Showing posts with label modeling 101. Show all posts
Showing posts with label modeling 101. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Business of Modeling: Dance Training Gives Models an Edge


It’s no secret that the best models know how to “move”, giving them a major advantage over others.  Models are not plastic mannequins, and simply relying on good genes and the creative efforts of others to make beautiful images isn’t going to make for a great career.


Models who have a background in dance or theatre tend to have more body awareness, are more likely to know how they are appearing in the shots, and are able to bring drama and personality to the images.  Runway comes easily to them since they know how to move fluidly and without awkwardness.  Girls with even some basic dance training bring life to the styling, and movement to their limbs and hair, creating drama and spirit.  Those who are animated and have good control of their actions are far more likely to be booked over a static, timid girl whose images are flat and boring.  


Dance training gives core strength, balance, endurance, and long, lena muscles.  And if you think these things don’t matter, try standing for hours in stilettos while stylists work on your clothes, assistants set the lights, editors and photographers do digitals and discuss the shots, - and then be asked to move and make magical images.  Supermodel Coco Rocha created a photo book entitled “Study of Pose: 1000 Poses”, the perfect guide for new faces to learn how to model gracefully, quickly, thoughtfully, and artistically. 



It is easy for a photographer to rein in a model if her action does not work for the shot or the styling, but extremely frustrating and annoying to waste time waiting for a model to wake up and come to life in front of the camera.  Models who rely on their faces alone will have a very short career.  Count on it.  Dance training also teaches great posture, shoulder placement, fluidity, how to give the appearance of mile long legs and arms, all while selling the garments with imagination and awareness of the final image.  And it’s FUN! Get some music going and practice! And do the same on set.  Standing still is boring after a while and keeping your energy and enthusiasm up is professional and expected, and if you do, there is a better chance you will be booked by these people again.  


Karlie Kloss at 6’2” is a great example of a model who rose above the rest by being bold and animated, quickly becoming a favorite of photographers and editors for her ability to breathe life into the images.  And that isn’t easy when you are tall, to avoid looking like you are not in control of your actions.  She knows exactly how her body looks to the camera and just how to make each outfit looking stunning in the most flattering, dynamic way.


Theatricality also includes your facial expressions and models who inject some personality into the photos with their face are far more likely to get top editorials over non-emotive models.  They know who to portray dreamy innocence, sensuality, joy and laughter, or strength.  The best models will become a character in their mind and have a story behind them so they can “act” with their expressions.  


There are models who are not traditionally beautiful, or tall, or lanky, who just knew how to play to the camera, to bring emotion to the images or runway, and turned that ability into extraordinary careers, just as there are stunning models who are shy and think it is enough to be beautiful, who never realize their potential and have short careers.  


At the same time, modeling is not dance and forced movements that look rehearsed can look awkward and not fluid enough for photography.  Don’t be shy on set and by all means ask the photographer what they are going for in the shots, and become a part of the creative process, not a hinderance, or worse, disappointing.  Being a new model is not an excuse.  Practice makes perfect, so sign up for ballet barre classes, or jazz, or hip hop, and learn how to MOVE. You will be a better, more successful model for it. 

                                                               XOXO Shelley

#modelsanddancetraining #businessofmodeling #modeling101 #howtoposelikeamodel #modelswhomove #modelposes #modelexpressions #balletformodels #danceformodels #facethisblogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein 



Sunday, September 24, 2017

Models as Social Media Influencers: The What, Why, and How to Succeed


Social media:  it is the new reality of modeling and cannot be ignored.  The entire fashion and beauty industries have been changed by the power of the individual on social media platforms, affecting advertising, branding, and even in some cases actual design.  For the first time in the world of modeling, models have more control over their personal brand image than ever before. 


By now we all know that having a large, engaged following on platforms like Snapchat, Instagram and Twitters is gauged as “influence” and clients are now considering a model’s own influence on social media in the casting process.  A model’s look or portfolio are not enough to land bookings in many cases, as clients are interested in models who have a large number of followers and will give a shout out to their brand, post or re-post project-related (and approved) images and video clips (stories), or simply have a recognized face and persona that are in line with their own brand image and reflects their target market.   So powerful is this influence that agencies are now representing talent that often does not conform to traditional model standards.  Tattoos, piercings, extreme looks, unnatural hair color, shorter types, and quirky models are now cast for campaigns because of their own personal influence and cool factor.  The ramifications for the standard models is enormous as the competition increases and the cult of personality becomes extremely important to a successful career. 


