The characteristics of great models and photographers
This article is written by a member of our expert community. It expresses that member’s views only. We welcome other perspectives. Here’s how to contribute to MM EDU.
Great models and photographers share many similar characteristics. Here are five that stand out.
1. They provide consistently great work
Almost everyone has shot an amazing photo or was the star in someone else’s photograph. But shoot after shoot, professionals always get it done well. It is rare that you find a “bad” shoot–even in the worst conditions and with everything going wrong, professionals find a way to make it happen.
Model: Kirsty Lingman
When I look through a portfolio (whether photography or modeling) I can tell who has experience and is a professional. Everything in their portfolio shows consistent quality. I look at most portfolios and see one (or a few) amazing shots. But when it looks like the other half of photos were taken by another photographer or just don’t have the same quality, I know they’ve still got a way to go.
With professional models, such as Kirsty Lingman, you get consistently great looks throughout a shoot. From this shoot for Kandyshop bikinis, all I had to do was snap the shutter and every time she gave me a great pose and expression. There were maybe a handful of photos I rejected because I snapped a photo when she wasn’t ready. In fact, with a great model, the hardest part of the shoot is picking out which ones are the best — because there are so many to choose from.
2. They have taken enough photos that things become natural
My friend came up with a saying that as a photographer, you don’t know who you are and what your style is until after you’ve “broken a shutter.” This roughly equates to taking 100,000 photos or more. This applies to models too. Until then, there is just so much to learn and think about and be conscious of that you can barely keep afloat. Under the best of conditions you feel overwhelmed. If anything changes or a curveball is thrown your way, you freak out. But then you reach a magical point where things start to click. Shoots start flowing naturally and you get your first whispers of confidence. Franchesca DC shows us how she can strike pose after pose knowing exactly how she looks because she has shot so many times.
Model: Franchesca DC
3. They are always pushing themselves and learning
After you “break your shutter cherry” is when you really start learning. Things are now under enough control that you can start learning how to shoot in manual mode, or confidently pose without needing to look in a mirror. Top professionals are always pushing themselves because they all know that they don’t know everything. In fact, it seems that the more I learn, the more I realize I have so much more to learn. This is one reason I always feel like my best shoot is the last shoot I did.
4. They have evolved their own style and way of doing things
Models develop a “character” that shows through in many of their photos. Photographers develop a “style.” Most (if not all) professionals have shot so many photos, learned so many things, and tried so many techniques that they know their style and can make that shot time and time again.
Going back to my friend, Aaron Riveroll, when I’m scrolling through Model Mayhem or Facebook, I instantly spot his photos without having to look for his logo. Aaron has a defined style that is uniquely his. Models have a “look” that they become known for. You only reach this point when you have taken enough photos, pushed yourself and learned enough about your craft that you realize what YOU uniquely bring to a photo.
5. They have the innate talent to succeed
If you are a successful model, you are blessed to have good looks (granted, there are different definitions and criteria here). If you aren’t 5’11” chances are you won’t become a runway model. It won’t matter how hard you work on your posing or how many crunches you do, it won’t happen. Unfortunately, this is just a harsh reality of the world.
An unfortunate reality for models is that you have to be born with a certain look. But just because you consider yourself “good looking” doesn’t mean you can be a successful model. There is a lot of hard work to put in. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you are a great model and gorgeous like Elena Churikova.
Model: Elena Churikova
As a photographer, you won’t be successful if you don’t have some artistic ability or a natural “eye.” There are many photographers who know everything there is to know technically, have the best equipment, and have been shooting since George Washington was president. But if they don’t have that eye, their photos will always be lacking. Are top models and photographers born? Or built? I say both. You need to start with some innate talent. But what you do with that talent is up to you. Those who put in the necessary hard work become professionals.
Put these five characteristics together and you get the perfect professional. If you find yourself lacking in one area or another, that’s what to focus on to bring yourself up to where you want and need to be.
November 20, 2013 at 3:57 pm, April Hunter said:
I think model should have a port that doesn’t have a) more than ONE photo from any given shoot b) a variety of looks and styling and c) a range of facial expressions to be considered versatile. Wigs, various hair styles, different makeup, body paint or fake tattoos…a variety of backgrounds–and no same-y or vacant expressions. If I don’t see these things it screams amateur or inexperienced.
November 16, 2011 at 9:21 am, Ara7 said:
Very good and true.
November 01, 2011 at 6:38 am, Thequb37 said:
Great read, and nice link!
November 01, 2011 at 4:39 am, Samuel Altidor said:
Great article. Makes lots of sense.
