Why Should you Keep your Photos in your Portfolio Updated?

If you’re trying to sign up to a modeling agency in Pennsylvania or New York, you may have heard agents and even other models say how important it is to keep your portfolio updated.

Have you ever wondered why this is so?

Easier to Find Work

One of the secrets to finding work and staying in work is to keep your portfolio updated. So, with every new picture you get, whether it’s from tear sheets of test shoots, be sure to add it to your portfolio. Modeling agencies and clients want to look at your book and see your most recent pictures, and they’re more likely to hire you if your portfolio looks good and new.

Rules on Keeping your Portfolio Updated

Unfortunately, many models still don’t know one crucial rule maintaining a model portfolio: you should only keep current pictures in your book. Most agents and clients consider a current picture as a picture that’s less than 6 months old, so be sure to keep tabs on your pictures and swap them with new ones every six months to keep your portfolio fresh.

Changing Looks

If you’re a model who frequently changes your look, whether it’s by cutting your hair or coloring it, you’ll have to update your pictures more often. Likewise, if you’ve gained or lost significant amounts of weight, you’ll need to change your pictures to something very recent. Even if you haven’t changed your appearance in any way, seasonal trends in fashion will affect your clothing choices, which may look dated after just a few months.

Prepare for Continual Updates

If you’re a model, you have to come to terms with the fact that updating your portfolio is a never ending process. However, you don’t usually have to worry about how to keep your pictures current, since working models are given multiple opportunities to take plenty of pictures of themselves. Every print job and shoot you take as a model is an opportunity to add pictures to your portfolio. Most of the time, photographer, clients and modeling agencies in Pennsylvania will gladly give you some of the pictures from the shoot. If the pictures appearing in some magazine, brochure or catalogue, simply tear the page off the magazine and include it in your portfolio.

As a professional model, your portfolio is one of your most important tools for finding work. Work on perfecting your portfolio and you’ll find that work comes a lot faster.

The Challenges of Being a Model

Modeling is not as easy as it might sound. You’d think that all a modem needs to do is walk down a ramp or cat walk or pose for photo shots, but it’s more than that. Not only is it a challenging profession, getting into the modeling industry is also difficult. Below are a more difficulties and challenges of becoming a full-time model.

Very hectic schedule

Imagine having to go to one show to another, especially during fashion week. Or having to dress up to go to another gig or photo shoot when you just had one this morning. Models actually have to follow a very tight schedule, especially if they’re signed under modeling agencies in New York City. Although this might sound fun and exciting at first, it gets very tiring and hassle after some time.

You have to watch your figure

Your frame can’t be too big or too small. You constantly have to watch your figure since most of your clients are very specific when it comes to the models frame and body. Fitting in exercise with modeling gigs is going to be a struggle especially if you work full time as a model.

You have to look perfect

People have a stereotype when it comes to models. They always have to look good with flawless skin, great hair, and beautiful clothes and shoes. Being a model, especially if you’re a well-known one, means that you constantly have eyes following you no matter where you go. Whether it’s on the job or you’re day off, you will be bringing that stereotype around with you, so you can’t just walk out of the house looking like a mess.

It’s time consuming

Modeling will take you to places outside the city or even the country, and there are times that you will have to work on holidays for special shows and events from modeling agencies in New York City. This can be time consuming and you won’t be able to have some time for yourself, and even your family. You’ll be lucky to be assigned in a project based somewhere near your home.

 What to do after modeling?

This is the most common questions models ask themselves. What life is there after modeling? As much as you want to, you can’t model for the rest of your life. Not unless you become a very successful supper model and get job opportunities outside the modeling industry, you will have to think about your future and what you’ll be doing 10 years from now.

Tips for Launching your Career

Beginning can always be a hit or miss thing, more so when it comes to modeling. Getting your career off the ground as a model can be one of the hardest things to do, mainly because the industry is awash with plenty of talents just waiting to be discovered. If you haven’t had any luck applying at the many modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Pick a Modeling Niche

When most people think of models, they often visualize the fashion models they see on film and TV—think America’s Next Top Model. However, any model who knows her stuff will tell you that there are many niches of modeling, which can include commercial modeling, Internet modeling, plus size modeling and more. Knowing what your desired niche is important because it helps you focus on something, streamlining your efforts on something your physical features are best suited for.

2. Always Have your Photographs Ready

When you’re out looking for modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, you don’t want to get started without having your photos ready. The last thing you want is to get an opportunity but not have your portfolio ready. And in the modeling business, opportunities can com e and go in the blink of an eye. If you’ve yet to be signed to an agency, don’t worry about having professional photos. Just make sure you’re in focus and that you’re photos clearly show your face and body profile.