So what does that all mean to new models and those looking to take their career to the next level?  We asked several models and agents for their tips on how to manage this new side of the business of modeling to stand out and increase your own influence:

Content - What to post: 

- selfies: on set with makeup and hair done or in the process – no duck lips - ever
- natural selfies: clean, fresh, pretty
- inspirational pics or clips: working out and showing how fit you are
- eating real food: everyone loves seeing a model enjoying her meal
- street style: going to castings, with other models or alone
- smiling: this is often not a shot in a model’s book so this is the perfect place to show off your amazing smile
- activities: doing things that you love that show you are more than just a “model”, such as skateboarding, hiking, reading, cooking, days out with friends, family time
- travel: amazing views or sites that you really like such as skylines, beaches, art work, urban scenes
- behind-the-scene pics or clips: with permission - always
- your best features: if you have amazing eyes or long legs this is the perfect chance to show them off
- personality: show it off – this is your chance to be you
- humor: shows you are real, fun, and that you don’t take yourself too seriously
- clips: use Snapchat and Instagram Stories to bring your personal brand to life

How often to post:

Believe it or not some agencies require their models to post twice per day to build their feeds quickly with content.  And they are watching to see what you post, so keep that in mind.  Once you have established a reasonable number of followers on your platforms, once a day will be enough. 

Hashtags: #

- check what hashtags agencies and top models use and keep a list for yourself
- when posting to Instagram, use only a couple of hashtags in the initial post and then immediately comment on your own post to add a few more
- check the app Hashtagger to learn which tags are trending for the type of photo or clip you want to post
- common hashtags are #modellife, #modeloffduty, #modelstyle, #modelcasting, #onestowatch, #newfaces, #motivation, #backstage, #makeup, #behindthescenes, #modelstreetstyle

Do’s and don't’s:

- always check with the agency for their own rules regarding posts on your accounts
- it is not your model portfolio so only post test shots with the express permission of the photographer – always check so you don’t infringe on anyone’s copyright and credit everyone involved in creating that particular shoot
- post covers, runway images, and tear sheets interspersed with your personal pics and clips to show your progress and that you are a working model
- the fastest way to lose out on potential bookings with great clients is to post nudity or a lot of butt shots – unless that is the type of modeling work you want.

How to keep it authentic:

            This is your chance to have your own voice in your brand image, to have personality, and to be a “real” personal rather than a mannequin ready to be transformed into other people’s vision.   Be yourself and it will show.  Being precious sends the wrong message to potential clients and could actually hurt your chances of making strong impressions with potential clients.  Endear yourself to your followers and let them see what the modeling life is actually like.  Take them on your adventure and share this exciting time.  Be gracious and answer their comments, and delete the ones that throw shade.  It is your feed, your account, your brand.  

How to increase your followers:

- don’t buy followers – it is easy for other people to see that you did that and they will know you are trying to inflate your influence – and most of those followers will disappear quickly and your numbers will actually decline – you don’t want potential clients to see that negative spiral
- follow other models, photographers, brands, designers, art directors, editors, magazines, stylists, makeup artists, and clients
- comment quickly on other model’s and industry pros' posts so your comment is seen right away, and keep the comments friendly and fun, as other people might in turn check out your profile and follow you
- be regularly active on the platforms, both in posting and in commenting and liking
- be generous in your “likes” – what goes around comes around


Influence is here to stay and models must embrace it to succeed. Don’t be overwhelmed with the task of gaining influence.  Think of it as a way to control your brand image, outside of your portfolio.  Revel in being able to show your own style and personality, and use it as a tool to learn how to be a better model in front of the camera.  Find your best angles and expressions.  Practice moving in front of the camera.  Make it yours!


                                                               XOXO  Shelley


#businessofmodeling #modelsandsocialmedia #influencers #modeling101 #howtobreakintomodeling #gettingintomodeling #modelscouting #facethis.blogspot.com #ShelleyGoodstein

Friday, May 19, 2017

Modeling Biz: What Makes an “It” Girl?

