One of the reasons i know there aren't any agencies worth being called that near me is that the model books from the locals all look like the list of mistakes offered by the OP.
A main reason that REAL commercial print portfolio pictures are usually not available as TFP is that there's a lot of work to do them right. But photographers generally don't get to "show off," either. This is where the needs of a photographer's portfolio and a model's diverge.
Any picture that looks like a photographic tour de force is probably not useful. But clients like to see the wow factor in a photographer's portfolio. So, it's smart to find a commercial shooter and pay him or her if you have to to get the clean, clear shots needed.
Oh, and headshots are also vital for actors. One of the most accomplished (and well-paid) photographers in Hollywood does almost nothing but headshots. He'll do actor AND commercial stuff.
Good luck to all those trying to develop commercial print ports. That may be the most challenging of all the portfolios to get right. Having a good agency to direct the development, of course, would be best.
Cristina Ashley wrote: Is something like this style good photos for a commercial book?
(not that they all would go in but just the style of photography)
What role are you playing? Would you see these pictures in an ad in Time Magazine?
Cristina Ashley wrote: so maybe the bridal test I did with the same photographer, with a male model will suit a portfolio better?
Maybe, if you look like a bride getting married, and not like a model. Even then, there is a fine line between a commercial print/lifestyle shot and a wedding picture. I'd think wedding dress pictures would mostly be useful for showing to bridal wear clients.
I was sent this my Kat Aragon... iam to shoot with them in a few weeks....I really have the commercial look but did have some fashion shots taken in my current port....i know i know...don't use them...any of your feedback would be great! I am going to take some more pic.s more commercially focused...I get what you are saying! Thanks
Thank you so very much for posting this TX.
Great thread that we can refer to when needed.
To all,
This is an informative and serious thread.
Please keep this one on topic.
Thanks,
Mhana moderator.
Also this thread is for information only.
Not for critique or if whether or not you can be a commercial model.
Please start a different thread for those questions.
Thanks.
We would like to keep this thread, some others and some in the future more as articles. Discussion is welcome as is rebuttal/different views but please try to keep on topic.
If you have another topic,
You are welcome to start a new thread.
Ok, I have a question. It's something I've always wondered.
--Hair care ads, like Pantene, Bed Head, etc.--
I assume they're commercial shots, after all, they're selling a product. However, the product itself is dependent on the model. It's as much about their hair as it is about the little picture of conditioner in the corner.
What type of models do those ads? They look too old and pretty to be fashion models, but look much more glamourous than "every day". I see those types of models in make-up ads and tobacco and liquor ads too. What type of agency do they come from? Are they commercial fashion models who are doing an ad? Do the models who do catalogs and such still come from commercial agencies?
Also, it seems like the smaller agencies in my area don't have a specific focus. The models seem to have a mix of fashion and commercial looks and I don't know who their clients are.
Ok, and my last question. Are there really agencies that just deal with commercial and lifestyle models? It seems like talent agencies get the calls for product shoots.
OC Girl wrote: Ok, I have a question. It's something I've always wondered.
--Hair care ads, like Pantene, Bed Head, etc.--
I assume they're commercial shots, after all, they're selling a product. However, the product itself is dependent on the model. It's as much about their hair as it is about the little picture of conditioner in the corner.
What type of models do those ads? They look too old and pretty to be fashion models, but look much more glamourous than "every day". I see those types of models in make-up ads and tobacco and liquor ads too. What type of agency do they come from? Are they commercial fashion models who are doing an ad? Do the models who do catalogs and such still come from commercial agencies?
For the most part those are fashion models (sometimes from agencies with older divisions), although commercial print agencies sometimes get the chance to compete for (and sometimes win) those kinds of jobs.
OC Girl wrote: Also, it seems like the smaller agencies in my area don't have a specific focus. The models seem to have a mix of fashion and commercial looks and I don't know who their clients are.
Right. In a very large market like NYC, there is plenty of opportunity for agencies to be specialized, and you can find lots of examples of relatively "pure" editorial fashion, commercial fashion and commercial print (as well as other) agencies. In smaller markets there isn't as much business, and agencies tend to try to capture more than one specialized piece of it. They become "hybrid" agencies, mixing the attributes of fashion and commercial, and adopting the business practices of each of them. This is discussed some at the end of this article: http://www.newmodels.com/height.html
OC Girl wrote: Ok, and my last question. Are there really agencies that just deal with commercial and lifestyle models? It seems like talent agencies get the calls for product shoots.
