jahnhall wrote:
so i've been on mm for about 7 years now, after literally starting with a point & shoot camera (yes, i was that guy).  granted, i'd already spent years working in fashion and on shoots & still work in the industry today working as a casting director, stylist & show producer...not to mention semi-hack photographer...and in my 7 or so years, i've come to conclude that there are 10 easy things every model on MM can do to make the most of their shoots -- and their careers.

see, i love working with new faces tons & feel like many of you are relying way too much on abs and a pretty face...and abs and a pretty face to not a good model make.

now here's the deal.  i'll give you my list of 10 tips...if you respond with a few tips of your own for the photographer's you work with to make your shoots as good as they can be.

01.  chapstick. buy it. lot's of it.  i see too many amazing models with amazing skin show up with lips that look like they could use some sandpaper. or hydrochloric acid. hydrate, keep them moist -- and don't show up to a shoot with flaky lips.  it's no fun to edit.

02. speaking of hydrating, keep at it. seriously. drink tons of water. most of you are now of drinking age and tend to drink. lots.  drinking water will keep your skin glowing and help flush out the six margaritas you downed last night.  sure, we can moisturize your skin...but naturally glowing skin means less retouching...and means you can get your pics faster.

03. get o.k. with blinking.  sure...photographer's hate getting "the" shot only to find out you've blinked but do us a favor and don't force your eyes open for the duration of the shoot.  blinking hydrates your eyes and creates a nice surface for light to bounce...and keeps you from giving us crazy eye (that thing that happens when you force your eyes open too long)...so go for it. blink every now and then.

04.  know the brief.  if you're photographer is asking you for marlon brando, stop giving coco rocha.  make sure you know what you're walking into, google some stuff (or ask your photographer for reference images) and communicate regularly with your photographer.  also, remember what you think looks "fierce" may look strained in camera so get in front of your mirror and give your self some good face time before the shoot.

05.  while i don't necessarily mind "escorts", if you feel the need to bring one, odds are you don't trust the photographer. no matter how you slice it, this tension and lack of trust will show up in the photos. it's not a good look.  ask to meet the photographer in a brightly lit location before you commit to a shoot.  don't show up on guard or it'll show in the photos & make things awkward for everyone.

06.  speaking of meeting before hand...it's a good idea either way.  at least see if you can friend them on FB.  you're about to spend upwards of a full day with this person so get to know them a little bit.  a little small talk can go a long way.  you know, make sure it's someone you want to hang out with.  hell, in the real world of agency models just about every photographer meets the model before working together.  it just makes sense so don't assume the photographer is trying to 'hook-up'.  they just want to see you without all that photoshop and strained posing.

07.  and STILL on this topic, if you haven't worked with a photographer before, don't expect a huge set up, hair, MUA, locations and styling.  in fact, some photographers cast on-set, nabbing a few shots before committing to a model.  other photographers (myself included) will focus on getting really simple shots with minimal hair and make-up. it's only when you are really getting some great shots, that some photographers will invite you to another shoot with tons more bells and whistles but most photographers aren't going to make you their "star" pupil without first making sure the vibe is right and that you guys make a stellar team.

08.  a selfie now and then in your portfolio can be great. it can show tons of personality and let's photographers know your "go to" expressions, poses, etc. but keep them to a minimum.  sure, you might be anxious to fill those photo slots allotted by your membership but keep it high and tight.  too many selfies might suggest to some you don't want to work with other people -- or don't have the goods to book a solid shoot.

09.  it's essentially common knowledge that we all want to make money in this industry but don't expect any photographer will pay you cash money for a shoot if it looks like you've got a portfolio you yourself hasn't invested in.  groom your portfolio and know that any decent photographer in any decent market can shoot literally hundreds of agency models for free.  don't get me wrong.  you can make some cash, but your portfolio should look like money before you should start asking for it.  i can't imagine any photographer shelling out there good hard-earned cash on a model whose portfolio wreaks of selfies and shots your cousin took of you by the pool at your family reunion. hell, we have equipment to buy.

