|
Forums >
General Industry >
How do I get anyywhere without an agency!?
I just do not understand how people get anywhere without being signed to an agency, I know a ton of people do it but I just have no idea how to go about doing it by myself. I do not do glamour/nudes or lingerie so it is harder to find REAL paying jobs! I need advice/help! And I would just apply at an agency but they need a certain height which I am not Jan 31 13 12:25 pm Link Network, network, network. Work your ass off and network some more. Jan 31 13 12:28 pm Link WhitneyNoelle wrote: The real world answer is that 95% of paid fashion work goes to agency models in most markets. There may be some boutiques that pay models for advertising work that may be more flexible about height, but most are not. Glamour, swimwear, nude, and promotional work is a much better opportunity for paid work for most models under 5'8". Jan 31 13 12:31 pm Link DivaEroticus wrote: +100 Jan 31 13 12:31 pm Link DivaEroticus wrote: That. Work the social media for all it's worth. The successful non-agency models I know all keep very active on Facebook, Twitter and the rest. Be sure you have a FB modeling page, work to build a fanbase, and update regularly at least 3 or 4 times a week. Jan 31 13 12:37 pm Link Well, you're in Milwaukee besides the other things you've and others have mentioned. Chicago is just 1.5 hours away. Jan 31 13 12:41 pm Link I think with your height limitations & the fact you're not willing to shoot glamour, lingerie or nudes you'll find it very hard to get paid work. Just my thoughts ~ MR Jan 31 13 12:43 pm Link 1. Pose nude. 2. Network. 3. Travel. 4. Impress every photographer you work with. 5. Network more. = $ Jan 31 13 12:44 pm Link Michael Pandolfo wrote: +1 Jan 31 13 12:46 pm Link WhitneyNoelle wrote: Then I would have to ask...who would you expect to hire you? You don't meet fashion standards. You don't shoot glamour, nude or lingerie. What is left? Fitness? That's a very small niche so unless you're a bodybuilding or published national champion fitness competitor, I don't see the demand. Jan 31 13 12:48 pm Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: Nooooooooooo! I hear Eliza C's footsteps coming! Jan 31 13 12:48 pm Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: I just choked on my coffee laughing at that. ~Shakes fist~ Damn you! Jan 31 13 01:01 pm Link Thank you all for replying! You are absolutely right- beggars can't be choosers! I need to be more open to different types of modeling Jan 31 13 01:06 pm Link I should have said published work instead of paid - I don't have rates, I just love the idea of ny images being published but its hard to land those "published gigs" without an agency, networking is my best bet Jan 31 13 01:09 pm Link Basically, you are going to have to spend a lot of time online. Jan 31 13 01:09 pm Link WhitneyNoelle wrote: There is no magic answer for that. Jan 31 13 01:11 pm Link DivaEroticus wrote: You know... every once in a while Diva says something really smart! WhitneyNoelle wrote: yes. Don't do anything that goes against your morals or that you really don't want to do. But the more you're willing to do, the more opportunities you will have coming your way. Jan 31 13 05:11 pm Link Milwaukee is quite an active "fashion" town with a lot of work for Carsons (and all their sub brands) and Kohl's being shot there. Many times they look for the "every day girl" type from the agencies and there are a few of those in Milwaukee. If that doesn't work for you try working with the top drawer people such as Taylor, etc. And then there is Chicago, about an hour south. There are tons of good people here, photographers as well as agencies. I like your drive and dedication that you feel for your baby; even half of that energy poured into your work as a model is going to pay off. Go make a lot of different pictures with new photogs. Jan 31 13 05:14 pm Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: *dies* Jan 31 13 05:15 pm Link Most successful freelance models generally live in decent sized markets and/or travel extensively. Location is really important. Jan 31 13 05:17 pm Link WhitneyNoelle wrote: I don't know much about the greater industry, but from what I do know, the bold part is the trouble part. If you DID do glamour/nude, you can make a perfectly good living without representation. But to really get into the fashion/commercial work without a reputable agency, you're going to need to know the right people, be at the right place at the right time (and be available for it) and hustle your butt off. Jan 31 13 05:17 pm Link I beg to disagree somewhat, I do have a couple non exclusive agencies but my Mom actually gets me most the work I do. Am I making bank...no but hey my shoots are paid enough to suit me for now, I model for companies all over the world, have fun and make some at workshops- trade shows- do extra work on tv and film- and do portfolio shoots at art colleges. But you do have to network your butt off to get noticed