Paige Morgan wrote: I cheated and ran through the list of commercial breakdowns on another casting site I belong to that mainly posts commercial lifestyle-ish jobs.
Lots of young/trendy mom...but that requires borrowing a rugrat
Sporty stuff that isn't too specifically fitness (jogging through a park and the like)
Thanks - yeah, lifestyle is huge on "props" - haha, maybe she will let me borrow her kid.
Tangent Pictures
Posts: 43
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Hmmm... Yes, you definitely look at least 77 years younger than stated in your profile
Anyhow. Well, you've got quite some casual already. Dunno what you want to target, but I can picture you just the opposite, with very sophisticated/trendy/unconventional outfits and accessories - not over the top to keep in line with commercial, though. Might also be an opportunity to test other llamaing styles. If you're at ease with the concept, it should give you wings (like in, you know, "sky's the limit", that kinda stuff)
Hope this helps...
edit - Part of my job includes buying commercial pics. Believe me, if it's moms we look for, no problem, there's a wide panel to choose from. But when it comes to shots with that sparkle of originality we need to make a difference, well... Not the same story, at all.
Tangent Pictures wrote: #1 more like it. Others are again casual/biz. Told you, we've got tons of this already...
Tangent, do you have any visual ideas for the concepts you think I should aim for?
We are in very different markets, I'm afraid, sparkle and originality isn't what's wanted or needed here... a large amount of it, I'm told, is "pretty, but not viable" - I need viable shots. The shots above are from agency boards I'm applying to.
Tangent Pictures
Posts: 43
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Very different market, well I'm not sure... My full time job involves making marketing and art direction choices everyday, mostly for financial and luxury products. What you see on MM is just my creative outlet, need this to keep eye and mind sharp/open
However, I'm talking of European markets and lifestyle, here. This may influence a lot what I say, sure a thing.
So. Yep, #1 you show is more like it, IMHO. I had in mind things like this:
She's a model in Milano/Paris (Federica at Eye on Model), works for ads among other things. Many other examples in mind. This is not really fashion, would be rated casual++ here (Europe), but it shows diversity/creativity/flexibility in a model's port, I think. Just my opinion...
Did I miss where you stated what market you were aiming for? I read the thread - promise.
Anyhoo - when I look at you in your port, for commercial I see:
1. Secretary (on the phone/at the PC/answering the phone)
2. Business woman (in a board meeting/giving a presentation)
3. Business owner/Executive (on site wearing a hardhat/power dressing for a meeting/ working at her desk/on a train on a laptop)
4. Housewife (drinking coffee/reading the paper/doing the 'chores')
5. Fitness/at the gym (anything really - you'd be a great advert - possibly posing with a protein shake/energy drink/on a treadmill)
6. Lingerie
I agree with Drew Smith, but I would aim for 3 attitudes/emotions and then figure out how to present each one. For instance, I would go for exuberance, which could be having caught a fish, cheering on at an event or at a sports bar, something that allows you to try a variety of fist pumping go team/or kid/or horse types of looks. You could go from casual cheering to rabid and pick your choice. I would go for satisfied/warm/loving and come up with something to facilitate that, kitten/baby/chocolate/maybe the coffee newspaper look Drew said, maybe the taste of a desert. I would go with business but where you are projecting leadership, giving directions, encouraging, or scolding. You don't really need to have sets for these just attitude goals so you aren't just the same person wearing different clothes.
Tangent Pictures
Posts: 43
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Or maybe take a simple, pragmatic approach, like: "There are good pics I should keep in there, less so good or bad ones I should get rid of, let's organize things to replace the latter in a consistent way, yet retaining some degree of variety"
One I really don't like is On the left one, poses are... well... awkward (not yours), and you don't look really great in the right one (I put it nicely, aye?)
Tangent Pictures wrote: Or maybe take a simple, pragmatic approach, like: "There are good pics I should keep in there, less so good or bad ones I should get rid of, let's organize things to replace the latter in a consistent way, yet retaining some degree of variety"
One I really don't like is On the left one, poses are... well... awkward (not yours), and you don't look really great in the right one (I put it nicely, aye?)
Now, I really like these, and others
Thanks.
Truth is, only the headshot that was posted earlier is perhaps the only viable photo in my current MM portfolio (also, maybe the wedding catalog shoot one). The rest are nice photos, just not good for agency.
Fleming Design wrote: Emily, what did you end up shooting on Saturday? Pics?
Pics will be coming soon (this week), she said she got over 300 frames and liked most all of them.
We shot some outdoor stuff downtown, casual friendly "girl next door in a sweater" catalog-type looks... then at her studio, some head shots and fun, laughing photos on her set couches, and in a black more formal dress.
I know we got some great stuff so I can't wait to share. Of course, I'm looking to add other looks soon....
Tangent Pictures
Posts: 43
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Yay! Really glad to see you did a nice job together. Congrats to both of you. I think the first two are very good, they'd work well for mid to high-range stuff. Sorry but I think #3 doesn't work, I still believe this is not your style.
My fave is #2 - seems I'm not the only one . Great smile, nice pose, and the right touch of fantasy/fanciness, casual+ with the scarf and hat. This is what I wanted to suggest, sorry if I didn't explain it very well... I believe you really fit in that style, way beyond budget stock biz/casual stuff.
edit - oh, just saw very nice additions to your port... You're awesome in that red dress!
e m i l y wrote: Edit: New photos posted below & in my portfolio.