10.  most importantly, have fun with it.  this is MM and it represents a massive collection of talent.  sure, you may want to do "fashion" and only the "glamour" photographers, etc. contact you...don't diss it.  different people aspire to (and are inspired by) different things.  we all have our own goals so try to remain open to the opportunities and professional relationships you can build on MM.

that's all for now...looking forward to hearing some of your tips for us!

My #1 tip would be:-

- Don't start a thread in the model forum with a condescending lecture on how they should do their job, duh.






Just my $0.02 etc. etc.

Another Italian Guy wrote:

My #1 tip would be:-

- Don't start a thread in the model forum with a condescending lecture on how they should do their job, duh.






Just my $0.02 etc. etc.

wasn't intended to be condescending...but to each their own i guess.

Hi_Spade Photography wrote:
Is it too early for ?

never too early.

P I X I E wrote:
I bet you would really appreciate models going into the Photography forum and telling photographers how to do their job.

Yawn. I thought those tips were super obvious.

i actually asked for tips from you so bring them on.

oh, and remember, you've been modeling for some time (35K+ posts in the forum suggest that)...others aren't as fortunate to have the same experience as you.

Another Italian Guy wrote:

My #1 tip would be:-

- Don't start a thread in the model forum with a condescending lecture on how they should do their job, duh.






Just my $0.02 etc. etc.

Just thought I would say it is not a model's forum rather a forum on modeling.  Don't be so jaded and closed minded.

jahnhall wrote:

i actually asked for tips from you so bring them on.

oh, and remember, you've been modeling for some time (35K+ posts in the forum suggest that)...others aren't as fortunate to have the same experience as you.

Thing is, I knew those 'tips' quite early on, probably a few months after I started modeling (which I have been doing on and off for the past 6 years). The people you think would benefit from them probably don't even look at the forums.

You're not exactly reinventing the wheel here.

Herman Surkis wrote:
The newbs who need the 10 points and all the others (check out a couple of excellent books, written by a couple of MM models), will likely not even look. When they get some experience, and realize that they don't know it all, will they actually look and pay attention. (ran into a photographer like that recently, at a workshop).

Yup.

Risen Phoenix Photo wrote:
Don't be so jaded and closed minded.

Quoted for irony in the context of the OP.







Just my $0.02 etc. etc.

P I X I E wrote:
OP, you probably mean well, but these threads never end well around here.

i do mean well -- and to be honest, perhaps a bit different for some of the male models than it is the female models.  i usually share these bits with some of them -- and they're all like "woah, chapstick"...i know it sounds silly, but it's true.

Koryn wrote:
I really wanted to Rick Roll this thread, but decided last minute that would be immature, so I resisted the urge.

i mean, i ain't mad at rick...by all means roll it.

MelissaAnn  wrote:
I think it would be better if it were titled something like "10 Suggestions for Newbie Models" without the "duh" part at the end (that's the part that makes it seem condescending to some).  Most of the points are pretty obvious to anyone who's been modeling for more than a few months, and some of them are just your personal opinions.

Example: Using chapstick actually makes chapped lips worse for many people (like me) unless they consistently apply it 100 times a day all winter long, which isn't convenient or even possible most of the time.  It wears off quickly, and many people's lips are even dryer and flakier after that.  Exfoliating with a good lip scrub and following with a moisturizing primer prior to shooting/applying lip color is a much better suggestion for soft pretty lips in my opinion.

I agree here.

This list didn't rub me the wrong way too much.

The one about "expecting a full team" is odd. How on earth can you show up to a shoot with not so much as COMMUNICATION about whether there will be a team or not? How will you know whether to show up bare faced/no product, natural makeup, or smokey eyed with hair done?

And also in the real world of "agency models" it really depends on the agency and the model, but most of the time our package is sent out, the photographer and agency decide which models will go, and we show up to the test. There is not often a "pre-meeting." We go to castings for paid jobs, but rarely for tests. I've only done that twice through my agency.