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Hey. I've quit modeling, for many a month. I got tired of freelancing, my agency was useless. (Thank GOD my contract ended on the 14th, another agency wouldn't take me 'til then.) So here's how I feel about my port. I'm not a fan and I don't think it stands out. The photos don't do me justice. I don't want to waste time on hopefuls, and.. a photographer who shot me for a paper said he doesn't shoot girls for free. That made TF look even worse for all parties involved. (I don't think there's anything wrong with it and I don't think it makes a photographer a creep, rookie or otherwise. It's nice of you guys to offer TF.) So my point. When I look in the mirror, I see more potential than what's in my photos. I feel that either I'm not photogenic, or I haven't had any good shots yet. If you've got a minute to look over my profile...... I want to know what you think. I'm trying to get back in, but I'm skipping the BS. I'm using my crappy photos to try and get into reputable agencies. Whether you care or not, you won't hurt my feelings if you tell me that these pics won't get me in. I still don't know if I'm my own biggest critic, if they're juuust okay enough to get me in. You be the judge. :') Feb 23 13 05:56 am Link You do have potential, and I agree with you, your photos are not representing you well. You just have to keep searching for a photographer who will bring out the best in you with lighting, posing and direction. Just keep searching for the right photographer to work with  Feb 23 13 06:02 am Link  Dark clothing and hair against a dark background will not help you stand out Pose of models right hand looks awkward, like some one said put it here and that’s what you did  Best photo from portfolio Your pose is not dynamic, both head and body facing same direction Less head tilt [Could ask photographer to crop above dress, as it is now dress is a distracting element]  Due to pose models right knee looks huge compared to left Uncomfortable bend in models right wrist  Keep your fingers in the picture Lighting on face and expression not flattering  This is the other photo that looks like it belongs in a modeling portfolio You have a good look; think stronger modeling photos would boost your portfolio Feb 23 13 06:11 am Link DP Feb 23 13 06:11 am Link You're pretty but you're 20 years old and you don't have the 'agency look' so stop wasting your time with agencies. As an independent model you could probably make money shooting nudes but otherwise it's very unlikely. Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano www.stefanobrunesci.com Feb 23 13 06:14 am Link -B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote: +1 Feb 23 13 06:21 am Link I agree, I don't really know what you're expecting to make money doing. However, you're cute and modelling is a fun hobby. You need to work with better photographers and practice posing. http://www.bing.com/search?q=modeling+poses Unskilled models + unskilled photographers = meh images. If it's something you enjoy doing, do it. Art is life for a lot of people. It does cost time and money, but most enjoyable things do. Feb 23 13 07:37 am Link Shannon Hardy wrote: first off, you need to re-evaluate this line of thinking. some of the absolute BEST photographers MM has to offer ONLY do TF. in fact, one of them has already responded to you. if you can't find any quality TF work in your area, that's a geographic problem, not a TF issue. Feb 23 13 08:03 am Link It depends on what kind of agency you are trying to get in with and what you are trying to do with them. You're only 5'6. If you value trying to get decent pictures to submit to an agency, it might be a wise decision to pay a photographer. An experienced photographer, not just anyone. Otherwise, you could model as a hobby. If you want, you can PM me and I can let you know some good photographers in the Hamilton/Toronto area that you can try and contact to set up a shoot with. If that is something you would be interested in doing. Feb 23 13 08:49 am Link KonstantKarma wrote: +1 Feb 23 13 09:28 am Link I'd like to thank everyone for the advice, whether it's positive or blunt. Some is encouraging and some discouraging but whatever. I take criticism well and I appreciate all the good advice. Thank you for the compliments. Lifestyle is essentially what I had in mind. Commercial print. I already modeled as a hobby, and I percieve it as work after the few fun hours of the shoot. You get tired of it and you want to go home like everybody else. In most cases agencies are a waste of time, yes. But I see the favouritism, the same 5 girls making the money and yes they are beautiful. I'm not saying that I am, but I went in as a broke rookie with bad clothes and a bad photographer. He took my head shots from an angle equal to my chin. Of course there were no winners. That's what my crook agency had to represent me and yes most of it is my fault and I learned a lesson in modeling that day. Freelancing I never did nudes. I did low budget fashion shows and once got paid $300 for