Modeling Tips from the Photographers: What You Should Be Doing

Out of all the people working with models, photographers are perhaps the ones closest to models. That said, it’s important to know the value of listening to a photographer, especially during a shoot. In fact, you may find that the photographers you work with are also talent agents from modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, New York or Los Angeles.

The following are tips many photographers have shared for the benefit of models.

Do your homework about the shoot location and have travel plans ready.

Preparation is what makes or breaks the success of a shoot or any other modeling gig for that matter. For many models, this involves planning what clothes to wear and what makeup to use (assuming you’re being left to your own devices). However, it’s also important to plot your itinerary and travel plans well in advance, helping you get an idea of the length of time it will take for you to reach your shoot destination; this also allows you to know how you can fit the shoot into your schedule.

Find out the details of your shoot.

Again, do your homework. Learn all the details of the shoot or modeling gig; find out everything from the job site’s full address, contact numbers and email addresses of the photographer, your agent and director, and other miscellaneous information. Your goal here is to be aware of everything about the shoot and how it relates to you. Be a girl scout in this matter.

Discuss shoot themes and styles before the shoot

Before the date of the shoot, be sure to talk to the photographer, stylist and director about what themes and styles you’ll be having in the shoot. Talk to your photographer to get an idea of his/her style when taking photographs. Talk to the stylist to know what to expect when it comes to clothes and makeup. If you have any comments and suggestions, let the concerned people know about them.

Stay in touch with the people in charge

On the days leading to the shoot and on the day itself, be sure to stay in touch with the photographer, director as well as your agent. You want to be able to notify the important people in the event of an emergency, or when something comes up that may cause you to be late or worse, unable to attend the shoot at all.

It’s the least and most professional action you can take during these cases.

Modeling 101 – Practice your Walk at the Grocery

As a model, you’re expected to always have to look good and know how to carry yourself when you’re in public. If you’re still starting out, one of the most difficult things to get used to is the “catwalk” walk. This is how you walk down the ramp during fashion shows that modeling agencies in New York City assign to you, wearing the newest line of designs for the season from top designers. It’s a stressful job since it’s going to be your task to present the clothes and make the audience imagine themselves wearing it.

Walking down a catwalk is like walking down the isle of a grocery or supermarket. You have a small where you can walk up and down, and believe it or not, you can practice your “catwalk” walk while you’re doing your weekly groceries.

Wear your shoes

It might sound silly to wear your killer heels to the grocery, but if you want to practice the walk, you have to wear the heels. Use your favorite heels or the most comfortable pair you have and bring an extra pair of flats just in case.

Imagine you’re at the ramp

All you really need when you’re practicing how to walk is just your imagination. Just imagine that you’re walking down the ramp of a fashion show in New York or Paris. Just remember what you learned in modeling school or from watching fashion TV. Slowly walk down the aisle and turn at the end to walk back.

Less crowded

The less people the aisle has, the more space you have to practice with. If you’re shy or have a hard time imagine yourself in a ramp, then an empty aisle is definitely going to help.

Basket or no basket? 

Should you or should you not bring a basket? Well that’s totally up to you. If you need to get a lot of things from the grocery, then don’t hesitate to get one. After all, the whole point of you going to the grocery is to pick up food, not to show off your walk. If you’re trying out a new pair of shoes, a grocery basket is a good support to help you walk.

Smile

People might look at you while you’re shopping, but who cares? Smile and have fun. Who knows, someone from one of the best modeling agencies in New York City could be shopping at the same grocery or super market and spot you walking.

How to go Mainstream is 3 ways

When a band goes into mainstream, most of their hard core fans would say that they’ve “sold out” or “given into the money”. If you look at it, if you go mainstream, you do make more money compared to staying indie or underground, however, there is a big possibility that you might have to do something to honor the corporate side of the deal, such as writing pop songs or becoming a spokesperson for a brand.

Whether you’re in it for the money, or you just want to take fame as far as it can go, here are a few tips to help get you and your band into the mainstream light.

 Play as many gigs as you can

First, you want to get as much exposure as possible. You want people to know your band and what you can do. Go to open mic nights, sign up for band competitions, ask productions and organizers to let you play during their next show, do what you need to do to get to play on stage. The more people know about you, the bigger your chance of getting into mainstream music.

Get a manager

If you want to go professional and mainstream, then get a manager. Someone who can help you get on top and stay on top. You’ll be lucky if a known manager would ask you if they can manage you, but if you already have a manager, then make sure he or she is competitive enough to handle all the competitions in the mainstream world.

