|
This site has been visited
times.
|
|
Site last updated:-
04/01/2001
|
|
|
These are not hard and set rules, just recommendations and common sense.
-
Your safety is of utmost importance !
-
Let your family know what your doing, they will find out in the end,
and it's less embarrassing if you start the conversation.
-
Don't give your phone number out (or your address) unless you know the
photographer, and then only if its a photographer that your happy to work
with and can trust.
Studio's should be OK with your number, after all there going to need to
contact you if you want work.
-
Find out about the photographer, (normally less important if a studio has
booked you on the photographers behalf), but still ask if the photographer
has used the studio before.
There may be a small number pervert's that will take this route to try
something on, in most cases its too much trouble for them I pleased to say.
So you are unlikely to meet that very small percentage.
-
Find out what the shoot will involve before hand.
Don't leave it until your at the studio or on location, if you are unsure
about any part of it, or don't want to model in that way, say so.
Explain why, you may have misunderstood what's wanted, or maybe the
photographer can change the shot to something you are both happy with.
-
Ask to see examples of the photographers work, a good photographer will
normally be only to happy to do so, it proves his / her worth as a
photographer.
-
Don't let any photographer push or pressure you into poses you had
not agreed to do, or are uncomfortable about doing.
This is a point where you must stand your ground, irrespective of who
the photographer is !
Even the likes of Bailey and Bob Carlos Clarke have to accept this.
-
When you first start modelling, photographers may be happy for you to bring
a friend along for support (it good for your safety too), but one of your
parents, or a boy friend are not the ones to pick.
A girl friend, or sister is a far better choice.
If the photographer has a problem with this, then DON'T work with that
photographer, ever !
-
Never let a photographer touch you, if he tries walk out, let others know
even contact the police.
-
If you have just started modelling you could also consider working on a
"prints for time" basis (PFT) as a good and economical way to start your
portfolio.
This is not uncommon, basically the photographer pays for the studio and
film, you don't charge the photographer in £ but in prints, which
you have input as to how it will be content wise.
You should both agree on 5 or 6 prints depending on size (16"x12") (10"x8"
- most common) per each hour of your time.
If you have or intend have a web site, ask the photographer if they can
scan the image(s) also, not all will be able to do so, most will be
willing to help if they can.
Its also common for a model release to be signed, but only once you have
your prints.
You pick the prints you want, not the one's the photographer wants you to
have.
Don't however use just one photographer for this type of work, each
photographer has his or her own style and it shows in each image.
-
Again, if you have just started modelling, and have contacted a AM / semi pro
studio, ask if you could 'sit-in' for an hour when they have an experienced,
professional model in the studio.
This will of cause require the co-operation of both the model and photographer,
but will give you posing ideas, and an idea of just how a shoot goes.
-
While its up to you, I would recommend that you avoid B/G stuff, and video.
I think its the same type person that want both.
You need to decide if it could affect your career in the future.
-
Your reading this so you must have access to the web, (many free ISP's now
provide free web space too, like:-
Freeuk.
So get yourself a web site, it's your on-line portfolio, or at least get a
page on a photographer's site.
Some photographers may do this for you on the same lines as PFT, but
only trade 1 or 2 hours for this.
As with a 'normal' portfolio use images from more than one photographer,
and update every other month if you can.
-
While you can find some good contacts from the internet, if you are
contacted by someone using a "hotmail" or "yahoo" type of email address, ask
yourself why "hotmail" or "yahoo" ?.
This is a good way for someone to hide there identity, they can be very hard
if not impossible to trace.
You should be very careful here, personally I wouldn't even consider it.
Remember my first tip, "Your safety is of utmost importance !", Well it
still is !
-
If a photographer can email you, I would expect (may-be unfairly) the
photographer to also have a website, but may not always the case.
Always have a look for a web site first, as it gives you the chance to
have a look at the photographers work before you agree to anything.
-
If you are contacted by a photographer, but don't like the type of images
you have seen, don't ignore the email, just send a simple reply saying its
not the type of modelling you are looking for.
Apart from being polite, there is then less chance for that photographer
saying something negative about you, in a studio or to another photographer.
Likewise, you shouldn't then slate that photographer.
-
This is a bit like a "catch 22", but if you contact a photographer, unless
they have seen you in print, your going to be asked for a couple of photo.
You only need to send a couple, non of which should be nude or topless!
For glamour modelling, I would suggest a swim-suit / bikini or 'every day'
type underwear.