Yes, there really are such agencies - these are the "commercial print" specialized agencies that form the topic of this thread. In New York there are at least a dozen of them, perhaps as many as twice that. Again, in other, smaller market cities there is less specialization, so the pure "agency types" we often see discussed here are smudged together. Nobody outside the industry generally has heard of these agencies, and yet they form the backbone of non-fashion print modeling. They just don't get the high profile attention that the fashion agencies and fashion models do.
I shoot "lifestyle" images all the time..... stuff like this:
"at the salon" (shot in studio):
"back to school" (shot in studio)
"Tax Time" (shot in studio):
"Spa Time" (shot in studio):
Hope this helps all the models looking to create commercial lifestyle images.....Please note....the "salon" image and the "tax" image were both literally shot with the same furniture (office in the studio). A few bottles of shampoo in the one and a few "tax tables" in the other create the scene.
EDIT: It can be said that with commercial modeling, the scene/location is absolutely critical. A lot of commercial lifestyle photography is done on location (or on sets designed to look "real"). However, lifestyle images can often be shot on white seamless so that the client can add their own background (or use white for web-usage).
As a follow-up to my post above, and in addition to TX's fanstatic advice, for all models wishing to pursue commercial modeling a couple of things are really important......
1) facial expressions: you need to be able to create the "expressions of life" (happy, sad, angry, frustrated, giddy, joy, curious, concerned, laughing, etc, etc). One of the few facial expressions that is NOT needed are those "sexy, bedroom eyes" that predominate the "glamour" genre. Many times I will ask the model to give me a "happy expression" and then immediately to give me a "frustrated expression"..... As a model you need to be able to change your facial expressions "on command"....... This is where the "acting" skills come in......
2) Acting skills are extremely important. When shooting commercial lifestyle, know the THEME of the shoot and act the theme for each shot.
TXPhotog wrote: Yes, there really are such agencies - these are the "commercial print" specialized agencies that form the topic of this thread. In New York there are at least a dozen of them, perhaps as many as twice that. Again, in other, smaller market cities there is less specialization, so the pure "agency types" we often see discussed here are smudged together. Nobody outside the industry generally has heard of these agencies, and yet they form the backbone of non-fashion print modeling. They just don't get the high profile attention that the fashion agencies and fashion models do.
Even though Atlanta is not a huge market for commercial print (NYC dominates), there are several highly reputable "commercial/lifestyle" agencies in town. These agencies exist in many markets. You just need to find them.
TX, you might want to point out that models are not nailed down to having one portfolio, thus blowing a brain-fuse trying to accommodate all kind of looks within one portfolio. It's perfectly okay to have more than one portfolio tailored to a specific end of the industry, commercial, fashion, runway, etc.
This is an great thread, very informative and actually made consider commercial print instead of the unfeasible (at least for me) fashion portfolio.
I think I could pull off a lot of the young student look and have it going for a while. This totally opened my eyes and new doors for me, thanks a bunch!!
Mayanlee wrote: TX, you might want to point out that models are not nailed down to having one portfolio, thus blowing a brain-fuse trying to accommodate all kind of looks within one portfolio. It's perfectly okay to have more than one portfolio tailored to a specific end of the industry, commercial, fashion, runway, etc.
Good point. I've said that in other threads, but this is a good one to repeat it in.
A comp card or portfolio should contain pictures which are all consistent with the client type (commercial print, commercial fashion, editorial fashion, etc.) that it is designed for. Models who can do more than one type of modeling should have different books and cards for each type. Mixing them just confuses clients.
Mayanlee wrote: TX, you might want to point out that models are not nailed down to having one portfolio, thus blowing a brain-fuse trying to accommodate all kind of looks within one portfolio. It's perfectly okay to have more than one portfolio tailored to a specific end of the industry, commercial, fashion, runway, etc.
TXPhotog wrote: Good point. I've said that in other threads, but this is a good one to repeat it in.