I need ideas for commercial characters that would work for me.
I'm 27.
I get 2-3 looks, and I'm leaning towards 1 outdoorsy, 1 business/professional look, and 1... I don't know, casual?
Wardrobe, prop, visual suggestions are more than welcome. What colors to wear? How to do my hair?
I just kind of blank out when it comes to this stuff, but I really need these kinds of shots.
If you’re doing a test for a specific client, product, ad campaign, etc., you should have been told what you’re testing for. That way you could gear everything to that look.
If there is no specific client, or you don’t know who the client is, the photographer’s portfolio should give you some clues as to what types of work he/she does and possibly who his clients are.
If you have no clue what the test is ultimately for, then a mix of looks. Outdoorsy and business/professional are probably good. For the third look, casual or club wear would be as good as anything.
As far as colors, since presumably you’re using wardrobe from your closet, I’d go with current styles and go with the best looks you can style from what’s in your closet – as long as there is variety.
Your hair needs to go with outdoorsy, business/professional and whatever your third look is. So I’d suggest something like this:
Props… For outdoorsy, maybe sunglasses, running or walking shoes, whatever you’d use for a purse (or in lieu of one) outdoors, maybe an iPod, maybe with headphones…. For business/professional, there’s glasses, a briefcase, laptop or iPad, legal pad in a leather (or leather-looking vinyl holder), a nice pen (got a Montblanc or something like it?), a cellphone…
Tangent Pictures wrote: Yay! Really glad to see you did a nice job together. Congrats to both of you. I think the first two are very good, they'd work well for mid to high-range stuff. Sorry but I think #3 doesn't work, I still believe this is not your style.
My fave is #2 - seems I'm not the only one . Great smile, nice pose, and the right touch of fantasy/fanciness, casual+ with the scarf and hat. This is what I wanted to suggest, sorry if I didn't explain it very well... I believe you really fit in that style, way beyond budget stock biz/casual stuff.
Thanks - do you think I don't suit the business/professional look at all, or are you saying I need to do it a different way?
I'd like to be versatile, because I think as a commercial model I need to be able to do a few characters. I'm told often I need these kind of shots, so it's interesting to know. Others have said I'd be good for business/fitness looks so it's always good to hear what others think. I have another shoot lined up soon where I'm going for a real business look.
Drew Smith Photography wrote: Not a fan of #1 - your hair is a little 'too' untidy for me and it needed a prop; it's looking a little too much like a good 'snapshot'.
I really like #2 - that style really suits you.
And #3 is kinda .. meh.
Thanks!
My fave is the hat one, too - my agency really loved the first (it was the agent's favorite) -- I think sometimes clients just need a simple picture.
e m i l y wrote: Wow, I just checked my e-mail and she was so excited she sent me a few she loved right out of camera -- I picked my favorites below!
The first one is certainly the look you were after, the second may be a bit too much "you" . . . sounds like you had a great shoot, with great results, congrats . . . we'll be looking for you in a catalog very soon . . .
sospix wrote: The first one is certainly the look you were after, the second may be a bit too much "you" . . . sounds like you had a great shoot, with great results, congrats . . . we'll be looking for you in a catalog very soon . . .
I am sure you will get good use out of either of the first two. I do hope that you got shots with different expressions tho. The third needed some interacting, something with more energy.
Fleming Design wrote: I am sure you will get good use out of either of the first two. I do hope that you got shots with different expressions tho. The third needed some interacting, something with more energy.
e m i l y wrote: Hi, we ended up shooting and I posted the pictures in this thread. Thanks, though.
I might be headed out your way in about 12 weeks.
You nailed both looks!
You have a terrific look, very versatile, and I've admired your work since I first saw your portfolio, not long after I created my MM account. I love nice surprises like this. I'll PM you.
Tangent Pictures
Posts: 43
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
e m i l y wrote: Thanks - do you think I don't suit the business/professional look at all, or are you saying I need to do it a different way?
I'd like to be versatile, because I think as a commercial model I need to be able to do a few characters. I'm told often I need these kind of shots, so it's interesting to know. Others have said I'd be good for business/fitness looks so it's always good to hear what others think. I have another shoot lined up soon where I'm going for a real business look.
Oh I understand about versatility, sure.
#3... Well I just don't get it. It's very formal/flat, to me, not particularly business/pro (but for funeral stores, then I'm not sure about the smile... ooops sorry, I won't do that again). I guess you can play the biz/pro look, almost sure, why not? But maybe you need to adapt it to your own style. For example - getting back to that very nice red dress picture - there you have a very different hairdo that might suit the pro look. And about expressions : in the three pics here, you have the same smile. Now, in the red dress image, you've not a third of it, and it's just irresistible This also might work for some pro looks.
Back to #3, I'm wondering. What if you'd been wearing nice, chic jewelry, cleaner hairdo, smiling less or not at all, with a slightly more sensual pose but a feel of inner energy, and with more intimate lighting (just a hint of background or none), etc. Could have been very different; I guess it would have worked.
Fitness: IMHO, yes you've got the body for this, energize and go! The image in your port is not good, I think (last time I saw it). A nice pic with near-flashy tones, trendy outfit, energetic pose would make the cut, I guess. No understating yourself
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