a two hour shoot, it was for website content and it was classy. (Don't go thinking I said nudes are skanky because I dont have a strong opinion about nudes. I just don't do it.) The pure and simple truth is that I wanted to model so I can have these pictures when I'm old. But I want to try to get in on the money, I'm aware that it's not easy. But I know it's out there to be made. There's pictures of people plastered everywhere. And if I want to be a fashion model, I'm not talking about the runway. Anyone can look like a fashionista. The girls in the clothing store photos, even the simple threads at garage...They get paid a lot of money to model. Feb 23 13 01:03 pm Link You're look and stats unfortunately are really not agency caliber. If you want to get "in on the money" as you stated, then do freelance and open the door to nudes. Simple as that. I was looking through your portfolio and there are quite a few that I'd remove, but probably the one that stopped me in my tracks saying "WTF is that?" is this one.  Feb 23 13 01:18 pm Link I have to agree about the lack of an agency look and stats. Your options are limited but still tou can still freelance model. You will probably only ever do this as a hobby or part time but that doesn't mean you should stop if you enjoy it. As for your views on trade work, well they are a problem. Don't expect amazing photographers who can shoot agency models for free to pay you or even shoot you for free. If you are looking for that level of talented expect to pay cash money for it. Feb 23 13 01:29 pm Link Shannon Hardy wrote: Your portfolio is a continuum of dreadfulness that is the result of a combination of ambition, lack of preparation, lack of practice in modellling. Feb 23 13 01:39 pm Link As for help with posing, if you do hook up with a good photographer (even if you pay them), they should be able to direct you into poses if they have experience and are good at this particular work. They should be able to look for little details such as when your hands, fingers, knees, feet or whatever look out of place. They should know what kind of head tilt suits you best. When they do give you directions, really listen to what they are telling you, and remember it for future reference. Everyone has to start somewhere. Some models get it naturally, and other models get it over time. Some don't get it at all. I have had beautiful models in my studio who cannot pose unless I direct them, and I've had others in which I hardly have to say anything at all because they just know what works for them. I've also had average looking models or just people in general who don't have experience but take my direction so well that I can get them to look fabulous using certain angles/lighting. So, that being said, it's hard to say what you could really do until we see a great or outstanding photo of you, which you do not have in your portfolio at the moment. Like I said before, just keep doing this as a hobby that you enjoy (without even thinking about the money aspect), and build up your portfolio, find photographers that will do you justice and find your strengths and weaknesses in posing. Feb 23 13 03:42 pm Link I can't comment on agency work because I don't know anything about it. If you want to make money on MM though, your best bet is to shoot nudes. Before I started modeling nude I did a couple workshops and got paid and had a couple photographers hire me. Now that I shoot nudes 90% of my shoots are paid. Something to think about. By no means am I trying to pressure you into shooting nudes, I'm just saying that the majority of the paid work on here is for nudes. Feb 23 13 04:14 pm Link It's not the photos that are the issue its your look. Your face is kinda long in the chin and it comes across in the pics regardless of the angle and thus reveals that you are of average looks. Feb 23 13 11:23 pm Link Mark wrote: No, thats an error. My lips are closed but my teeth are open. Screw you I'm not ugly and, despite my self esteem issues, I've seen ugly models with bad teeth in magazines. Thats below average. Feb 25 13 06:54 am Link Here's a link to elite models in Ontario: and I have started with someone who doen't have a campaign. They are hoping to book her. It may never happen. You'll see E2 and New faces section there and check that out and compare the images to what you have in your port with a critical eye. It's good to look at these models "Anyone can look like a fashionista." Do you think you can look like her, a woman who doesn't have a campaign yet: http://www.elitemodel.com/details.aspx? … io=&indx=1 Good luck. maybe :') Feb 25 13 06:55 am Link Shannon Hardy wrote: way to get defensive... where in that post did it say you are ugly? you're not ugly, no one is saying that... Feb 25 13 07:06 am Link Looking through your portfolio, I get the impression that you have a misconception of what modeling is. All too often, women(and men too) get the idea that it's just standing around looking pretty, while some person with a camera presses a button. It's a lot more than that. A lot more. 1) You don't know how to smile. Seems pretty basic, doesn't it? But in none of your photos do your photos look engaging. Not even your avatar. 