Top 10 Secret Modeling Tips

At North West Model Agency many new models ask us for modeling tips. While there are literally hundreds of questions, we’ve picked the essential tips to help you get a head of the competition and grab not just your first assignment, but a constant stream of work!

 

1. Motivation and Reputation

They say you’re only as good as your last shoot. There’s a lot of truth in this. Unlike a shop you have no off the shelf product to sell. You are literally ‘selling yourself’. This is your reputation, and it needs to be looked after if you’re going to succeed.

This means you have to be on your best behavior at all times. The top supermodels may be able to get away with the paparazzi lifestyle, but while nurturing a modeling career this simply will not be the case if you hope to succeed.

North West Model Agency advises you to never bad mouth anyone, no matter how much they annoyed you. Simple…? Nope it is really hard but that is why it is important.

You will just sound bitter, and you never know who you are talking to. There is a reason why the term “small world” was coined; you’d be surprised as to how interconnected people can be. It’ll only take one bad word against someone’s wife or brother who’s in the right position in the industry and you might suddenly find people are not returning your calls or giving you work. Reputation is everything in this game.

While not saying anything bad about other models, agencies and photographers is a must always remember that motivation is what drives success just as much as talent. A happy, highly motivated individual is more likely to be hired than someone who’s grumpy and has a bad phone manner. Be polite, be happy, and most of all enjoy what you’re doing.

If you are not enjoying it at the start, are you really in the right career?

 

2. Should I pay to sign up for a model agency?

North West Model Agency does not charge to sign up models. The choice is yours at the end of the day though it is worth thinking about a few points. What guarantee of modeling assignments do you have considering your outlay? This is known commercially as a “Return of Investment”. A return of investment of zero is not an investment at all.

Remember that YOU are the model agencies source of income. Placing you on assignments is how they are meant to make both you and them money. Simply put, it is a risk the modeling agency should be taking as business men and women, and not one which you should be underwriting.

Look at it another way, do football clubs charge potential Premier League players to sign up? If they did, what sort of statement would that make about the quality of the club or the quality of the players?

3. Should I do modeling shots for free?

Modeling is a very competitive business. The catch 22 situation which North West Model Agency sees all the time is a model wants to sign up for an agency to do modeling, but the agency wants to see example of work the model has done.

As mentioned above, you really should not be paying agencies for a portfolio instead you should be approaching the agencies with your portfolio.

The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to complete a couple of model shoots for free, with the proviso that you will be allowed to use the shots for your portfolio. It is common for the agency or photographer to retain copyright, but grant a license for you to use the photos for self promotion.

This way you have professional shots, at a fraction of the cost. If you would like to get involved in this ‘time for prints’ North West Model Agency would love to hear from you as we can organize this type of work.

 

4. Modeling Portfolio - quality and market

Having some sort of portfolio is a real advantage. Look at it from the other side of the fence. You have two models, both have the look you want and one has a set of photos showing you what they’re capable of.

All things being equal who would you pick? You would obviously go with the known quantity i.e. the one with the portfolio.

Having a portfolio is linked to point 3 above. It is pretty much essential, but you need to know your market. Most people will never be “high fashion” models. It’s something you need to accept. If you do not fit into the “sample” size it’s not going to happen.

North West Model Agency suggests that when you turn up for an interview, or are submitting photos remember to make sure they are the best you have and they are relevant.

Avoid using poor quality images at all times. North West Model Agency sees applicants using mobile phone images which are just not good enough.

Images should be clear and show you at your best. Unless it is a highly stylized image make sure your face is clear (no hands or hair in the way). It does not take much effort to have a friend photograph you in neutral surroundings such as a well lit bedroom or outside (natural light in the mornings or evenings are the best).

Avoid submitting photos where you are in a group of people. Will the agency know which one you are? What if your friends are chosen by the agency? You would feel pretty stupid.

If you have a special feature (good skin, hands, legs, bottom etc) make sure you show it off subtly in the photo. Hiding an ‘asset’ will not get you work.

Sending in a poor quality photo or one which is not very well taken implies laziness on your part. It does not look good if an agency is considering whether it should invest time and money in promoting you.

