Tips for models
Welcome to the Tips for models section. Here you will find useful
information about the modelling
world and answers to a lot of common questions. Please feel free to
email if you want any more information.
Never do list:
- Never do a shoot with a photographer that pays you out of there own pocket without a modelling release.
- Never shoot with a Photographer that uses Glamour in there name. As Glamour is the term that the adults' industry makeup artist call there style of work. SO Glamour MEANS PORN.
- Never do a lingerie shoot unless it for a catalogues or an add campaign.
- Never do a lingerie show unless it for the designer or for a store. Never do it in a night club or bar.
- Never do a shoot that your not happy with, ask you self "Can I show the photo's to my girlfriend/boyfriends' born again grandmother?"
Cancelling:
These days everyone leads busy lives and from time to time things do come up. Its very important when these things do come up that you let the photographer know the second you know. On an average professional shoot (say for a magazine) the photographer will have a stylist, a makeup artist, and assistant and will have booked the location and the clothes. Now if you don't turn up to a shoot or cancel at the very last minute (i.e the night before), the photographer still has to pay everyone he has booked and I can tell you, it will put you right at the bottom of his "don't ever call again" time waster book. Cancelling should only be done at the absolute last minute for family emergencies. I fully understand that sometimes this happens and its unavoidable. family should always come first. but be warned, us photographers know that generally no one has more than two nan's or two pops so you must always be truthful. I had one model who has lost her nan 4 times now (according to different photographers). The only thing in my eyes worse than a late canceller is a liar.
Complaining:
I wanted to put this in as a separate category as I think it has some merit. Often when you are out shooting it's either too hot or too cold. If you continually complain about the heat or the cold it starts to effect you mentally and you start to feel that it is actually worse than it is. I have proven to models, time and time again that if you don't complain about the temperature, it wont affect you nearly as much. I am the most patient person on earth but I can tell you, I have had some models that would complain the bark off a tree. It gets no one anywhere and becomes very annoying after a while. We all know it's cold or it's hot. Do you best to manage that. having said that, if there is something your not happy with, you should definitely speak up and get it off your chest, but just once, not through the entire shoot. The photographer is keeping an eye on you and will stop the shoot if needed, the last thing we all need is if you turn blue or red (sun burn).
Copyright:
A lot of models ask me about the photos and who owns them. The law states that the photographer always owns the copyright to a photo unless the photographer expressly signs away that right. Even if you are paying the photographer, the photographer still owns the copyright to the images. You are paying for his time and his expertise. Having said that, the photographer can't publish those images unless you give your express permission. You can't publish those images either without his express permission. That's where a model release form comes in handy (see the model release section). As a rule a photographer will generally never give out high resolution images / negatives. This can be arranged before hand but as a rule the photographer will generally say no. I personally do not give out any high resolution modelling negatives / images. I am however always happy to give out low resolution images for you to choose prints from. I charge the same price that your local Camera House does for prints, so there is no benefit in you going anywhere else, I colour correct each image and size the images for the printer... all so I can maintain the quality in my work that you expect. Everybody wins.
Facial:
One of the most important aspects of modelling is your facial expressions. Think about when you see a photo. What is the first part of the photo you look at? The face. If the face isn't right then the photos is flat. Our faces say a lot about us and what we are feeling and thinking. A face can be happy, sad, sexy, moody or flat. The flat face is the blank look that has no expression and is the one you want to avoid. You can have the sexiest drop dead gorgeous face, a body to die for that looks like it has been chizzled out of solid rock, yet if your facial expression is flat, the photo is also flat. Never under estimate the value of your facial expressions. As a model you should at least be able to smile, pout, grin and do that sexy "soups on" look. They are the four basic faces in modelling. If you can master these facial expressions then you are off to a good start. A good idea is to use the mirror! Find some photos that you like (if your not sure email me) and practice in the mirror until you can do those faces on demand every single time.