November 01, 2011 at 3:24 am, FATAL said:
I work with fashion runway supermodels (Joan Smalls – just got the nod to be Chanel’s leading lady, Anais Mali, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley), glamour (my magazines, MAXIM, Black Men Magazine, Smooth Girls Magazine, SHOW The Art Of Sexy Magazine), & adult models (Playboy, Penthouse, Hustler), and each category of modeling requires something different. However, height is only required for the runway fashion model. You have to be in the 105 lbs to 114lbs range, & anywhere from 5′-8″ to 5′-11″. All the glamour, & adult models I work with vary in height (4′-11″ to 5′-11″), torso width, hips, thighs, breast size, & everything else. They are all beautiful as well. So to all the ladies who are struggling to find a right place, glamour, & adult have the widest range of body types & looks. Ethnic magazines like some of mine I mentioned, love curvy voluptuous women as well as slim women. Voluptuous women like Coco aka Nicole Austin, who I have had in my magazines, & produced her reality show “Ice Loves Coco” on E!, has benefited from the wide range of physiques in the glamour & adult industry when she wasn’t given much of a shot to win a title in her Hawaiian Tropic Pageant days. So ladies, if you have a gorgeous face, and have a sexy figure (I emphasize), then you have more of a shot then you think! FATAL
November 01, 2011 at 1:16 am, Not a porn star. said:
I hate to be rude – but the models look like porn starts, and the quality of the photoshoot is fairly poor.
Sorry, truth hurts.
October 31, 2011 at 10:49 pm, Helium Xenon said:
Love this article 🙂
October 31, 2011 at 8:51 pm, Tom Bove said:
Great article. I agree with all you say, but in two of the three photos you’ve shown in the article, the girls are posing flat and wide to the camera. That’s posing 101.
October 31, 2011 at 6:19 pm, Sam Negrete said:
Guys, take a chill pill
Fine if you liked it….. if you didnt just move on.
Im not saying hes right or wrong but i see he’s trying to compile a bit of info and share it…hes not shoving it down your throat, if you didnt like it you should have just closed the page.
it seem like most “photographers replying should learn some ethics, and not be so insecure about their own work that they boost their ego by negatively criticizing others work.
Many of your peers will think your work is awesome, yet many more think its junk….SO WHAT?? If you having a good time, learning and hopefully paying the bills happy and stop being a douche and point out better tips and avidly help improve others, instead of bitching about everything you don’t agree with.
As for being a pro or not, all of us learn something new everyday (at least i hope)
Have a great day….
-SAM
November 02, 2011 at 2:10 pm, Jlcimages said:
Well Said
November 07, 2011 at 8:02 am, Angel Nguyen said:
seriously why so many haters
October 31, 2011 at 2:45 pm, Model T said:
Where’s the “realism”…I’ve always believed that if a model is GOOD–he/she should fit into “almost” any type of “casting call”. Models should have a diverse “look” that is able to morph into any genre of photography. Personally, I don’t fit into the category of being a fashion model, b/c I’ve never been 100 lbs and emaciated, however, I’ve done everything from commercial/editorial to fetish.
November 06, 2011 at 4:08 am, FATAL said:
The majority of models will get stereotyped into a category Model T. It doesn’t matter if their look is diverse. Tall slim runway models with a great look can probably do lingerie, & swimsuit, which is more in the glamour modeling range (with the exception of high fashion names like Victoria’s Secret, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue). However, well known fashion models build a persona, along with photographers, who work within their genre. Her agent will be looking to keep her going where she is strongest. That will be the selling point which produces a positive career. Only when a diversified guy like me comes along, who is a film/tv producer/agent, magazine owner/fashion designer/agent, could opportunities to diversify come along. Example: I’m a producer with the next installment of 007 James Bond called “Skyfall”. We just found a model named MariaCarla Boscono. Now we cast models in every Bond film, however, there will only be one picked. We cast Alessandra Ambrossio in “Casino Royale”, & Olga Kurylenko in “Quantum Of Solace”. Those opportunities to diversify are slim. Glamour models for the most part don’t make good fashion models. Body type, & height are all factors. Then there’s always the perception of the model. That right there will keep her in a specific genre in the field. I work with a model name Jenna Bentley. She’s beautiful, 5′-11″, DD, 119 lbs. As much as I love her, she’s not a natural fashion model. Her breasts are too big for that field, & even if she was perfect to diversify into the fashion industry, she is already perceived as an excellent glamour/adult model. It’s her selling point. Which is the very reason that she is so successful! It keeps her career going as well. Remember, this is a business, don’t get caught up in being too artistic & diversify if you can’t make a living at it as well. FATAL
October 31, 2011 at 1:45 am, Gross said:
Those girls are damn ugly and so photo shopped they look like cartoons. They look like low class dumpster hookers.
