The Original Sin  wrote:
I'm copypastaing this from another thread.  I'm editing it to be generalized, and make more sense for this.

When you start considering going full-time, take a good hard look at your profile on modeling websites.  Do you have all sorts of requirements and demands?  Are you working with tiered rates, or do you have a huge, screaming block of text saying NO NUDES, DON'T EVEN ASK, I HAVE STANDARDS/AM NOT A WHORE/LOVE BABY JESUS!? Are you demanding final approval of pictures, or requiring that you bring an escort without previous discussion of their presence?

(Note:  THIS IS NOT AN ESCORT ISSUE.  I don't care if you want one or not, but you need to negotiate such things politely beforehand, and if the photographer says no, either go without or don't go.  Do not show up on set with an unannounced escort- it's just rude, like bringing a dog to someone's house without asking first.  Yes, it may be well-trained (or not) but some people are allergic,or they may have dogs of their own that don't like company!)

Now, look at your profile as if YOU were the photographer or client, and analyze it from a BUSINESS STANDPOINT.  Would you want to work with someone who presents their resume in this manner?

If I was looking to hire a model, I would bypass a portfolio without looking, based on the following criteria:

-your bio is worded in such a way that I would be concerned about your attitude on set.  As a general rule, models in the internet modeling genre need to be personable first, and pretty second.  It doesn't matter how pretty you are if people think your attitude stinks.

-a list of requirements or demands.  You don't walk into an interview and immediately tell an employer that you need this and that, a personal assistant, and a company car before you will even consider working for them.  They will laugh at you and say "Next."

-Do your rates read like a cathouse menu?  So much for casual, so much for glamour, so much for implied, so much for topless, so much for nudes....  Come on, we're being hired to do a job.  We're not selling ourselves by the pound.

-Do you have a bunch of irrelevant information, or is your profile worded in the third person?  Is your profile well written, clear, concise and (FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!) following the basic rules of English language and grammar?

If not, there's a problem.  If this looks like your profile, even just a little bit, there is a MAJOR problem:

LaModele was always goin 2 B a STAR!!! She likes long walks and hawt grrrrrlz, and puppies are teh kewtz. XD!!!  NO NUDES CUZ I HAZ A JESUS!

LaModele always brings her Aunty J33-Doodle and LaModele's boyfriend, and if u don't want them there u r not a professional! U has 2 have a bangin' portfolio, full studio, and tearsheets before u can shoot LaModele.

$100/hr for fashion work, $200/hr for swimsuits, lingerie or glamour.

I will only get n00d for Playboy!

I would reword the bio, eliminate some of the "requirements" and work at promoting personality above looks for a while.  You may be as sweet as spun sugar, but what you have written doesn't show that right now, and will not help you in setting your rates.  A basic bio works much better when worded like so:


If you're new and do not yet have a massive stockpile of references and images in a wide range to show, right now you will probably do best by asking "What is the budget for this shoot" rather than saying "These are my rates."  Build up a reputation as an excellent model to work with first, and as your reference list and credits grow, you can start negotiating higher rates.

Also, a lot of photographers call it "stripper rates" if you set it so that your price goes up as your clothes come off.  I tend to agree.  You're better off, if you are determined to set rates, to set a flat hourly, half-day and full-day rate, and negotiate from there.

So0o if a photographer doesnt want other people ther, wat u supposed to do if u wanna bring MUA or stylist????????

Miss Bonnie Rose wrote:
So0o if a photographer doesnt want other people ther, wat u supposed to do if u wanna bring MUA or stylist????????

In general; photographers don't object to a MUA or stylist.  On the other hand, if you're getting paid, it doesn't really matter.  Maybe their concept doesn't call for a MUA or stylist, or their budget doesn't allow for one.

Abigail Rye wrote:
Thanks! Very helpful.

Checks her profile.

Right.