Contact an agency

A manager is going to need a lot of money, so if you’re a bit short on funds, go for talent agents in New York City. The best thing about signing up for a talent agency is that they usually cost less than a manager plus, they can get you regular gigs, which means more money for you and the band. One thing you should know about talent agents in New York City is that some of them are fake, so be careful when you‘re signing up for one. Keep in mind that they should never ask you for a sign-up fee, after all, they’re going to get a cut form your talent fee.

These are just a few things that you can do to get the attention of big record producers and labels. You might think that going mainstream would kill your originally, but as your band grows, your music will also grow with it. It’s just a natural process and some of your old fans might not like it, but rest assured, you’ll get a lot of new fans if you go mainstream. 

How to Dress for a Fashion Show

Whether you’re a fashionista or not, you’ll be really conscious about what you’re going to wear when you’re attending a fashion show. Think of all the people attending this 10 to 20 minute event, showcasing the news designs of the season, and how they’re going to look at what you’re wearing. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to one of these events, maybe by the designer or a friend who works  for one of the  modeling agencies in New York City, and you’re having a hard time deciding what to wear, here are a few tips.

Know the show

Is it some top brand show for fashion week or an indie fashion designer who’s just starting up his or her clothing line? You don’t want to go too overdressed or too underdressed, so it’s important to know what type of clothes you should wear so it blends in with the feel of the show. Some organizers also ask the audience to attend wearing a specific dress code while others just want you to show up as casually dressed as possible.

Shoes matter

No matter what you’re wearing on top, your shoes need to be comfortable. Although most fashion shows will let you sit in front of the cat walk, you might be spending a lot of time talking and socializing before and after the show. You might end up regretting wearing those killer shoes because they get uncomfortable after some time standing around. You can also carry around something more comfortable in your bag, just in case you need to change.

No to shinny accessories

The models will hate you for wearing something distracting that could cause them to fall off. It’s already bad enough that they have to face the harsh, hot and bright lighting on the stage and the constant flashes of cameras. If you don’t want to end up outshining the designer’s clothes, try not to wear something that reflex too much light. It’s distracting and annoying.

When in doubt, go for classic

You can never go wrong with picking out classic pieces of clothes and designs. Sure they don’t really stand out as much, but it’s not overdressing or underdressing. Classic designs are also perfect for these situations because you can never go wrong with them.

You might not be dressed up like one of the runway models from modeling agencies in New York City, but you can definitely say that you have a good fashion sense. Follow these tips and have fun at the fashion show. 

No Experience as a Model? Here are Some Tips for You!

If you’re a complete novice to the modeling industry and haven’t had the chance to amass work experience, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s normal to feel awkward or inadequate at this early stage of your career. If you’ve managed to sign yourself up with one of the modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, New York, or Los Angeles, then good, but that’s not going you to be your sure shot to success.

Here are some tips to make up for your lack of experience in the modeling industry.

Develop your Confidence

Confidence is highly important for any model, but unfortunately, not everyone has it. Just remember to focus and relax when you’re on assignment. Concentrate on what poses you want to make, but don’t make it seem that you’re thinking too much and trying too hard. If you’re uncomfortable on a shoot, talk to the photographer and/or director. Use humor, or better yet, bring a friend with you to increase your comfort level.

Use your Body

If you haven’t done it yet, master the art of posing. Use your body to show off the different angles and poses the human body can make. If you don’t know a thing about posing, (you probably shouldn’t become a model) there are some examples of simple poses you can’t go wrong with. For instance, trying crossing your legs, or shoot from a higher angle than you are. Remember to move, and keep your arms moving and working.

Work the Face

You read that right. Work your face. Make as many expressions as you can—practice at home in front of the mirror. With enough practice, you can make the right facial expressions that set a great photo apart from a boring one. Facial expressions are so important that many modeling agencies in Pennsylvania  require  model submissions to have headshots of models making various expressions. That said, be sure to make expressions that convey dram and emotions.

Work with the Photographer

And by work, we mean really cooperating and forming a professional relationship with your photographer. Learn to communicate with photographers during photo shoots and listen to them. A good photographer knows what he/she is doing, and as a model, you really have no choice but to have faith in their wisdom. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t speak up and tell them what you think and what you’re comfortable and not comfortable with.

Questions to Ask a Modeling Agency to Tell if It’s Legit or Not

To be a successful model, you need to take great care in who you associate yourself with. For new models, one of the biggest ‘to dos’ on their list is to sign up with modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, New York or LA. However, that task can be harder than expected, what with the number of scam artists out there posing as modeling agents, ripping off new models and practically stealing their money.

Before you go off in search of modeling agencies, be sure to know how you can protect yourself and avoid running into a scam. Here are the questions to ask an agency or agent you’re eyeing.

