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Tina Desaro | VIP Member | Verified Credits (10)

Model: Tina Desaro; Photographer: Gary Miller Foto & TheNormGallerys

Where are you from? Where are you based now and do you travel for shoots?

I was born and raised in Michigan. I’m based in Las Vegas and travel to California once in a while for modeling jobs.  I will travel for work but don’t consider myself a “traveling model” since most of my modeling work is done in Las Vegas.

Who or what inspired you to become a model?

I dreamed of being a model my whole life, it is something I always wanted to do.

How and when did you start modeling?

I first had some professional modeling pictures taken in 2004 but I then realized I needed to get to get in better shape and learn how to do my makeup and hair a lot better, and to develop posing skills. In about 6 months I was able to get in better shape and then started to do many TFP type photo shoots to gain experience, improve posing skills and build my portfolio. I also learned how to do my own makeup by watching makeup artists do my makeup. By 2005 I had a few good pictures, continued to learn posing skills and slowly built a better portfolio by working with many talented photographers, mostly TFP but a few I paid as well. In 2010 I started get more work and that grew until I was working regularly by 2012.

Model: Tina Desaro; Photographer: Blacktop Media

What type of modeling do you enjoy most?

My favorite type of modeling is outdoor location photo shoots. I love being outdoors and love the natural light look in pictures.

What do you look for when deciding to work with a photographer?

I am willing to work with photographers at all skill levels for paid shoots as long as he has a professional quality portfolio. The few times I am able to do TFP I look for photographers who have high quality images in their portfolio that are in a genre I am interested in shooting.

Which models or other artists currently inspire you?

There are many models and photographers that inspire me. The list is too long to name them all here but the types of models and photographers that inspire me are those who have amazing skills that show through in their portfolio. I have a list on my profile that shows just a few of my favorites.

Model: Tina Desaro; Photographer: Philipe

What would be your dream shoot?

My dream shoot is an amazing beach location, which I have been lucky enough to do many times already, and hope to do many more in the future. I love to do photo shoots by the ocean or other water locations.

How important is social media in your success?

Social media is very important for self-promotion but I get all of my modeling work off of Model Mayhem, and other online modeling or agency websites, not Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat or Facebook directly.

What else do you like to do outside of modeling?

I love to travel and visit family and friends, when I have the time, but modeling related activities, such as marketing myself and going to gym take up about 99% of my time, so there’s very little free time.

Model: Tina Desaro; Photographer: Axium Photography

What’s the best career advice you can give to new models?

The best advice I can give to new models is be prepared to spend a lot of time marketing yourself and building a good quality portfolio, showing a variety of images. I also advise spending a little money to for high quality images from excellent photographers in the type/genre of modeling you are interested in, but only do this when you have enough practice with TFP type shoots.

Not all models are naturally good a posing, doing hair and makeup, etc. It might take a lot of practice and more time for some models to be successful than others, depending on skills they already have, or don’t have as in my case. It took me many years to learn posing skills, makeup techniques, etc. In addition, be sure you research all agencies, companies and photographers before you decide to pursue any casting calls, photo shoot requests, etc.

Model: Tina Desaro; Photographer: John Farrar

Instagram: @exoticjewellive | Facebook: @tinadesaro1