3. Go for Agencies in your Vicinity

As someone you to modeling, you’re probably looking to work not far from home so that you don’t disrupt your daily routine all that much. Fortunately, agencies have sprouted like mushrooms in many cities across the country; gone are the days when agencies were headquartered in entertainment industry hubs New York and Los Angeles.

4. Market Yourself

If you have managed to get yourself signed to a reputable modeling agency, don’t rest on your laurels just yet. Now that you’re done with the agency search, next on your agenda is to continually market yourself to photographers, other models and clients. Your agent can only do so much for you, remember that. You have to go out of your way to promote yourself and get your name out there.

5. Establish an Online Presence

Social media has also made it easier for models and clients to connect with each other. Register on sites like ModelMastery, Onemodelplace, and ModelMayhem to network and learn from industry pros.

Tips for Male Models: Keeping yourself Looking Presentable

In many ways, male modeling is somewhat more challenging than female modeling. For instance, it’s hard for many aspiring male models to accept that to look good, certain things must be done that may deviate from their idea of what men should and shouldn’t do.

This is particularly evident in grooming, which many men shy from for fear of being considered “too metro sexual.” It’s not that men don’t want to stay clean, it’s more they don’t want to delve into the “deeper” aspects of grooming, such as pedicures and manicures, tanning, waxing, and more.

Unfortunately, if you’re serious about becoming a male model, this is something you’ll just have to deal with. If you’re from the Pennsylvania area, you should know that the best modeling agencies in Pennsylvania are highly particularly when it comes to personal grooming. This is consistent with recent statistics that show men have taken a stronger interest in many aspects of personal grooming, with global sales of men’s grooming products spiking at $19.7 billion in 2009.

With that said, are you ready to take the plunge into male grooming? Here are tips on what you should consider.

Facial Hair

As a rule of thumb, you should always go to an interview with an agency or client with a clean-shaven face. Unless the open call’s notes indicate that growing a beard is OK, you want to come with no facial hair.

To get a close shave, it’s a good idea to give your face time for the swelling and puffiness normally associated with sleep to subside. An hour after waking up will suffice, preferably after you’ve showered and washed your face. You’ll know when the best time to shave is when your face’s skin looks tight.

Hair

As for your mane, there aren’t any hard and fast rules on the kind of hairstyles agencies want. If you can go to a stylist for an opinion, go ahead. If not, just make sure your hair is clean. Fix your dandruff problem, get your hair colored if you have specks of white hair, and make sure your hair looks healthy.

Fingernails

Your fingernails are another important factor in good grooming. Nothing turns an agent or client off more than a male model with dirt and grime between his nails and fingers. Be sure to keep your fingernails neat and clean. Use a metal file to trim your nails and keep them shaped.

Tips for Parents: Working with your Child’s Talent Agent

A problematic blight of the talent industry these days is the prevalence of scam artists signing unsuspecting actors and models, particularly children and forcing them to pay up for representation. As the parent of a child model or actor your duty is to educate yourself continually about the industry your child is in—that includes doing your homework on which agencies are legitimate and which are not.

Every talent agency operates by a specific set of rules; simply find out what the rules are. Likewise, it also pays to know the warning signs of an agency or agent that’s looking to rip you off.

If you’re from the Pennsylvania area, there are many Pennsylvania talent agencies that work within the confines of the law. All it takes is a matter of knowing where to look.

If you’ve already found an agency, you’ll have to learn how to deal with them on behalf of your children. This take a little finesse and an understanding of how the industry works.

Below are a few tips on the subject.

Signing up with an Agency

Before you make the decision of signing your child with an agency, it’s imperative that you do your research first. While it’s tempting to troop down to the nearest open calls for child actors, it’s imperative that you look up the agency’s reputation first before attending the open call. With the number of child agencies run by fraudulent individuals, it’s important that you tread carefully.

Before you even think of attending an open call with your child, take note of the following:

Compensation

A reputable agency will often only collect money from commissions gained from booking an acting job for your child. You should always be wary of agencies that ask for registration fees and any other monetary fee in exchange for being signed. You also don’t want to sign with an agency that encourages you to sign up for a fee, with the “bonus” of enrolling in an acting class of their choice. This is a classic scam.

Reviews

One of the best things about the Internet, at least when talent agencies are concerned, is how they’ve made it easier for people to find information and feedback about talent agencies. In the old days, online reviews were unheard of, allowing scam agencies to flourish all over the country. If you’re eyeing an agency, look up as much information as you can about them on the web.