What has your agency done so far, and how does it work?

The reason for this question is obvious. You want to find just how successful an agency is, and you want to know what it is they do exactly. Although all modeling agencies follow the same business model, they can have different operational methods, which makes it important to know just what the agency your eyeing does for models.

If an agent has trouble sharing or won’t disclose their track record and nature of their work, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere.

Do you charge any fees?

Although a modeling agency that asks money from aspiring models prior to sign up with them is suspect, it’s not unheard for an agency to do that. Most model agencies will gladly explain to you how they make money, a process which involves agents finding work for models, and in return, getting a commission off of the model’s talent fee.

How successful are your models?

A legitimate agency should be able to tell you their success rate, that is, how successful their models are. Ask the agency for a rundown on the projects their models have handled, and check if they’ve actually done a good job. Most modeling agencies in Pennsylvania will readily give you a background on their models activities.

Can we meet at your offices?

And by offices, we mean an actual base of operations. Not a bedroom, not a hotel room. A legit agency will happily set an appointment for an interview during business hours. Agencies are businesses, so that means they more or less observe regular business hours.

Don’t be afraid to ask these questions from the agent or agency representative. Don’t be embarrassed to be upfront with your questions.

No Band Manager—What Now?

You’re part of a band, and you’ve finally decided to take your music out of your comfort zone, also known as your local bar and/or garage. It’s as this point when many bands ask themselves if they need a band manager to find and book gigs on their behalf.

The band manager gets a bad rep for being portrayed on film and TV as a bloodsucking leech, who only cares about making money. This however, is not the case—at least not always. The band manager may not get much love, but they serve a crucial purpose in the band. The manager is the person with the task for finding gigs, pouring over contracts, and seeing to it that deals and sponsorships serve the best interest of the band, both when it comes to money and promotions.

It’s important however, to understand that professional band managers take 15% to 20% of the talent fee received by a band for every performance and deal. For new bands, finding a band manager can be difficult due to the lack of resources.

However, having no manager doesn’t mean your band is without hope. Your band can still get out there without a manager.

Go DIY

Go ahead and manage your band yourself. Bands will naturally have a leader, or at the very least, one or two members who serve as the band’s driving force; if you’re one such person, don’t be shy to take the reins and manage the band. In many ways, going DIY is easier since all the band members actively play a role on deciding which direction the band should take. It also gives band members insight on the business side of the music industry.

Find Friends

You probably have friends who express a strong interest in the music industry, so why not get them to act as your band’s manager? Your friend is likely to be on the same wavelength as you are, having an understanding of how your band works, what kind of music you play, what your personalities are, and above all, what your band needs.

Consult Music Agencies in Pennsylvania

If you can’t have a full-time professional manager on board, get a part time one from music agencies in Pennsylvania. Part-time managers won’t be as present as full-time managers, but you can split the work with them and get the benefit of tapping into their connections with event organizers, record labels, and other musicians

I’m a Model with No Experience. What Do I Need?

Every successful model out there started from nothing. If you want to become a model but worry over your lack of experience, it’s perfectly normal to feel awkward on your first job, whether it’s a simple photo shoot or walking down the ramp. If you’ve signed up with one of the many modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, don’t think you’re already out of the woods—your journey’s just begun.

Below are a few tips to help you beat your problem of feeling awkward and inexperienced when on the job.

Confidence

Your ability to stay confident will be of the utmost importance when working in the modeling industry. You can’t afford to be uncomfortable, awkward and shy during a photo shoot or runway job, because it completely ruins what the client or photographer is trying to achieve.

Learn to relax, take a deep breath and dive into what you’re doing. Concentrate , pose and move your body. Listen to what the photographer or director tells you to do, and be sure to let them know about what you feel when on the job.

Posing Skills

Before you even think of applying at the top modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, it’s important that you have the skill of posing down pat. You should already know how to position and angle your body to make it, or certain parts of your body, look as best as possible. Posing is an art that’s all about enhancing your looks—it’s a crucial skill to have if you want to be a model.

Master the Face

As funny as it sounds, it pays to know how to use your face, that is, using it to make certain expressions at will. Your facial expressions can mean the difference between a stunning photo, and a boring and forgettable one.

Master your face and gain the ability to make wonderful and expressive facial expressions that enhance your facial features. When going over submissions, many modeling agencies in Pennsylvania will not only look at the facial features of models, but also the variety of expressions they can make. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your mouth shapes and eye expressions.

Rapport with Photographer

A good photograph is the byproduct of a good relationship between model and photographer. At photo shoots, be sure to talk with the photographer to see eye to eye on what the shoot’s goals are. This also helps build trust in the photographer.