Key to Successful Model Career

There are several factors that make an amateur, archetypal model and there are many ways to improve this standard and to become a professional strutting on the running with all the buzz. But before we dive into the wonderful and whimsical mysterious of what it takes to be that professional icon we will first tell you what you need to even start. It takes one thing. America’s Next Top Model is always talking about it…. it isn’t the weight loss or weight gain (sure muscle tone is great but anyone can have that!), it isn’t the best outfits or jewelry (again anyone can have that even on a budget), and it isn’t about having the most beautiful, flawless face in the world (Botox anyone?!). So what is it then? It starts with…. pictures. Ta da! Pictures. Yes even professional models need them. The difference is professional models understand the importance of pictures. How can YOU get started and separate yourself from everyone else in the world and stand out… by having top of the line professional pictures in your portfolio. That means working with individuals that know what they are doing. And trust me when I say this, you can’t complete your portfolio with one photo shoot. It is just not going to happen and don’t let so called photographers tell you otherwise. A professional portfolio (notice we said professional!) is one that is dynamic. You (as the model) must be seen in different outfits and styles (including different hairstyles and makeup styles) and you must show diversity with your poses. If you walk into an agency and plop down a portfolio that has all swimsuit shots and their main clientele is Calvin Klein, do you really think you are going to get booked? Absolutely not. Same holds true if you walked in with an entire portfolio dedicated to catalog modeling such as images seen in a Kohl’s catalog or Sears catalog…. do you think you will be hired for anything other than catalog modeling? Absolutely not. Therefore, you must work with a series of photographers and MUAs (makeup artists) and hairstylists to build your portfolio. It is completely ok to use just one photographer and makeup artist, etc… just make sure they are able to shoot your entire portfolio in a one-2 week time frame. This is because every 6 months to a year your entire portfolio should be updated. So you want to get your photo shoots lined up back to back. I say give at least a day to rest in between shoots because you want to be well rested and look your best.

No one said it was going to be easy, but if you are passionate about modeling you will have fun with the experience. I personally choose to have a fun team around me when shooting just because it helps me endure the long hours and to enjoy myself. If you choose your photographer and team wisely you will then be able to book jobs easier. That being said, when you book your first job, whether it’s a photo shoot, runway show, catalog work, etc. be sure to get images from your work. That way you can be updating your portfolio as you go along. Then when 6 months or a year rolls around you can look through your portfolio and see what type of images are missing. That way you can then fill in those gray areas with a new photo shoot with precisely what you need as a professional model. Remember you are branding yourself and you want to choose wisely who you work with. Also remember that your portfolio is essentially your resume just in picture format. And seeing is believing!mTherefore, obtaining high resolution images with quality prints is crucial for placement in your portfolio. Enjoy the process. Last but certainly not least, I am not saying you need to spend an arm and a leg to get quality images. In fact Tiara Magazine works with several outstanding photographers all the time that offer discounts and affordable pricing. Right now we have one photographer on our team that is offering a holiday special. For $250 you can update your entire portfolio with JSK photography which includes a full out shoot (multiple outfit changes) including hair and makeup by Megan Melone! We included some pictures for fun. Again we work with a team of photographers that we trust. Trust should be an important factor when choosing a photographer. Have fun! If you have any questions or would like to find out about JSK photography’s special you can email director@tiaramag.net or to contact JSK photography directly you can email kav87@aol.com or you can call Jody at 815 560 7459.

Photos by: JSK photography Makeup by: Megan Melone Author: Sherrie Gearheart