10 Qualities a Model Looks For in Photographers

NOTE: This post is informational for photographers nearly as much as it is for young models.

It is universal knowledge that a model needs photos of herself in her portfolio; the only way to go about this is to collaborate with different photographers. How she goes about building a model portfolio depends on a few different factors and is up to her (and her agency) to decide.

A model will mainly begin building her portfolio either by hiring a photographer or collaborating on a (free) trade shoot or test shoot. As she begins shooting and building up her reputation, she has the position to be more choosy with who she shoots with. Only then, when she has a reputable portfolio, may she ask the photographers for compensation when she is requested for a shoot. However, there are some collaborations even an experienced model won’t want to pass up.

You can automatically assume any work with a designer needs to be paid, since they are advertising an actual product. With photographers, however, it gets tricky.

Here are 10 qualities an experienced model looks for in a photographer when testing for free Continue reading “10 Qualities a Model Looks For in Photographers”

First Fashion Shoot Raw Film

When you’re a new model and you’ve been shown–for some reason or another–the whole film of a first shoot for the first time, don’t freak out!

Yeah, you’ll have some decent shots in your first shoot, but chances are, you’re not exactly going to look like Coco Rocha in every frame. Photographers don’t generally show the model the whole film. In fact this happens very rarely; the photographers will usually choose and edit which photos to send. There are always bad photos to filter through. Maybe you’ve blinked in one photo, or you have your hands at an awkward angle that looks unattractive. A photographer will shoot until s/he has “the shot” (one amazing shot, or a selection of shots) for each main look. Continue reading “First Fashion Shoot Raw Film”

Getting Naked in the Desert

I am no comedian, but I like to try to be funny sometimes. So here is me… well, I wouldn’t call it making fun of myself exactly… maybe I’m just “making fun.” Let me have my fun rant here for a minute, okay? Men, boys, guys, whatever you like to be called, you might enjoy this one the most.

First off, don’t go telling me being a fashion model is a piece of cake!! People think its about being pretty. Its not. It’s about being ugly. Seriously. Its about pushing the limits, its about being uncomfortable. It is pain and absurdity. It is Lady Gaga. It is amazing.

It has taken me time to get where I am as a model in terms of my confidence, comfort zone, and skill.

We should all know by now that my confidence and skill are superb.  Let’s talk about comfort zone for a bit, now, shall we? Continue reading “Getting Naked in the Desert”