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Hello! I am in some serious need of critique for my overall profile as well as my port. Up until know I've been doing modeling as more of a hobby than as a potential career and so I am trying to transition to a more professional looking profile and port. Somethings I would like particular advice with: My bio, do I come off as a friendly model that will get the work done? What information should I add or remove? Does my avatar grab you? Does my port show a wide enough variety? Which pictures are definite keepers and which should I switch out when I update? What kind of pictures should I be aiming for the next time a photog tells me I can do what ever I want? (The photos are numbered in the captions to make it easier to reference.) Should I embed photos into the profile itself? I know its a way to get around the 15 pic limit, but I feel like it makes everything cluttered and look less professional. Does the benefit out weigh the risk here? Other than that, feel free to critique anything you see! Thank you so much! Nov 14 12 01:30 pm Link Your bio is too big and verbose. I got tired of reading it. While laying EVERY DETAIL out sounds like a good idea, people aren't going to read it all. Things like 'starting rate $25/hr negotiable' is all you need sometimes in a certain topic. You seem friendly. No problem there. People who can write okay are usually more reliable. I'd minimize your bit about school so your priorities don't scare off anyone. Avatar is nothing special. Portfolio is nothing special. I would try to work with some better photographer's and replace it all. I like this one the best, but the quality is poor. https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/27178316 Only embed photos that have no better place to be. Sometimes a recent unretouched snapshot is useful. I went to college for photography in Philly. Get in touch with those students and schools to build up your port! Art schools for photographers and Drexel for fashion samples. There are really talented and creative students who need TF stuff. And get in touch with the photographers who work with Passional Boutique. Nov 14 12 07:06 pm Link Ally Moy wrote: Thank you, your post was very helpful! Can you be a bit more specific about why my port doesn't stand out for you and a bit more insight as too what makes a better avatar? Nov 14 12 07:33 pm Link I concur about the observation about your profile. You express an interest in fashion, which is fine but your portfolio which has some fashionable moments presents you in a way that doesn't make me think of you as having fashion potential. I am really speaking to your attempt to present yourself as a model who should be paid. Your height isn't destiny in the model business but does present great challenges. I think you photograph quite well but the dragon tattoo limits your market, and so I think your portfolio should be geared towards the art nude and you did seem attracted to creative interpretations of it and so, I would suggest just build your way forward in that direction. I noticed your eyes and thought they were striking. You could do very well and I wish you the best, Nov 14 12 07:58 pm Link Stephanie Yakir wrote: Your avatar is just a muddy photo. It's underexposed and comes off with no 'pop.' If you want to get really specific a vertical headshot with less negative space would be the best. My avatar is not the best avatar myself admit, so don't hold that against me. I never bothered to upload a specific avatar shot. Nov 14 12 08:04 pm Link  This shot is flat-out beautiful. You have a wonderful look-- and your tattoo is a wonderful asset. You have very impressive work in your portfolio. It should not be hard for you to get paying work! Nov 14 12 10:54 pm Link So I'm pretty much obsessed with "making it" in fashion photography. Any advice to help get to the next level? I would love some feedback! Nov 15 12 09:12 pm Link MeganJeanne wrote: I am probably the wrong girl to ask seeing as how I am so far away from "making it" and anything fashionable. But here it is: Have a plan B. Nov 15 12 09:23 pm Link Right now, you come across to me as a girl who is exploring doing this as a hobby and getting some nice shots along the way - and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but since you asked about transitioning into modeling professionally, that's a whole other world, one you may not even particularly like or be available to you. You may or may not be able to do this professionally, but you need to figure out what your market is (if one exists) and be able to adjust to that. Then work with the best photographers you can to develop a great portfolio that tells us why someone should hire you. At 5'1" and not fully open to shooting nudes, you really need to figure out where there's a demand for your look & talent, if there is one. What's most important is your portfolio, your profile is secondary. I'd keep your profile page short and sweet. You'll want to take out any mention that this is a 'hobby' if you expect to be treated as a professional. First step is to act like a professional and that includes projecting yourself as a professional. That doesn't mean lying about your experience. But see it this way, unless a