To all new models that want to make it in the Industry???.

The modeling industry is competitive; there are opportunities for all different types of models and promotional girls. It is important to be careful in this industry, as there are many unscrupulous people out there who can and will try to take advantage of a new, inexperienced model. ??Firstly as a new model you will need to decide what kind of modeling best suits you and your lifestyle. Be honest with yourself and decide if you have "what it takes" to be a model. Ask yourself if you are serious about modeling. It is very important that you have a portfolio. It is also important that you use a professional photographer. Poor quality images of you will only reflect negatively. Get photos taken of yourself that are high quality and that you can be proud of. Make sure you research the photographer you plan to use and view their portfolio to see the quality of the images that they take. Put together a portfolio on a website and use a good agency to help you with this. It is all about advertising. Have it professionally designed by an experienced company. This portrays a good image of yourself, your attitude and your commitment to the industry. Be creative when you put your portfolio together and use your best shots for your promotional materials. Using an agency to help you advertise is always a good idea, they can do all the hard work with advertising and getting you work. Be careful that you don?t get ripped off though, as there many out there that will take advantage of the unknowing new model.

?One of the most important keys to success is to be professional, courteous, and punctual. Equally important is to always be outgoing and enthusiastic. Modeling is a business. The modeling industry is fun. Remember that professional photographers, agencies, casting directors, and video-graphers are in the business of creating images for a profit. Their time is money, and so is yours. Treat these professionals, as you would expect to be treated when it comes to time. Don't waste their time by not being punctual or ready to work at the scheduled start time. ??You will need to keep yourself disciplined in this industry, if your portfolio states that you are a size 6, you must discipline yourself to stay a size 6. In this industry you will need to stay in shape all the time as you may get called up to do a photo shoot within 24 hours. Make sure all your assets, (smile, face, figure etc) are all in great shape. Eat good food, don?t have too many late nights especially before a shoot and take care or your skin, hair and nails. The smaller details can ruin a good photo. Always use good beauty products to keep your skin in good condition. Lush Models can advise you on correct skincare and maintenance for this industry. They can also provide high quality reasonable priced skin care products. ?

Having a unique look will create something that makes you special. There are a million beautiful girls out there, but if you offer a unique look and attitude, you can create a demand for your services. When you work with a client, ask them for referrals for any opportunities for you. If a client was referred to you, always let them know who referred them. The common networking rule of thumb is that for every satisfied client you have, in turn will tell 2-5 others about you. But for every dissatisfied client, 10 potential new clients will hear the bad news. You may not want to work with them any more, and that is fine, but never be rude or unprofessional.

Trade for Time or Trade for Prints (T.F.P). A photographer will often offer to photograph you and pay you with photos from the shoot. This is good if you are new to modeling and need photos for your portfolio. The down side is, make sure you know the photographer and that he will in fact trade your prints for your time. Very important, never ever meet a photographer who you do not know anywhere for a photo shoot. Always take someone with you on photo shoots. Safety should always come first. Always check out the photographer and his work. Make sure it is of a standard that is going to benefit you. Ask around for advice on Photographers. Do not sign your photos over with out first reading the fine print on all model release forms. Some important points to always remember: ?Treat every session and appointment, even if it is a test shoot or interview equally as though it was the most important session of your life. Always be on time for a job. A photo shoots with photographers, makeup artists, location rentals, and equipment rentals, not to mention the client?s time can cost tens of thousands of dollars. If you are being paid to do jobs then remember no whining or complaining unless of course you feel that your physical well being is in question. You must (like) the client?s product or clothes, no matter how stupid they look. Always pick up after yourself and do not expect others to pick up after you, even if you are being paid for a job. Behave as though you are a guest there. Be pleasant and cheerful to the people you work with. Modeling is hard work but so is everyone else's job. Nobody wants to be around someone who isn't a team player.

The people you please or make angry today just might make or break your career months down the road.

IMORTANT INFO YOU ALL SHOULD READ BELOW:

For every famous model there are thousands who will work professionally for years as the bulk of the agencies' employees. These are the men and women who go on endless "go-sees" and must sell themselves to every prospective client. An attitude of cheerfulness and patience is one of a model's paramount tools. We have put together this guide to give you all the information you need to make a break into modelling without being taken by any scams; however, please remember, modelling is a difficult field to break into at best.

Everything you do can have an impact on your career, from which photos you pick for your portfolio to what time you show up for an interview. Availability is crucial. If you call in sick or have other priorities, the agent will soon lose interest in you, and it won't be long until you will need a new career. Modelling is a highly competitive field, and you need to give it your all if there is to be any financial return. Even if you are the "new face" at the agency, your climb upward will happen with greater ease if you approach your work with a professional attitude. Always arrive at the time you are directed if you really want that next job! There are few other professions where you are so completely representing the marketable product (in this case you) in total. The client, your agency, the photographers, and even the stylists will be looking and remembering. You need to be remembered for being a pleasure to work with in every way. This means being physically appealing, neat, immaculately clean, and clean shaven (women and men), and having impeccable hair and nails.

Only a handful of people can simply step in front of a camera, not feel dreadfully inhibited, and get on with it. Just look through your family album to see those fishy stares while facing that terror - a camera.