Just simple standing shots (full length), against a plain background, taken
in bright conditions should be fine.
Do though try and avoid shadows, especially on the face, around the nose
and eyes, any make-up (if any) should be minimal.
This is because the photographer wants to know what your like, but they
will be of little use, should they end up in the wrong hands.
You could write your name on the front, and email address would be relatively
safe too.
But never ever a phone number or your postal address.
-
Some other info it's worth providing (especially on a web site if you have
one) are your stat's:-
Height, hair colour, eye colour, bust and cup, waist, hips, dress size, and
shoe size, say if you have any tattoos or piercing's also.
Saying when you are available (i.e. weekends only), and if you are willing to
travel or not.
-
When you first start, and or when working in AM / semi pro studios, you are
going to have to do your own make-up and hair.
I can't help greatly here, but its different to normal, or what you would do
for a night out on the town.
Speaking to another model would be of help here.
-
When you go to a shoot, always let someone know where you are going, and when
to expect you back.
-
Have a look at other photographers and studios web sites, for model safety.
A good example would be:-
BeSafeModel.
Studios and Modelling Agencies:-
-
You should not be expected to pay a studio or an agency to go on
their books.
If they want to charge you to go on their books, there a good chance it's
a scam, praying on the unwary.
This I expect will both cost you, and demoralise you, don't let it happen !
-
An agency will though take a percentage of your rates, but then they should
also be getting you the work in the first place.
(As I have said else where on this site, nobody works for free).
An agency should however be able to give you advice, and should, even if you
don't like it all.
They should tell you just which areas of modelling will suit you best from a
business point of view, so that you will get regular work.
So if you if you want to be a fashion / catwalk model but are only 5'2", you
are going to be disappointed.
This should not stop you modelling, there are plenty of other areas,
and the glamour area is only one of them.
-
Try and make contact with other professional models in studios (and other
photographers) and see if they know anything about that particular agency.
For glamour work I would only recommend 2 or 3 agencies, that's because I
know girls with those agencies, and what they have told me.
-
If you go to an agency, and they say you have to use their photographer, or
photographer 'x' for the shots in your 'book' or portfolio then I think you
should say no thanks and then go find a real agency.
-
Not all agencies specialise with glamour, and not all with fashion, so do your
homework before phoning or writing (type it).
If you contact one the of better agencies, and they don't think you or they
are suitable for what you would like, listen to their advice, and if they
don't specialise in the area they think you would be successful they may
suggest agency x or y.
You should include a couple of photo's when contacting an agency, unlike a
photo that you would supply for a photographer, these should have your name
and a phone number on the back, but other than that, they could be the same
photo's.
-
A good agency may well have a list several photographers who they would
recommend, but it would be up to you which (if any) you used from that list.
-
When you find a suitable agency, read all the small print before
you sign anything.
The chance is that you will be over the moon, and it will be easy to miss
something that you wish you had spotted before.
-
Never sign anything that could tie you to a single photographer, or
studio, or type of modelling.
It happens, I know of model's who have been caught out in this way, even to the
point where she could only do magazine work, and no P3 stuff for the tabloids.
-
You will also have to deal with rejection, you will have to go to castings, you
know that you look good and that you can do that job, but the same is true of
the other 20 or so girls going for the same job.
Only one of you will get the job, and it may not be you, this does not mean their
is something wrong with you, even the likes of Kate Moss must have been turned
down from some jobs.
-
Again, have a look at other photographers and studios web sites, for both
model safety, and agency scams.
A good example is:-
BeSafeModel.
In the Feb. 2001 issue of 'Professional Photographer' Steve Hynes
(editor) printed the following in his editorial.
On a more upbeat note, there is finally to be some legal control
of modelling agencies that exploit young hopefuls by taking them
on, even when there is no chance of them making the grade.
The usual scam is to charge a joining fee in return for a
portfolio of pictures.
Quite often these are incompetent snapshots, for which the agency
receives hundreds of pounds.
Well, the government is about to ban the taking of joining fees,
allowing agencies only to levy a commission on earnings.
The legislation already exists to invoke this change.
The reputation of genuine photographers has not been helped by
the activities of this species of pond life, so the new law has
to be good news.
It will also mean that more potential models will be directed to
real photographers for their tests and portfolios.
Thanks to Steve, and Professional Photographer, for being able to
reprint this.
I still want to get into modelling.
| |