North West Model Agency will be providing future articles on getting the best photos to send to agencies.

 

5. Safety First

An obvious tip, but a lot of models (both men and women) do not always see the potential dangers involved in taking on an unknown assignment.

One of the advantages of using an agency (such as North West Model Agency) is the agency will have looked at the projected and made a call about its validity.

Using some of the free sites out there you can be left wide open to abuse as literally anyone could be posing to be a photographer. From simply not being paid (financial safety) to assault and worse (physical safety) it is always advisable to take someone with you, or at the very least let a relative or friend know where you are going and what time you are due back.

North West Model Agency always recommends a chaperone no matter what the project, age or sex of the model. This is not always possible but make sure you do not carry large amounts of cash (always take some for a taxi) and stick to well lit streets and car parks.

North West Model Agency says if in doubt, talk to the photographer or agency and never risk it. It only takes one mistake to end a career.

6. Punctuality

In the commercial world everything revolves around stability and relative predictability. It might not always seem like it to the outsider but think of simple things like you know the shops will open at 9am and your employer will pay you.

When organizing a shoot North West Model Agency guarantees there has usually been quite a lot of people and time involved. In business time is money, and turning up to an assignment late may mean not all the photography gets completed as planned in one day.

So what?

Well if the shoot time is doubled so can the price. Photographers and equipment do not come cheap – always bear in mind that being late is wasting someone else’s money and that someone else is the person who pays your wage be it directly or through an agency.

At the very least if you have relied on public transport call the person who has organized the shoot to let them know where you are and when you will arrive. If you cannot contact the photographer or location manager at least call the agency. It might be possible with enough notice for them to move the schedule about and so not disrupt the shoot.

In short, being late or not turning up is a really easy way for people not to use you. It will affect your reputation, your motivation and any future prospects of work.

 

7. Travel

Expect to travel while you’re a model. It’s part of the business. Being in the right place at the right time helps, but chances are you’ll be going up and down the country. If you’re lucky you may even travel abroad.

If using public transport make sure you check ahead to see if there are any strikes or problems.

If you’re driving, check your car is roadworthy and make sure you know where you can park on arrival and if there are any motorway delays.

“My car wouldn’t start” or “I couldn’t find anywhere to park” just will not wash if you disrupt a major shoot. North West Model Agency can help you plan your journey and in some cases even offer transport to the shoot and back.

When parking choose a well lit car park and remember that in winter it gets dark early. Do you want to be walking through an unfamiliar city at night? Regardless of gender, this is not fun let alone safe.

Never put your safety at risk to be punctual though. Always let someone know where you are and what time you are due back.

8. The assignment

As with just about every other industry communication is essential. Never take anything for granted.

Ask plenty of questions about the assignment and never do anything you are not comfortable with. Generally an assignment will have been planned for quite some time as it may be seasonal.

North West Model Agency will always obtain a comprehensive brief from the client before assigning you to the work, but some assignments are quite spontaneous. Sometimes this can be the fun part and one which separates the models who succeed and those who fail.

Always take your own make-up even if you have been assured that there’s a stylist on hand. Sometimes stylists do not show or run out of time. Do you want to be blamed for not looking decent? Makeup does cost a lot, but go for one of the cheaper brands such as Collection 2000. Keep it in an “assignment bag” with other details (agency phone number, spare taxi money etc) that way you will never forget it.

Remember that modeling is not easy and it IS a commercial venture for most people. It is how they pay their mortgage and put food on the table. Be prepared to discuss money and rates before you go to the shoot.

North West Model Agency has standard terms and conditions so you do not need to worry about the embarrassment conversations on money can cause; it’s what we do every day.

 

9. References

References go hand in hand with your portfolio.

What potential model employers are looking for is a combination of all the positive aspects of the last 8 points.

If you can get these right and your referees are prepared to agree to it, you’re going to be well on your way to impressing people. North West Model Agency suggests you print out this list and tick off the points as you achieve them. It is too easy to just gloss over your bad points. Tackle them head on.

Always make sure you have the permission of the referrer before using them. An irate referee is unlikely to give you a positive reference when disturbed by a photographer or agency.

