good looking” doesn’t mean you can be a successful model. There is a lot of hard work to put in. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you are a great model and gorgeous like Elena Churikova.”

Define Great, gorgeous? Not everyone will find Elena their cup of tea and I believe it is just your opinion….not a blue print to what is or isn’t beautiful. Every model is unique and appealing to someone…I don’t see how you can write articles and expect no resistance to what you are saying with such little experience….free will of course.

Maybe it’s just me but, I think the characteristics should have been numbered so that they’re not mistaken for simple paragraph headings. Also, I think the article should have separated models from photographers, as in two different articles because my first impression was you’re writing more about modeling versus photographing. And then, the article does seem more like a personal plug. I got no problem with people doing that but, the title of the article should elude to it because, your paragraphs fell short of explaining the characteristics recognizably enough to prevent me from walking away feeling like I wasted my time (that includes writing my 2 cents), when I should have been in the shower and getting an oil change for my car. Nonetheless, I give you an E for Effort. Not that coming here to be a grader was my original intent. Take it for what it is, another opinion.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

I would add: And they don’t repeat themselves unnecessarily. -JULIAN

You can have all of the above and still blend into the woodwork, if you don’t have the skills to “network.”

Your response wasn’t directed toward me, but I have to respectfully disagree. I don’t think this article has any merit at all. Let’s be honest here, the whole purpose of him submitting this article wasn’t to help educate, it was to drive traffic to his portfolio/blog. In fact, I think all of this photographer’s articles previously appeared on his blog, but got little to no traffic there, which is why he’s now posting it here.

Regardless of the reason he wrote, I just don’t think it’s useful because, well, it doesn’t say anything useful. He constantly attributes adjectives like “amazing” and “great” to his work, but his images, quite frankly, suck. The only thing CONSISTENT about his stuff is that it’s terrible.

Agree completely. I’m not going to criticize the models, because they’re not the ones who submitted this crappy article, but it looks like the photographer took a jackhammer to their faces, seeing how blurred they are. Honestly, they’re probably as embarrased as I am for the writer.

Actually it’s 5’9 minimum, for catwalk modelling. Yes all the article images are glamour modelling, so i assume this article is written by a professional glamour photographer, published in top magazines/newspapers? (Glamour is only one style of modelling of course). The author forgets to mention the fact that, without the right connections- especially in fashion- even with all the beauty,talent and hard work in the world, it will still be difficult to progress. There is also the fact that there are now on average 4000 new applicants per each (established) model agency per week, plus there was an overall 12% reduction in the fashion industry budget last year for creative advertising etc.. So becoming a fulltime professional model and obtaining the 100,000 hours in front of the camera (original quote was by a philosopher i believe, who actually said it takes 100,000 hours practise for any human to become good at anything) is not so simple as just posessing said “5 characteristics”…

Cheap plug for Glamtography, whoever they are.

Thought spam wasn’t allowed on MM??? Jeez…..

The images aren’t even that good, plenty better here on MM.

Those girls are damn ugly and so photo shopped they look like cartoons. They look like low class dumpster hookers.

Where’s the “realism”…I’ve always believed that if a model is GOOD–he/she should fit into “almost” any type of “casting call”. Models should have a diverse “look” that is able to morph into any genre of photography. Personally, I don’t fit into the category of being a fashion model, b/c I’ve never been 100 lbs and emaciated, however, I’ve done everything from commercial/editorial to fetish.

*hi fives*

Guys, take a chill pill

Fine if you liked it….. if you didnt just move on.

Im not saying hes right or wrong but i see he’s trying to compile a bit of info and share it…hes not shoving it down your throat, if you didnt like it you should have just closed the page.

it seem like most “photographers replying should learn some ethics, and not be so insecure about their own work that they boost their ego by negatively criticizing others work.

Many of your peers will think your work is awesome, yet many more think its junk….SO WHAT?? If you having a good time, learning and hopefully paying the bills happy and stop being a douche and point out better tips and avidly help improve others, instead of bitching about everything you don’t agree with.

As for being a pro or not, all of us learn something new everyday (at least i hope)

Have a great day….
-SAM

Great article. I agree with all you say, but in two of the three photos you’ve shown in the article, the girls are posing flat and wide to the camera. That’s posing 101.