A comp card or portfolio should contain pictures which are all consistent with the client type (commercial print, commercial fashion, editorial fashion, etc.) that it is designed for. Models who can do more than one type of modeling should have different books and cards for each type. Mixing them just confuses clients.
I think this was almost as helpful as the original post! (It seems that it ought to be obvious, but it's easy to overlook in the quest for diversity....)
Let me add my sincere "thanks, TX" to the list....
_dahlia wrote: This is an great thread, very informative and actually made consider commercial print instead of the unfeasible (at least for me) fashion portfolio.
I think I could pull off a lot of the young student look and have it going for a while. This totally opened my eyes and new doors for me, thanks a bunch!!
Another good point to make here is that much of commercial lifestyle modeling involves models that are "Age Appropriate" for the "part"....
Unlike fashion which uses 14 year old girls to model clothes that are largely for adults (and in situations that are much more "mature" than the girls years would imply), Commercial modeling would use a 14 year old girl to play the part of a "student" or "girl on phone" or "girl cleaning her room"..... Conversely, 25 year olds are used in "marriage" sets, "work" sets, "Relationship" sets, "pregnancy" sets etc..... 60 year olds are used in "retirement" themes, "grandparent" themes, etc..... Get the idea? Within reason, you model parts that are reflective of your age.
A fashion model is considered old and washed-up in her early 20's. A commercial model has her whole life ahead of him/her--- taking "parts" that are age appropriate.
Read www.newmodels.com...... TX has some great info in there about age and commercial modeling.
Mayanlee wrote: TX, you might want to point out that models are not nailed down to having one portfolio, thus blowing a brain-fuse trying to accommodate all kind of looks within one portfolio. It's perfectly okay to have more than one portfolio tailored to a specific end of the industry, commercial, fashion, runway, etc.
Yes, this is absolutely correct. Photographers all have different books... I shoot commercial lifestyle, fine art landscapes, some fine art still life, etc. What good would it do me to present one book in front of a client that showed all of this if the client only wanted to hire me for commercail lifestyle?
Models, the same applies for you...... target your "book" for the client. If you have some great fashion shots put them in a book. If you have some great commercial shots, put them in another book. If you have some nudes, definately put them in a third book (unless, of course, they are "fashion nudes" then they could go in your fashion book).
Target your client with the images that will get you the job. Don't confuse the client with irrelevant images. You only have maybe 20 seconds for someone to look at your book and see if you are right for the job. Don't waste those 20 seconds presenting a commercial casting director with Fashion images.
EDIT:
Oh, remember, often commercial models really don't need a "book" they usually only need comp cards (could vary by market however). And, they should ALWAYS have a couple of them in their possession at all times.... you never know when you might meet a contact... give him/her a comp card... no card="I don't remember her" with a comp card="oh ya, I remember Mary"
While I did not take the time to read every post here I just want to second the information concerning commercial portfolios for models. For most of you here, the glory & dreams are in fashion and glamor but to be honest, the money is in commercial print and video. While shooting sexy shots and nudes is certainly fun, for most of you, a portfolio of this work will only get you work shooting more sexy shots and nudes, mostly for free.
What does it take to be a succesful commercial model? Good skin is a must. Weight and height are less of an issue but most important is the ability to emote, to act, to improvise, to work well with other talent, and to have a authentic looking smile. A good smile is much harder than you think.
So, between the shots that get the blood flowing, shoot stuff that will had to the commercial viability of your portfolio.
Last year my studio spent around 100K on models. The models ranged in age for 3-75 years old. Most of them were fully clothed.
Although this is great advice, how many photographers out there on MM want to do commercial style test shoots? I don't believe there are many because as someone mentioned before, doing a commercial shoot takes a lot of time and energy to get the setting right. I've been to a commercial photography studio, and it's a lot more work than people may think. You would have to pay someone to do commercial shoots would you not?
I think if you as a model are serious about putting a card together to market yourself for commercial modeling, then it is well worth the money to pay a photographer for that shoot. One of the reasons why agencies often provide a list of recommend photographers for you to choose from is because they are familliar with their work and feel confident those photographers can provide images which will really be useful. These photographers are are skilled in choosing locations and setting up the shots that make sense for commercial modeling.
IMHO, TFCD is good for generally broading a port, trying new and different things, just praticing and sometimes getting some good additional commercial shots for your port.