 

10. Model agency

A lot of men and women attempt to go it alone in modeling. Few get over the initial hurdles of managing to get assignments.

Think of modeling as a parallel to acting. How many successful actors and actresses out there do not have an agent to take care of the boring stuff and let them get on with the fun work?

Modeling agencies do make money but they are there to help you along. At the end of the day, YOU are the model agencies asset and any model agency worth its salt will nurture your talent.

A decent model agency, such as North West Model Agency will help you avoid the pitfalls mentioned above meaning you do not have to go through the same painful learning curve as those going it alone.

Conclusion - North West Model Agency Modeling Tips

The top ten tips are a guide. They’re not set in stone and they certainly do not cover everything. It’s taken as read that any model who is interested in progressing their career will look after themselves (both physically and mentally), but the common sense aspect of modeling mentioned above is rarely talked about as those in the know, don’t want new models competing with them.

North West Model Agency cater for all types of modeling in the North West and beyond. With a high tech web based design studio in Merseyside and access to literally hundreds of professional models and photographers they are the one stop shop for all modeling work in the North West of the UK. North West Model Agency is equipped to handle specialist assignments and has a fast fully managed project turnaround. North West Model Agency are experienced in conventional print techniques for editorial modeling as well as web based applications.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/industry-secret-top-10-modeling-tips-by-north-west-model-agency-1008703.html

July 3rd, 2009 by admin | No Comments »

There comes a time in everyone’s life when he or she wonders if there is more to photography than a palm-sized block of aluminum that is the point and shoot camera stowed away in their pocket.
The compact point and shoot camera has come so far in the last ten years that it’s tempting to write off Digital SLR’s as somewhat irrelevant to a lot of people’s lives, not offering enough utility to offset their quite bulky size and hefty price tag.
Folks get by now with just a Mobile phone camera, they don’t even have a point and shoot!
As soon as I bought my first compact camera, a few years ago, the Canon Ixus, I was in this boat. I asked myself “what more could one possibly need?”
I told myself I would never need a Digital SLR.
For many months I even used a Phone camera with the Sony image stabiliser and at 3.2 Mega pixels this was a great little camera that almost fulfilled my needs.
How could I posibly need a Digital SLR?
Well, some time ago, I owned a Canon 35mm SLR, I used it for some years in fact, I believe the model number was A1.
The shots I took with this were very good, the drawback was obviously the film developement, or lack of the facility to perform this myself, after all, at this time you had to set up your own Dark Room, (if you had the space) which I didn’t.
I was very interested in improving the pictures I took in a sort of artistic way, (not in a technical way). The point and shoot cameras at 10 Mega pixels are adequate even the most tech’ people and produce excellent graphic results if you know how to operate the relevant software.
No, what I wanted was to improve the atmospheric quality of the Pic’s….
After a great deal of umming and arring I dove in and bought my first Digital SLR, a Canon 1000D, not the most expensive by any means, but hey, I was just dipping my toe in the water.
How things have changed.
Digital Slr’s need no such requirements as a dark room and all the gubbins that you need to print the pictures you want.
The requirements are.

• A computer.
• A quality printer.
• A reasonable knowledge of the software provided with the camera.

If you have your own software that you are pretty familiar with you can even use this.
My pictures have improved a lot, due mainly to the manual settings I can achieve with the camera and the functions available in the software, if you can’t achieve the shots you want with the camera, you can certainly get what you need with the software.
When you take a good picture and learn how to use the software the limits are endless.
The conclusion then:
If you are interested in improving the pic’s you take and preserving them for posterity, get yourself a Digital SLR now. Don’t pay the earth, we all have fads and if this turns out to be one you won’t have spent the earth.
If you aren’t interested in improving your photo’s, stick with your point and shoot.
For more info’ and reviews on Digital SLR’s visit.
The Best Digital Camera Store
Keep smiling.
Ken Trueman.

Ken Trueman is an avid photographer and angler with an interest in Internet marketing.
Ken has his own Blog at http:www.kentrueman.com and runs a Photography site at:
http://www.best-digitalcamerastore.comArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/beginners-guide-to-digital-slr-cameras-1009369.html

July 3rd, 2009 by admin | No Comments »

Anyone who wants to learn how to be a photographer doesn’t have to enroll for many years to get a degree. There are colleges who offer this as one of the subjects which the student may take as an elective.