Love this article

11,000 hrs actually, for something to become considered a reflex. It is based in research in the sporting and biomechanics areas.

I hate to be rude – but the models look like porn starts, and the quality of the photoshoot is fairly poor.

Sorry, truth hurts.

I work with fashion runway supermodels (Joan Smalls – just got the nod to be Chanel’s leading lady, Anais Mali, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), glamour (my magazines, MAXIM, Black Men Magazine, Smooth Girls Magazine, SHOW The Art Of Sexy Magazine), & adult models (Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler), and each category of modeling requires something different. However, height is only required for the runway fashion model. You have to be in the 105 lbs to 114lbs range, & anywhere from 5′-8″ to 5′-11″. All the glamour, & adult models I work with vary in height (4′-11″ to 5′-11″), torso width, hips, thighs, breast size, & everything else. They are all beautiful as well. So to all the ladies who are struggling to find a right place, glamour, & adult have the widest range of body types & looks. Ethnic magazines like some of mine I mentioned, love curvy voluptuous women as well as slim women. Voluptuous women like Coco aka Nicole Austin, who I have had in my magazines, & produced her reality show “Ice Loves Coco” on E!, has benefited from the wide range of physiques in the glamour & adult industry when she wasn’t given much of a shot to win a title in her Hawaiian Tropic Pageant days. So ladies, if you have a gorgeous face, and have a sexy figure (I emphasize), then you have more of a shot then you think! FATAL

Great article. Makes lots of sense.

Great read, and nice link!

Well Said

I must agree with the above. This article is a plug, and I’m beginning to think “Edu” is a bit of a sham For starters, if it was truly for educational purposes then the links to the…*ahem* ‘beautiful’ models (with flat lighting, and who apparently ‘know their angles’ although I SWEAR I saw a couple distant relatives of the Pillsbury Doughboy up in there). The article itself had some good points, debatable points, and points that were ridiculous. Not finding your style til 100K clicks? Not shooting M til around the same time? I call BS. Students come outta school shooting RAW & in manual. I’m self-taught, and I shot PSAM in 92 days. Nothing but manual 2-months after that. I’m NOT an oddity. This is a reality, commonality :O

And I agree: lighting is flat, and some of the models were poorly-directed, and when they clearly did NOT know their angles, photographers failed to correct it while shooting. No biggie, until they slip BY!!! Models #1 & #2 look stiff & over-posed. #3 has rolls showing on her left side. Lighting is flat. Article contradicts itself. Good idea, educational material on MM. But *please* do not spread misinformation! The noobs…the poor, poor noobs…

~D

The majority of models will get stereotyped into a category Model T. It doesn’t matter if their look is diverse. Tall slim runway models with a great look can probably do lingerie, & swimsuit, which is more in the glamour modeling range (with the exception of high fashion names like Victoria’s Secret, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue). However, well known fashion models build a persona, along with photographers, who work within their genre. Her agent will be looking to keep her going where she is strongest. That will be the selling point which produces a positive career. Only when a diversified guy like me comes along, who is a film/tv producer/agent, magazine owner/fashion designer/agent, could opportunities to diversify come along. Example: I’m a producer with the next installment of 007 James Bond called “Skyfall”. We just found a model named MariaCarla Boscono. Now we cast models in every Bond film, however, there will only be one picked. We cast Alessandra Ambrossio in “Casino Royale”, & Olga Kurylenko in “Quantum Of Solace”. Those opportunities to diversify are slim. Glamour models for the most part don’t make good fashion models. Body type, & height are all factors. Then there’s always the perception of the model. That right there will keep her in a specific genre in the field. I work with a model name Jenna Bentley. She’s beautiful, 5′-11″, DD, 119 lbs. As much as I love her, she’s not a natural fashion model. Her breasts are too big for that field, & even if she was perfect to diversify into the fashion industry, she is already perceived as an excellent glamour/adult model. It’s her selling point. Which is the very reason that she is so successful! It keeps her career going as well. Remember, this is a business, don’t get caught up in being too artistic & diversify if you can’t make a living at it as well. FATAL

seriously why so many haters

Very good and true.

Without the original article, the post opinions and additional info would not have taken place.