Forums > Model Colloquy > Any ideas on how to get started in modeling...

Model

EmmaBrooke91

Posts: 7

Fairmont, West Virginia, US

I need some start-up tips on where to begin my lifelong dream of being a model.

Mar 09 15 04:52 pm Link

Photographer

nudeXposed

Posts: 1154

Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Make friends/network with photographers & other models. Discuss. Be professional, be nice.

Mar 09 15 05:04 pm Link

Photographer

Pictures of Life

Posts: 792

Spokane, Washington, US

It's normal when starting to do trade shoots.  It's not so normal to expect being paid unless you are bringing some specific skills or assets to a shoot, like a latex model with her own outfits.  You posted an availability notice, good for you.  But posting an availability notice with compensation of $100 is not going to get too many responses.  If a photographer had a port with pictures just like yours, would you pay them $100?  Keep working the casting/availability forum, but usually money comes after you build a high quality port, not before. 
      Do trade, get better pictures, work your way up.  Good Luck

Mar 09 15 08:03 pm Link

Artist/Painter

Hunter GWPB

Posts: 8155

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, US

Find a book on poses.  Learn what to do with your hands, and feet.  Learn how to position your body, head, hips, arms, eyes.  Work with photographers that understand the concepts of framing and cropping pictures, lighting and shadows and who can help you relax and guide you.

Consider doing some figure work for artists, drawing groups or classes, where you have to hold a pose and be able to return to it. (Look at art books before you do this so you some ideas of what to hold for poses, but you will also get instructions from the teacher.  There are still things you want to know about hands, fingers, etc.)  Figure modeling work could be nude (doesn't have to be).  Though you say no to nudes, you should consider it under the circumstances of figure modeling.  First, there are no photos (be sure to specify that) to come back and haunt you later.  Second, it helps you to get comfortable with your body and realize that you don't have anything that people haven't seen before. (College classes will giggle, try to find adult classes at first.)  Being comfortable with your body is important if you want to model.  Even if you don't do nudes.

Go to the critique section and read the critiques that people make about other people's work.  Then look at your shots and poses.  Dissect and analyze.  Then, perhaps, submit your own port for a critique.  Look at the ports of traveling models, dissect and analyze and coy in front of a mirror.

Don't expect this to be a money maker for a while.  Unless you are doing figures for an art class, it is very hard to get any money while being an inexperienced model.  Around here, big city area, art classes pay $15 an hour for a fully nude figure model.

Good luck.

Mar 10 15 06:54 am Link

Photographer

Ivan123

Posts: 1037

Arlington, Virginia, US

Keep in mind that options in West Virginia are going to be limited.  If you have an opportunity to travel, combine it with finding modeling opportunities.

Mar 10 15 12:13 pm Link

Photographer

Philipe

Posts: 5302

Pomona, California, US

Just have fun here on Model Mayhem..
Here you'll get tons of support..

In modeling industry, not so much. It can be brutal..
Go the safer route here on Model Mayhem...

Mar 16 15 01:13 am Link