Can you still learn how to be a photographer being out of school for many years? The answer is yes. The only thing needed is your dedication to learn from the proper techniques and a camera to take some shots.

Some students don’t have to go to campus anymore. There are some institutions that offer distance education. A good example is the New York Institute of Photography.

You will learn everything from exposure, lenses, the various techniques used to cover different events, journalism and much more. Being affiliated with the school, you will be entitled to free online magazine articles such as contests and digital imaging.

Classes are composed of 30 lectures on various topics. You will get a brief introduction through each and then can specialize on a particular field of interest. The nice thing about the program is that you don’t have to quit your regular job. This can be done in your free time so there isn’t any pressure in learning everything about photography.

Aside from theoretical lectures, there will be a lot of hands on experience. This will make it easy for you to apply what has been learned as seen in the photographs that have been taken using the camera.

The common notion of being a photographer is that you must have a dark room to develop the photos. You will be happy to know that this isn’t the practice anymore. Some of the best names in the business don’t do this anymore which gives more time to focus on getting the perfect shots.

Education is something you can never get enough of even as you get older. The curriculum is there. All the individual has to do is acquire knowledge from some of the best then apply it after finishing the course.

The rewards of becoming a photographer are endless. It is up to the you whether or not you have the potential to win the Pulitzer Prize or be one of many who do this as a profession.

Photography school can be a lot of fun. You should just submit the requirements then enroll in the course.

Did you like this article? Curious about Dominating Digital Photography? Well now you can by Discovering this Digital Photography Blog…what are you waiting for?

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July 1st, 2009 by admin | No Comments »

A digital camera cannot be seen as a complete gadget in itself. You may need a lot of other features to make the camera give you its best. A digital camera driver is one such accessory. Read on for the most genuine information on how the digital camera driver can really help you.

As the modern hardware is quite diverse in its application, there are many operating systems in which the drivers can be used. The modern technology uses the drivers for interfacing the gadgets like, the digital cameras, video adapters, printers, network cards and the sound cards.

A driver device, to say precisely, is a computer program. A driver is a typical operating system, for example a Windows or Linux or FreeBSD. Its main purpose is to interact with the hardware device. A digital camera driver is most importantly an instruction manual. It provides the operating system with all the relevant information about how it can manage and convey with that particular piece of hardware. In a layman’s language, a driver is a very crucial piece of data to a program application.

When you go out for a shoot with your digital camera you take up memory cards with you. You store all your images in the memory cards. Now when you need to transfer all your images in the computer system, you need a driver. A driver is the software with the help of which you can transfer your photos in the computer. Otherwise it is not possible for the computer to read the photos stored in your digital camera. Once the photographs are recorded in the computer, they are free for you to use, as you like.

When you purchase a digital camera, you get a driver compatible to it from the company itself. It is an important point to note here that, each digital camera has its own driver. This depends on the company and model of the digital camera. You cannot use the driver of one camera for the other one. The drivers help the user to operate the digital camera as per its features and applications.

In most cases, writing a digital camera driver is considered to be a challenge. To operate a driver properly, one has to have a deep understanding and technical skill. You must spend some time beforehand to understand how exactly a given feature functions. How the driver is compatible to the camera. Understand its both aspects— hardware as well as software. When you understand it totally, it will seem to be easy for you. But, the beginning can be tough.

A driver helps in the multiple ways. It can show you all the pictures that you have shot in a nice way of a slide show. It copies all the photos one by one to your computer. The driver helps you making a lot of uses of the photograph. It is of good use for you in all the cases— whether you are an average user or a professional photographer. If you need to upload your photographs to a photo web site or just like to email them to your friends, then also the software of driver can assist you.

Did you enjoy this article? Interested in Dominating Digital Photography? Well now you can by reading this Digital Photography Tutorial…what are you waiting for?

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/digital-camera-driver-is-a-must-for-you-1005292.html

July 1st, 2009 by admin | No Comments »