Figure Posing:
Once you have your facial expressions right its very important to get your figure posing right too. Like facial expressions, figure posing can mean the difference between a good photo and a great photo. Check out magazines and other girls photos and practise those poses in front of the mirror. Remember the better you can pose, the more the photographers are going to like you and the more work you will get. My favourite models are models that can pose themselves. It leave me free to be much more creative about the photography process when a model is thinking of her own poses. Never be scared to try your own poses in front of a photographer. You will be surprised at just how well the photographer responds and just how good your shots will be. So find that mirror and get posing now!
Having Fun:
Even though your main goal is to make an income from modelling, never under estimate the value of having fun! You should always treat every shoot as a fun experience. If you just be yourself and don't be too serious then the shots will just flow on from there. The best shots I ever take are with fun easy going models. The more serious models don't generally get the best shots in my experience. . After all your the absolute centre of attention on every modelling shoot so enjoy it!! lap it up!!! Relish in your new found stardom! A happy model is a good model. A good model produces the best shots and photographers love models that constantly produce good shots.
Modelling rates:
A lot of new models ask "What do I charge for modelling work?". Well this depends on a lot of factors. Some jobs can be done for free as they give you very good exposure (jobs like hair comps or magazine work BUT NOT "men's mags/porn"). However for the average Joe Blow that wants to shoot you I would recommend starting off at $250 for four hours or $400 a day as a new model (a day being 8 hours). Your hourly rate should be $80 an hour and you should generally have your makeup supplied by the customer / agent. You should insist on a minimum number of hours and payment should generally be paid up front at the start of a shoot unless you can absolutely guarantee the payment will happen. I would suggest a minimum of three hours. It's not really worth your time going all the way to a job (especially if It's a long way away) and then being only paid for one hours work.
Industry Acronyms:
TFP - Commonly known as "Time For Prints". This is basically exchanging your time for a photographers time. You get some prints for your portfolio and the photographer gets to use your photos on his website / publications / portfolio etc. It's VERY important that you agree on how / where the photos will be used before the shoot. You need to agree what photos will be provided to you at the end of the shoot and even more important you need to make sure that you know the full use of the photos that the photographer is taking. Suppose you get a really bad set of photos. You don't want to be in the situation where you have given the photographer permission to use those photos all over the internet do you? Especially when YOU are the subject and you absolutely hate the photos!! Any commercial use of the photos should also be agreed upon up front before any shooting takes place as well. Commercial use of the photos should see you getting a fee for being the Model.
TFSOP - Time For Share Of Prize Money. Simply put you enter a competition with a photographer (and sometimes other models), then if you win, you split the prize money. If you lose you get nothing.
Model Release Forms:
A Model Release Form is an agreement between the photographer / agent / company and the model. Model Release forms should be read very carefully and should only be signed if both parties agree. Not every photographer uses model release forms, but the ones that do will generally insist that you sign it. Don't feel pressured, ask to have a copy emailed to you before the shoot so you can read over it. Ask any questions before the shoot. If in doubt, ask the question or just dont do the shoot. Better to get an answer up front than be disappointed on the day (or even worse be ripped off!!).
Motivating the Photographer:
Nothing motivates me more than an energetic model who has some of there own posing ideas. More motivation means better shots. If I have a really flat model who just doesn't have any of there own ideas and is scared to pose or to be there self then the shots are never as good. If I have to pose every inch of a model for the entire shoot to get a good shot, then that takes a lot of the creativity out of the shoot. Photographers will respond very well to a model who knows how to pose and is willing to give things a try. Don't ever underestimate your ability to motivate the photographer. I recently had a shoot with a really flat model, a really non motivating model who just killed any possible creativeness. Everything was too hard for the model and they didn't really try. That left me feeling a little worn out mentally. However the next model I was shooting that day was really into it (the exact opposite) and they really motivated me back to being creative and before we knew it we were getting some of the best shots of there portfolio. It's all about personality and motivation. If your sensing the atmosphere is flat then have some fun, do some spontaneous poses, be a bit nutty, have some fun!!!! I can assure you, the photographer will appreciate it very much and your photos will be much better as a result.