2) Your poses are indicative of someone very conscious of the camera and you're very unsure of yourself. The poses show a lack of commitment to the work at hand. It's very half-assed in effort. A better photographer should have been able to direct you better, but as a professional model, he shouldn't have to. 3) Your eyes are almost expressionless. And those images that do have something to say, they're saying, "Are we done yet?". It doesn't look like you're having fun; that you're just tolerating being there. Modeling is about expressing something through body language. It's all non-verbal communication. Every single photo in your port, are telling me to go away and look somewhere else. Feb 25 13 07:21 am Link Shannon, consider going to a talent or casting agency instead of a traditional "modeling" agency. I know people who are attractive but could never make it as a runway or fashion model due to various reasons, but have made good money doing commercial work (both tv and print). Maybe consider that route? Feb 25 13 07:24 am Link So, you've been given very valuable advice you didn't exactly want to hear, and what's the result of it? Feb 25 13 10:31 am Link You are young! still plenty of time to focus on college. Get good grades and a job and you will be far more successful than dreaming about work as a model. Feb 25 13 10:48 am Link Shannon Hardy wrote: Maybe it's not the modeling or the photography that's holding you back, but your attitude? Feb 25 13 10:58 am Link Francisco Castro wrote: +1 Feb 25 13 11:46 am Link Average Looking doesn't = Ugly... It just means (IMO) that there isn't anything spectacular about you that would make a photographer, agent, etc, go "OMG! I need to book her!" A lot of fashion models aren't super, duper stunning, BUT they have something unique about them, wether it's great lips, high cheekbones, interesting eyes, etc. They have something that makes them stand out. You don't really have any of those physical qualities. You're just an average, good-looking girl. There's nothing wrong with being "average", but you will need to make sure that whoever you work with can help you REALLY stand out. If your modeling was stronger (as in, posing, facial expressions, ability to convey emotion, etc.), then you could get Independent work based on that. I have worked with quite a few "average"-looking and non-agency standard models and they are all amazing at what they do, so they get a lot of paid Indedpendent work. Feb 25 13 12:29 pm Link Shannon, I like your openness about modeling. It's a tough world and not for the thin skinned. You are good looking but you look like you are not having fun and it shows in your poses and facial expressions. If you are going to shoot then have confidence, fun, and doesn't underestimate yourself. You have no reason to, you are a good looking girl. I think you have a little bit of a mysterious and intriguing look so I'd try doing some implied nudes as well as just playful, grinning type shots and see what happens. Experiment with different looks till you find what works for you. Feb 25 13 12:37 pm Link "I'm not fishing for compliments, I need advice" hummmmmmmm Feb 25 13 09:10 pm Link Thanks guys. Sorry, I truly am defensive. My biggest flaws as a person are sensitive self esteem and emotions. The advice is what I needed. Two people can tell me the same thing, if someone's troll-ish about it I'll take it the wrong way, or perhaps how they meant to tell it. I'm going to try for better photos. Other people (makeup artists etc) put their look on me. I haven't brought mine out yet, my own essence, makeup, clothes...style. My poses suck, the amateurism is authentic, I just moved without thinking about it, trial and error. I need practice. I need the right photographer. Feb 26 13 12:21 pm Link Shannon Hardy wrote: and you need to take a breath, and have fun. Feb 26 13 12:22 pm Link John Allan wrote: I would have to agree with John. With your look/height/stats, the chance that you'll get signed with a reputable commercial/fashion agency are slim to none. You're cute/pretty, but not unique, and your facial bone structure is not one that will likely allow your look to be versatile enough for most commercial projects. Just because you don't have the look of an agency model (very few people do) doesn't mean you're not attractive. Feb 26 13 01:02 pm Link Feb 26 13 03:48 pm Link Shannon Hardy wrote: You're asking the question but you're not listening to the answers because they are not the answers you want to hear. The sad truth is that your getting honest answers to the question that you yourself asked. Feb 26 13 03:57 pm Link Agencies will just take your money and give you really nothing. I think you need some better photographers, but as a real professional llama there are dozens way ahead of you. The reality is have some fun doing shoots, but to aspire to be a "professional llama" not much chance. Just my opinion. Feb 26 13 04:01 pm Link |