and hired Oh, and clothing stays on too lol oh and one last thing I live in Po-dunk Alabama haha Jan 31 13 05:25 pm Link one of my models does art nudes and has been exhibited in a gallery. she works both the west coast and the east coast and travels frequently between the coasts. what kind of magazines are you hoping to get published in? WhitneyNoelle wrote: Jan 31 13 05:41 pm Link WhitneyNoelle wrote: Have also been several times published nationally Jan 31 13 05:49 pm Link WhitneyNoelle wrote: You will understand when you look at it from the point of view of your potential clients, or at least the market you are trying to attract. Jan 31 13 05:57 pm Link Thank you all for replying!! You have helped me a ton!! Feb 01 13 06:33 am Link Work hard and develop a product that someone needs. Agencies are able to give you work because they have a team of people out getting the work through networking, crafty marketing or whatever. You have to be all of that yourself. It's like owning your own business. There's no company writing you a paycheck each week. You have to go find the work and make the check yourself. Feb 01 13 06:36 am Link All starting out Creatives have the same issue, how to be noticed and get work. If you're an independent/freelance model then you're in the same boat as the average independent/freelance (semi) professional photographer, MUAH, artist and the like. You have to sell yourself. You have to knock on doors and you have to be assertive in making yourself known. I always recommend creating images of yourself that are representative of your versatility and commercial appeal. Have images made of you with products and props. Create situational scenes and cosplay for images of you. Create images that emulate the successful ones that you see in publications and online. Network like crazy. If you see models in ads, promotions or publications produced by local businesses, look into who is responsible for booking the models for those ads. Many family friends, acquaintances and friends are business owners that may give you a break. Your MM profile states: Art Fashion Fitness Hair/Makeup Lifestyle But your portfolio shows none of these except one b/w for that's sort of safely "art". Something to quickly read and save: http://www.purestorm.com/elements.aspx Feb 01 13 08:38 am Link Silver Mirage wrote: Great tips! I used to have a FB page and then deleted it, but my day job is working social media, so I probably should get it back up and get it promoted (One of the big benefits about having two jobs in social media marketing) I also live in one of the nations biggest cities...so no issue there. I definitely agree that commercial and promotional are the ways to go. No agencies will sign a model under 5'9" unless you are extremely lucky. Feb 01 13 09:56 am Link an aweful lot of models don't really get anywhere *with* an agency either.... my area is at best a secondary market but I know quite a few models who have opted for free agency and been more successful as a result... Feb 01 13 10:02 am Link In my experience with legit modeling agencies, only about the top 10% of agency models actually make a living and/or money. The rest are basically filler to allow the agency to have "possible" options in the event that the 10% isn't available or isn't exactly what a client needs or can afford. Few of the other 90% make a living from it, and if anything end up paying the agency for ever new head shots, portfolio images, and "classes". If you're going to make modeling a living then it's going to have to be on your own. If you're going out on your own you're going to have to be smart and be assertive. If you're not making it after being smart and assertive then make it a hobby and make a living another way. Feb 01 13 10:26 am Link You'll find the very best answers to your question here: https://www.modelmayhem.com/489446 Several of my model friends highly recommend this book - and one told me that, if the book had been available when she started out, it would have kept her from wasting the first five years. If you look at it that way, the cost is $2 for each year you'll save. If you want to know more about the author, you can read her MM EDU interview here. https://www.modelmayhem.com/education/m … ie-gabriel Feb 01 13 10:31 am Link Most published work comes from doing Glamour/Lingerie or if you can fit into Alternative Modelling and know how to dress for Gothic/Steampunk/Pin Up projects then you can get into lots of specialist magazines, Im doing published work for SteamPunk on Sunday. these specialist themed magazines dont care about height/weight etc as long as you can rock any outfit they put you in just a thought Feb 01 13 10:35 am Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: Now _that_ was funny! Feb 01 13 10:36 am Link Lil Miss Jade wrote: so your MOM is acting as an Agent would ... YOU are not getting the work yourself, she's acting as AGENT ... managing your work ... totally NOT what the OP is asking ... Feb 01 13 10:38 am Link |