Miss Bonnie Rose wrote:

So0o if a photographer doesnt want other people ther, wat u supposed to do if u wanna bring MUA or stylist????????

Please, please, please.  Tell me you posted in text-speak as a deliberate joke?

And I have never heard of a photographer who had an issue with other industry professionals on set.


Also, to add to earlier things I have said:

Be prepared to lose all of the following if you choose to model in anything REMOTELY risque, especially if you do so secretly and anyone finds out:

- friends
- family connections
- jobs
- respect from peers

This is a fact.  My family and friends have disowned me and taken me back into the fold so many times I've lost count- until I finally cut ties with them.  I had to make a choice- the job and art I love and that supports me, or the people who claim they love me and do nothing but beat me down.  You will be called a whore, a freak, a pervert, disgusting, worthless, trash... the list could go on forever.  You will be embarrassed and humiliated if they can manage it, you will be treated as a lower life form.

I am fortunate that the people I have in my life now- the few I kept and the few I have grown to know and love- are strong people who love and support me whether I'm rocking it in blue jeans and a sweater or waltzing around nude in Miami (which, for the record, I did indeed get paid for, contrary to earlier statements about Miami photographers).  I chose to live my life, in a healthy, less-stressful manner by eliminating the toxic people from my life, and choosing NOT to hide the fact that I am an art nude and fetish model.  YMMV, of course, but I have yet to see it work out well for someone to try and hide EVERYTHING about their modeling work for fear of being discovered.  It's like having an affair- eventually you're going to get caught.

There is a GREAT thread around called "No, it's YOU disappointing ME."  Read it, bookmark it.  You will run into this attitude a lot in life, from all sorts of sources- even from photographers (as one very rude example in this thread shows).

Also- learn to say no.  It's really okay to tell someone "No, I can't do this."  This applies to offers for TF, low-paid shoots, concepts, wardrobe choices or lack thereof, dangerous stunts for a scene, poses or props.

And LEAVE if you are already on set and they are pushing for more than you are happy and comfortable with.  Say no, and if they keep pushing, grab your phone, your stuff, and start packing up.  If they keep pushing or gods forbid, try to force you to stay, threaten you, etc, tell them "I can leave now, or I can leave with a police escort.  It is entirely up to you."

A well-timed and serious statement of intent is better than a million freakouts.

Mizz Amanda Marie wrote:

THIS! OMG THIS! This is so personally relevant to me. I'm so glad you mentioned this. There are so many things I thought I wouldn't ever do when I first started that I'm totally cool with and even enjoy now and some people close to me just don't get that I'm progressing. They see it as a slippery slope leading me somewhere they can't see... wondering how far I'll go before this is all said and done. I don't feel that way about it at all. I feel extremely comfortable in my own skin and I'm in control of what I want to do. But I'm loving having very few limitations.

Oh my gosh, thank you. You just quoted my mom exactly. she loves the phrase slippery slope. And while I'm not going to change because of what she says, it's great to see people who can accept that this is a growth and reevaluation of my morals, rather than a degenerative slide into prostitution.

MO Rina wrote:
Great advice.  I would add:

Remember that your online persona is your brand.  Protect it, control it, nurture it. Realize that every time you post publicly here, someone may decide to hire you or not hire you. 

Remember that every time you burn a bridge rather than communicate and act professionally, you lose out on all the referrals and goodwill that may have come your way too.

Understand that you will gain fans who may seek you out in real life. Be careful what you release for public knowledge.

+1

Nadeshiko Yamato wrote:
*chants* Sticky! Sticky! Sticky!
...Sticky! Sticky! Sticky! (If we chant it enough it'll totally happen )

That just sounds disgusting

Masqued Mandie wrote:
So this thread got me wondering -- do you use your stage name when communicating with photographers? When you meet them in person do you expect to be called by your stage name or do you use your real name and just ask that the stage name be attached to the photos?

Photographers only know my real name when I sign a release at the end of the shoot