Hey Everyone!
I’ve been working as a freelance model for the past year and a half. Recently, I decided that I’d rather go through an agency, just to make it easier on myself, and so that I can go more professional with my modeling. I met with an agency in Boston, that I had sent my portfolio to, and went to meet with them on this Saturday that just passed. The agent told me that “their models are very unique and if I was hired then I would just get lost and no one would book me”. I’m not upset by this, but I want to know ways that I can improve myself. I’ve just done mostly regular shoots, car shows, website advertising for clothes. And most of my photos are almost “the girl Nextdoor”. But that’s not how I want to be with my modeling. I really appreciate high fashion, swimsuit, and boudoir. This is my portfolio;  https://ivybonanno.pb.online/
At the time of my interview I didn’t have my portfolio set up yet, I only showed him the photos from the photoshoot on there with the gray background.
As to improving myself, please tell me ways that I could visually improve (hair color/cuts) losing weight, etc, better ways to pose, good outfit ideas. So on. Thank you!

I can't advise you as to what will help you to get signed but here are my thoughts.

You need to practice expressions that show life. You have way too many images with your eyes closed.

These images look like your neck is broken:


These images emphasize your hips:


Wear a looser waist band, don't bend your elbow and fingers backward, take the weight off of you arm and relax your shoulder:


You are a good looking woman and I'm sorry to be so picky. Get lots of TFP/CD experience. If you are ever down in the Wash, D.C. area, please look me up.

agency was correct you would get lost! try showing some emotion in your photos, you look upset in most of your photos.
You have a beautiful look and can stand above the rest!
This is your best photo in your Portfolio!
https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/45027709

1. Pick outfits that will bring out your best body features
2. Smile show them who you are
3. Professional photographer will help you with poses
4. hair and make-up helps

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/45027708
this outfit makes your top look bad, your hair looks ratted, you have a pissed off look, Smile!

https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/45027698
you have this photo posted twice....but the outfit looks beautiful on! beautiful pose.... but no expression?
I wouldn't hire you because your photos send a message that you won't be fun to work with.

Given your height ( 5'6 ) You may never become an Agency Model

But You are a Beuaty

I would recommend becoming leaner / more toned

Hi, Ivy.

Overall, since you joined about three weeks ago, you’re off to a pretty good start. You have a good look and good proportions for modeling.

Here are the first three things that I noticed about your portfolio. 1) Almost all of your photos have the same expression. 2) Most of them were taken at two shoots. 3) Although your profile says you shoot nudes, there are no nudes in your portfolio.

Let’s get the last one out of the way first. Most people aren’t going to book a nude model for a paid shoot (I notice that your profile says “depends on assignment,” which is good), and many assume that a model with no nudes isn’t serious about doing them.

Of course, the fact is that you have to start somewhere. Photos don’t just materialize from nowhere. However, assuming that you’re serious, I’d search MM and find the three photographers in your area with the best nudes in their portfolios and offer to do trade shoots with them.

Be proactive. Don’t leave things to chance, and don’t wait for things to fall in your lap. That applies to all types of work that you want to do, not just nudes.

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve come across a model’s portfolio and thought that I’d love to do a shoot with that model. Then, I see that the model hasn’t logged in to MM in more than a year – and I think, “Why didn’t I find that portfolio sooner?”

With more than 1 million members on MM, there will be plenty of people who’d love to do a shoot with you, but they may never see your profile and portfolio – until you’ve been on the site three years, become discouraged and just stopped logging in.

I love it when a model (even one without a lot of experience, especially if she obviously has some things working in her favor, as you do) suggests a trade shoot, and tbh, I rarely say No.

Take the responsibility for building your own portfolio – every day. Don’t wait for someone else to do it.

Along the same lines, I suggest logging in to MM every day – even if you just log in and log back out. Most search results are sorted with the models who have logged in most recently at the top of the list. If it’s been three weeks, there may be three pages of models who fit the search criteria ahead of you.

Most new models don’t begin to become good at expressing, until they’re comfortable with posing. However, when you’re modeling, expressing is half of the job.

Your poses aren’t terrible, and some of them are pretty good. However, there’s a lot more to learn about posing as well.  As a few examples…



In five or your photos, one arm is stiff. Stiff isn’t graceful, and with rare exceptions, a model wants to be graceful. (Ancient modeling proverb: “If it bends, bend it. If it twists, twist it.”)



Also, in some of your photos, your body and face are directly facing the camera. Generally, it’s more graceful (and more flattering) if your body is turned at a slight (maybe 15-30 degrees) angle to the camera – even if your head is facing the camera. (That’s part of the “twist it” part.)

If your lower body, your torso and your face are facing the same direction, that can become boring pretty fast. Different parts can be facing in 2-3 slightly different directions. I’m not saying that there’s never a time when it’s okay for everything to be facing the same direction. Just try to mix it up and get some variety in your poses.

Also, as a general rule, most of the time you don’t want both hands, both arms and both shoulders to be at the same level. (Once in a while, that’s okay, but you don’t want to see that in photo after photo.) You’re doing pretty good with that one.

Also, most of the models I work with don’t have two photos that were (obviously) shot at the same shoot in their portfolios.

One more suggestion:

There’s a model-turned-photographer named Mary Duprie. She lives in Michigan. I’ve never met her, although I’ve met two photographers and two models who have worked with her. She is one of the best I know of at teaching modeling (and especially posing).

She has a two-DVD set for models and a single DVD for photographers. (I don’t even know whether they’re still available.) However, you can get most of the information for free – by watching the modeling tutorial videos on one of her websites:

http://photographingmodels.com/modeling … owtovideo/

I’d start from the top and work through them in the order in which they’re listed.

The videos are on Vimeo. Before you’ve watched all of the videos, you have to create a Vimeo membership. It’s free.

As Garry noted, top 10 agencies almost never sign fashion models who aren’t at least 5’ 9” and size 2 or smaller. However, those restrictions don’t necessarily apply to fitness models (who are usually former collegiate athletes), glamour models, lifestyle models, beauty models and parts models.

There are many other agencies, some of which are local, regional, national or international that don’t necessarily have the same requirements.

However, I’d suggest checking out a local or regional agency before signing anything – especially if they want you to pay money upfront. Talk to several of their models and see how many are actually getting work from the agency.

A local agency may have 200 or more models signed – but 15-20 or them are getting most of the work, and the vast majority are getting nothing but a page with a few photos on the agency’s website.

Also, much of the work that comes through these agencies is promotional work (handing out brochures at trade shows or corporate events, schmoozing with a company’s customers in a hospitality suite, etc.), that may pay as little as $15-$25 an hour – before the agency takes its cut.