photographer/client is totally in love with your look, if you come across as 'this is just a hobby, I'm not really committed to this, it's just for fun' you're probably not going to get the work when you're up against 50 other girls who are totally committed and dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes. No need to mention that school work is a priority -- if you're looking to model professionally, you need to appear available, and be available. No-one cares what else is going on in your life. We all have obligations. Don't turn people away before they get the chance to talk to you. You'll be freelancing, so you can expect to network. A lot. It's a full-time job, actually. You can expect to travel, and not always getting paid 'travel reimbursement' (at least when you're just starting out) because traveling will likely be part of the job. You may lose more money than you make when you're just starting out and you may never recover those costs, and there are significant costs (time/networking/dedication/materials), but the pay can be quite good too, if you're good at it and the market likes you. Nov 16 12 05:59 am Link model emily wrote: Thank you for the feed back. I will keep all of that in mind as I move forward! Nov 16 12 09:46 am Link Stephanie Yakir wrote: As a petite model myself, Stephanie, I too am in the sae boat.... Nov 16 12 03:36 pm Link I've not hired many models, but I've hired lots of software engineers. One thing I look for when doing any hiring is a sense of confidence and commitment. I'm certainly not knocking going to school, but when you say that's your first priority that puts 'me' second at best, last at worst. I'd change that to something like "I have a school life modelling balance that I maintain to achieve all of these goals" (or something strong/positive sounding). There are some other places in there where you're knocking yourself about being new as well. I'd say in once and only once in the entire write-up. When I'm hiring a nerd, I really only need to hear they don't have all the experience I'm looking for once, after that I want to read/hear who well they know what they say they do. I hope that makes sense and helps you! M. Nov 18 12 11:24 pm Link Hi Stephanie, 1). Your profile comes off as polite and friendly, but with too much detail - like you're anticipating problems. As a general rule of thumb it's the internet so you might like to 'dumb it down' a little. Almost everyone has mentioned the school v hobby dichotomy. There are a few structural and grammatical issues in your opening paragraph so this is how I'd deal with it to promote yourself as a model, given that this is Model Mayhem and not Student Mayhem: _____ About me: Modeling has been a passion of mine for nearly five years and in that time I have gained quite a bit of experience. I'm easy to work with and am always willing to accept criticism to improve my images. I am looking to work with a broad range of photographers to create quality shots, however as a fifth-year Biology major I have to balance my school and modelling so I may have limited availability at certain times of the year. That said, please get in touch so we can see if we can organise a shoot. ______ See how I put the important stuff (stuff that's important to your readers (photographers)) first, and then put the details (the terms and conditions) at the end. See if you can do much the same for the rest of your profile, and maybe look at re-ordering the sections so the important stuff (important to photographers) is up the top to help skim readers. I'd remove the Drexel reference because believe it or not, the internet has been known to facilitate crazy stalker types lol. 2.1). No your avatar doesn't grab me. There are issues with it that have been pointed out by others. Ally Moy's summary of the current avatar is spot on. It's not you, it's the image that's the issue. 2.2). Definite keepers? Your top row, although the headhsot might have to go once you get a better one. One each of the three white studio looks (but only until you get better shots), your last image (15). Switch out the rest and aim to diversify so your portfolio can grow to a level where you can charge. What you should aim for? Less plain background studio work and more location images. A great headshot that lets the viewers connect with you. 3). I don't think you can embed photos on your profile page if you have a free account. I'm not a big fan of it, and make sure they're small enough so they don't break the flow of the text. If we want to look at you we'll go to your portfolio anyway so a lot of images on your profile page aren't going to be a huge benefit. Nov 19 12 03:57 am Link Thank you for the feed back! Nov 19 12 10:57 am Link Heya, My advice would keep shooting with Candace & Helen. I'd be glad to shoot you as well if you ever come to NYC to visit. I'm friends with your sister (I think - if you guys are related) and the work you have done with them is your strongest so far. Nov 20 12 07:46 am Link AWHill Photography wrote: I would love to do all my shoots with Candace and Helen, unfortunately they are busy with... you know... paying customers lol. And yes, Helen is my sister. Next time I go visit Brooklyn I will tell her to introduce us. Nov 20 12 11:32 am Link |