October 31, 2011 at 4:38 pm, Amanda Schick said:
*hi fives*
October 30, 2011 at 6:35 pm, MamboPhoto said:
Cheap plug for Glamtography, whoever they are.
Thought spam wasn’t allowed on MM??? Jeez…..
The images aren’t even that good, plenty better here on MM.
October 30, 2011 at 3:05 pm, Angel said:
Actually it’s 5’9 minimum, for catwalk modelling. Yes all the article images are glamour modelling, so i assume this article is written by a professional glamour photographer, published in top magazines/newspapers? (Glamour is only one style of modelling of course). The author forgets to mention the fact that, without the right connections- especially in fashion- even with all the beauty,talent and hard work in the world, it will still be difficult to progress. There is also the fact that there are now on average 4000 new applicants per each (established) model agency per week, plus there was an overall 12% reduction in the fashion industry budget last year for creative advertising etc.. So becoming a fulltime professional model and obtaining the 100,000 hours in front of the camera (original quote was by a philosopher i believe, who actually said it takes 100,000 hours practise for any human to become good at anything) is not so simple as just posessing said “5 characteristics”…
October 31, 2011 at 11:22 pm, biomechanist said:
11,000 hrs actually, for something to become considered a reflex. It is based in research in the sporting and biomechanics areas.
October 29, 2011 at 8:19 pm, Julian Wilde said:
You can have all of the above and still blend into the woodwork, if you don’t have the skills to “network.” 😉
October 29, 2011 at 8:15 pm, Julian Wilde said:
I would add: And they don’t repeat themselves unnecessarily. -JULIAN
October 29, 2011 at 8:14 pm, reuben dixon said:
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
October 29, 2011 at 5:47 pm, J P said:
Maybe it’s just me but, I think the characteristics should have been numbered so that they’re not mistaken for simple paragraph headings. Also, I think the article should have separated models from photographers, as in two different articles because my first impression was you’re writing more about modeling versus photographing. And then, the article does seem more like a personal plug. I got no problem with people doing that but, the title of the article should elude to it because, your paragraphs fell short of explaining the characteristics recognizably enough to prevent me from walking away feeling like I wasted my time (that includes writing my 2 cents), when I should have been in the shower and getting an oil change for my car. Nonetheless, I give you an E for Effort. Not that coming here to be a grader was my original intent. Take it for what it is, another opinion.
October 29, 2011 at 3:13 pm, Dave Alan said:
I am not sure I see the point of your article, it isn’t as though it’s new information? It seems more like a place to showcase glamtography work and dig up old information that isn’t really relevant just to accomplish this.
It isn’t misinformation in most respects but the one statement you make I disagree with and I quote you “An unfortunate reality for models is that you have to be born with a certain look. But just because you consider yourself “good looking” doesn’t mean you can be a successful model. There is a lot of hard work to put in. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you are a great model and gorgeous like Elena Churikova.”
Define Great, gorgeous? Not everyone will find Elena their cup of tea and I believe it is just your opinion….not a blue print to what is or isn’t beautiful. Every model is unique and appealing to someone…I don’t see how you can write articles and expect no resistance to what you are saying with such little experience….free will of course.
January 07, 2014 at 1:52 pm, cjs711 said:
Well… kinda yes and kinda no on needing to be born with a “certain look”. There are certain things that have to be there – good clear skin, nice eyes, etc. But in truth, a lot of us are looking for that unique yet photogenic look – NOT the certain, cookie-cutter look. The plug for Elena was gratuitous and yeah – opened the door for disagreement. But sadly, he is correct that everyone is not born with the looks it takes to be a model – if so, everybody could be a successful model; all they’d need is the right agent and right photographer. ‘Tain’t so – it’s a two-way street, model and photographer.
October 29, 2011 at 9:26 am, K3200 said:
In any profession having the technical knowledge and skills is important, but a person will not succeed by adhering these above characteristics alone.
October 29, 2011 at 5:46 am, Nunya said:
That word “professional” keeps getting thrown around a lot. Why is it no one adds the “characteristic” of ethics into the mix? I know several “professional” photographers that have consistently great photos, get published, etc, yet have ethics worse than someone skulking in the dark alleys looking for someone to take advantage of.
Please, when using the word “professional” add something about ethics in there, too.