An agent once said that after several months, models start to relax enough to be able to present themselves. There is something just dreadfully inhibiting about finding yourself a few feet away from that critical little eye of the camera's lens. You should also practice the difficult art of posing!.

Every experience that you could possibly have before an audience - choral singing, plays, variety shows, beauty pageants, and even attending social functions - can be helpful in giving you that critical self-confidence. Poise is gained by experience. Though modelling can only be done well by the truly experienced model, your efforts to meet the public and feel at ease in front of lots of people can aid you tremendously when you are asked to "perform" before the cameras.

If you are paid to be a model, you are expected to look like one. That doesn't mean loads of makeup and thousand dollar ensembles, but it does mean clean, neat, and a certain amount of care given to your appearance. You never know whom you may meet, and a model has to be an opportunist. Often a job is offered when you least expect it. Not all jobs are found through go-sees. You are your own best advertisement, and the sooner you prepare yourself for self-sell, the better. So much of modeling is based on merely your looks that the best presentation possible can only help you.

Makeup is a critical factor for all women models. Applying makeup is an art. When you do a fashion shot, a makeup artist or stylist does your face. This can be as time-consuming as two hours or more. If you are doing catalogue and similar types of work, you will have to do your own makeup and do it well. You should also make it a point to put together and familiarise yourself with your professional model's kit.

Lips, cheeks, and noses are all treated in special ways to make the best possible presentation. It will take you a while to gain the knack of how to handle all those makeup brushes, bottles, blends, cakes, pastes, and wands, but time will make you adept.

An aspiring model should be at least 5'7" tall with clear skin, beautiful hair, straight teeth and a toned and well proportioned body. At the same time, a model has to have the following things:

AMBITION. A model goes after her goals. You won't become a model by sitting at home and waiting for agents to come to you!

INTELLIGENCE. To succeed, a model must be an intelligent businessperson. She must know how to spend and invest money wisely. Also, she must know how to conduct business with agents, photographers and clients.

CONFIDENCE. Clients are looking for someone who is self-assured and whom they think can sell their product. A model must be able to sell herself before she can sell a product. It is also important to be able to handle the rejection that every model must face. No model could meet the expectations of every possible client.

INDEPENDENCE. Because models must sometimes travel away from their friends and family for a 'Job, or move to a big city to pursue a full time career, it is important to have a great deal of independence.

ORGANISATION. A model must be organised in order to keep track of the different dates, times and locations of appointments so that she can show up at appointments and go-sees on time.

STAMINA. A model is sometimes on her feet all day. She must be healthy and in shape to be able to work all day and still look good.

Also, (and I know this is a drag) you need to have realistic expectations. Very few models ever make it to the top. In fact, many quit within the first few months.

High Fashion

Claudia Schiffer, Kate Moss, Christy Turlington. The most glamorous jobs are reserved for them, including the collections. High Fashion models are generally 5'9" to 6' tall and are a very thin size 7. They have 32-36" busts, 22-25" waists and 33-36" hips. They have strong and distinctive features. Exotic looks are popular. The majority of High Fashion models live in New York.

Catalogue Model

These models are hired to appear in catalogues Requirements are flexible.

Children and Teens

Children and teens can find work in many different types of modelling including fashion shows and commercials. Teen models are generally called Junior models. Junior models must be 5'6" to 5'8" tall and 12 to 17 years old with very youthful looks. They usually have 32-34" busts, 21-25" waists and 32-34" hips.

Editorial Print Modelling

This refers photography for magazines, including covers. This work is very eagerly sought after by models because of the exposure it provides. For this reason you can expect to work long and hard for $100-$300 a day.

Commercial Print Modelling

This refers to when models are photographed to promote a product on billboards, buses, magazines and newspapers. This type of modelling can be divided into two sections: Fashion Advertising and Product Advertising.

Runway Modelling

This is one of the most effective ways to gain exposure. It is considered the most glamorous type of live modelling. It requires a lot of confidence and grace. The model must make the audience think that she loves the outfit she is wearing. She must look comfortable and make even the dullest outfit look attractive. There is a minimum height requirement of 5'8" or 5'9" for runway work.

WARNING SIGNALS OF A SCAM

(So Called "Agencies" /"Schools")

"We can guarantee you work."

"As soon as you have trained, you'll be working."

"Our classes are completely full but there is one opening. If you sign up right away we can fit you in."

"You are exactly what we're looking for."

"We are the largest and best equipped school in the country."

"We'll have you working immediately."

BE CAREFUL, MODELS & TALENTS

There are a lot of glitzy, fast-talking "model searches" these days. They all promise you a direct line to the "big time." But talking big is easy when they're only in town for a few days.

They lure you in with names of big agencies. They seem to "screen" the applicants, making you feel that you have been selected. Then they will ask you for money. They are selling photos, videos, representation in a "model's book," or a "convention." They imply that you will be seen by important agents.

If they are selling photos, videos, or "representation" in some agency or model's directory, don't buy it! No Legitimate agent is going to spend time looking through thousands of photos or videos from a "scam" artist. No client is going to book an unknown model for a national job.

If the travelling model search is selling a "convention," you will end up at a giant "cattle-call," with many hundreds of others. You will see that most of them could never model. So what about you?

Even if you do have real potential, you may be overlooked, since you are completely unprepared for such an experience.