Personality:
I think personality is the most important ingredient for any model to have. I have seen many models over my time and I can remember the ones with the stuck up personalities like it was yesterday. It's very important to be down to earth and approachable. No one wants to deal with a model with an attitude, no matter how cute or sexy she is. There is always another cute sexy model down the road with a great personality, so remember this, always say please and thank you, and never ever swear. If you can see the photographer busily packing up everything, offer to help, he will most probably thank you and decline your offer, but people like the fact that your keen. . It goes a very long way in my book. That's just a few simple tips for making a good impression on a photographer / agency. Photographers and agencies that like you will give you more work. Personally if I like a girl I go out of my way to see she does well. If she is not a nice girl or painful to work with, then I put her to the bottom of the work queue (the less I see of her the better). This pretty much goes for all photographers.
Props:
Although a lot of jobs will provide everything you need for a shoot, always ask if anything else is needed. If your not sure, then just bring the props along anyway's. Props can be basically anything that would look good in a photo (an old hat, scarf, toys etc.). For example recently photographed a girl in a farmyard barn. I brought along the hat and the boots and asked her to bring along old jeans and an old shirt. She also brought along a really old think rope too. The final photo looked a lot more real because the viewer can look at that photo and relate to is. She was standing in the barn, hat tipped down, cute smile, boots, old clothes and holding an old coiled piece of rope. The viewer knows exactly what is going on in the photo and it looks "real". Never under estimate the value of good props.
Preparing for a shoot:
It's very important to prepare for a shoot the day before the shoot. Good preparation can mean the difference between a good shoot and a great shoot. It's very important to do any personal grooming the night before. Hair should always be washed the day before a shoot and any shaving should also be done the day before the shoot as well. Shaving on the day of the shoot can cause skin irritations and red marks that really show up in photographs. It's also very important to wear loose clothes to a shoot. You don't want to arrive there and have Jean and belt marks all over you. Those marks take at least an hour to fade and often longer. Wear loose clothes so the shoot can commence straight away when you arrive. If a makeup lady has been supplied don't wear any makeup to the shoot at all. It just slows things down as the makeup lady has to take all your makeup off first then put the real stuff on.
Learn to say no:
Some photographers will definitely take you out of your comfort zone. That's not always a bad thing as it helps you expand your portfolio and discover new things about yourself. However there are times when it's just too much and you need to say no. You need to convey this message in a manner that doesn't upset the photographer or more importantly the mood of the shoot. Simply suggest another idea. However If the photographer keeps down that path that your just not happy with, then just tell him straight. As a photographer I MUCH prefer a model to say what she does / doesn't like rather than beating around the bush all day and wasting my time.
Good Vs Bad:
Models often ask me how to spot a good versus a bad photographer? The answer is very easy. Ask to see his / her work. If you like what you see then you can book a shoot and have a fair idea that the photographer is going to get you the results you want. If the photographer won't show you his work or you don't like what you see (remember the photographer will always show his best work - so you can pretty much assume it doesn't get any better than what he is putting forward) then don't book a shoot. Tell him straight out you don't really fit his style and thank him kindly for his inquiry and his time.
Never do list:
- Never do a shoot with a photographer that pays you out of there own pocket without a modelling release.
- Never shoot with a Photographer that uses Glamour in there name. As Glamour is the term that the adults' industry makeup artist call there style of work. SO Glamour MEANS PORN.
- Never do a lingerie shoot unless it for a catalogues or an add campaign.
- Never do a lingerie show unless it for the designer or for a store. Never do it in a night club or bar.
- Never do a shoot that your not happy with, ask you self "can I show the photo's to my girlfriend/boyfriends' born again grandmother?"