October 29, 2011 at 9:12 am, 5555 said:
what would the guy writing this know about being a professional? look at his portfolio. come on mayhem… why do you let people like this write this crap?
October 29, 2011 at 12:32 pm, David said:
really?,
he took the time to write an article which has some merit to it.
let’s see how much better you can do since you’re SO opinionated.
October 30, 2011 at 2:13 am, btruong said:
Your response wasn’t directed toward me, but I have to respectfully disagree. I don’t think this article has any merit at all. Let’s be honest here, the whole purpose of him submitting this article wasn’t to help educate, it was to drive traffic to his portfolio/blog. In fact, I think all of this photographer’s articles previously appeared on his blog, but got little to no traffic there, which is why he’s now posting it here.
Regardless of the reason he wrote, I just don’t think it’s useful because, well, it doesn’t say anything useful. He constantly attributes adjectives like “amazing” and “great” to his work, but his images, quite frankly, suck. The only thing CONSISTENT about his stuff is that it’s terrible.
November 04, 2011 at 12:32 pm, ~Danny said:
I must agree with the above. This article is a plug, and I’m beginning to think “Edu” is a bit of a sham 🙁 For starters, if it was truly for educational purposes then the links to the…*ahem* ‘beautiful’ models (with flat lighting, and who apparently ‘know their angles’ although I SWEAR I saw a couple distant relatives of the Pillsbury Doughboy up in there). The article itself had some good points, debatable points, and points that were ridiculous. Not finding your style til 100K clicks? Not shooting M til around the same time? I call BS. Students come outta school shooting RAW & in manual. I’m self-taught, and I shot PSAM in 92 days. Nothing but manual 2-months after that. I’m NOT an oddity. This is a reality, commonality :O
And I agree: lighting is flat, and some of the models were poorly-directed, and when they clearly did NOT know their angles, photographers failed to correct it while shooting. No biggie, until they slip BY!!! Models #1 & #2 look stiff & over-posed. #3 has rolls showing on her left side. Lighting is flat. Article contradicts itself. Good idea, educational material on MM. But *please* do not spread misinformation! The noobs…the poor, poor noobs…
~D
January 15, 2012 at 9:28 pm, RT300Z said:
Without the original article, the post opinions and additional info would not have taken place.
October 29, 2011 at 5:28 am, really? said:
the only things worse than this article is the over-photoshopped and poorly exposed photos he attached to it.
of course Francesca knows “exactly how she looks” because she has the same vacant expression in every shot in her portfolio.
October 30, 2011 at 2:15 am, btruong said:
Agree completely. I’m not going to criticize the models, because they’re not the ones who submitted this crappy article, but it looks like the photographer took a jackhammer to their faces, seeing how blurred they are. Honestly, they’re probably as embarrased as I am for the writer.
October 29, 2011 at 1:09 am, David Lee said:
the only problem i have with this article is that with glamour, it is easy to fake being good because the model is beautiful/sexy/naked
January 07, 2014 at 1:57 pm, cjs711 said:
Well…. who do they fool? The public is easily fooled, we know that. Experts are often ‘fooled’ by big names – they don’t dare say an Annie Leibowitz is anything but good. And in our society, sex can rescue in its own way an otherwise bad photo, unfortunately.
October 28, 2011 at 10:35 pm, finnegan said:
I disagree with your assessment. I think if you have a hard time picking which photos to keep “because they are all so good”… then you simply aren’t being critical enough.
Many great, famous, super-talented, amateur photographers alike will make 100 captures and only end up with 5 shots that they consider “great”… if that.
October 28, 2011 at 9:02 pm, Bill Brennan said:
Is this education or opinion?
October 29, 2011 at 12:21 am, illused said:
If you took a grain of salt for everything that you read on the internet that you don’t pay for, you might have heart problems. But metaphorically, that means taking it all as opinion. Which can be educating, even if it just shows you what someone else thinks.
October 28, 2011 at 5:04 pm, semi234 said:
1. “When I look through a portfolio (whether photography or modeling) I can tell who has experience and is a professional.”
Just a reminder that having experience & being a professional are to completely seperate things.
2. “Most (if not all) professionals have shot so many photos, learned so many things, and tried so many techniques that they know their style and can make that shot time and time again.”
Some would also say that those people have found their comfort zone & have stopped trying to push themselves.
October 29, 2011 at 12:25 am, illused said:
I’d just say nice shots to Kirsty and Francesca, and obviously GLAMtography! Well done!
October 29, 2011 at 7:55 am, 5555 said:
you are insane