The parameters of what constitutes beauty are shifting, finally, opening the doors of the modeling industry to faces and body types that don’t fall into the typical looks that have traditionally populated the modeling agencies, runways, campaigns, and editorials for so long. While the definition of what makes a girl a beautiful model is changing and broadening, there is no denying that the models who rise to the top in a sea of long-legged women with squared off shoulders, high cheekbones, and wide-set eyes, have to possess something more, something that can only be described as “it”.  So what is “it”?


Ask industry pros and they will all tell you something different, be it a unique look that can be transformed while the model remains recognizable, a model with a great personality, personal style, drive and determination, or simply a “spark”.  Maybe it’s a combination of all of these, or even a model with a look that symbolizes where culture and fashion are that that moment in time. 


However it is defined, there is no denying that there is always some unique quality that makes one model special amongst thousands.  Naomi, Cindy, Claudia, Christy, and Linda, supermodels of the 80’s and 90’s, became so famous that the world refers to them to this day by their first names.  No two were alike or interchangeable, and all had “it” in spades. 


Kate Moss is perhaps the most famous model who embodied “it” as she broke nearly all the beauty standards of the early to mid-nineties with her boyish figure, her short stature (5’6”), wide-set doe eyes and freckles.  She was the antithesis of the Amazonian supermodels with womanly beauty and bodies.  Discovered at age fourteen by Sarah Dukakis of Storm Models UK in the JFK Airport, she must have stirred something in the agent’s gut that this girl would change the industry and turn it on it’s ear.  How else to explain her interest in a small, thin, girl barely in puberty?  Because, she had “it” and Dukakis felt it. No matter where the fashion industry was at that moment, Kate Moss changed it forever, ushering in the entirely new era of the waif, youthful sexuality, and a stripped back, uncontrived, raw beauty that endured until the arrival of the Brazilian bombshells of the late 90’s.


The best scouts and agents are always on the lookout for the next model possessing this elusive quality, knowing that they might, if they are lucky, find just one in their entire careers.  Many models have “promise” but rarely “it”. “It” cannot be cultivated, taught, or created.  “It” is often so out of the scope of traditional beauty standards that it triggers a gut feeling that there are models where to whom the beauty standards of the business do not apply.  But to think having “it” is a golden ticket to success would be a mistake.  Without the best agency that has the right industry connections, without a strong work ethic, without a great support network, without amazing timing, “it” doesn’t matter.  “It” takes a village to succeed.  Every single day in every corner of the world, scouts, agents and casting directors are on the hunt for that elusive girl that has “it”.  She is so rare that the chances of finding her are slim.  But when they find her it’s like catching lightning in a bottle. 

                                                             XOXO  Shelley 

#modeling business #what makes an “it” girl? #model scouting #what makes a supermodel? #getting into modeling #how to break into modeling #modeling 101 #facethis.blogspot.com #Shelley Goodstein





Monday, May 15, 2017

Modeling 101: Arrive "Beauty-Ready"

It may go without saying but personal hygiene is ALWAYS a big deal where modeling is concerned, after all you are hired to represent a brand or publication and no matter what your level of success you have been selected and are being paid to represent at the highest level.  How you arrive on set or backstage counts, and it doesn’t go unnoticed if your personal care beforehand is a little haphazard.  Finding yourself nearly naked and without hair and makeup is laying it all out there for the makeup artist, hair stylist and wardrobe stylist to see, and yes they notice that less than discreet tattoo, the nasty hair extensions, unwashed hair, body-piercings, unshaven legs, nicks, bruises, bad hair-dye job, un-manicured fingernails and toes, zits, and tan lines – ALL OF IT! And it matters!  If you care so little about your own personal image how can you expect a client to think you care about their brand image?


It’s not enough to expect the hair and makeup people to cover all these nasty problems, or to “fix” your hair issues, give you a mani-pedi, or simply expect that the photographer’s retoucher is going to just quickly fix these issues in post-production.  One of the quickest ways to get off on a bad footing on a job is give these problems over to the team as if it were their problem.  It’s not their responsibility, but yours.  And they will hesitate to book you again, or possibly report this to your agency. More than anything it is disrespectful to the team and the client and reflects badly on you. 

I have spoken to photographers and makeup artists about these issues and if a model arrives with any of these problems without the agency or model warning ahead of time that “’so-and-so model fell down the stairs and has bruises on her shins”, or “so-and-so model has had a breakout on her face from frequent traveling this past week”, then it’s not acceptable, and most likely a call will be made to the booker.  Makeup artists are completely grossed out by dirty hair, badly done hair extensions that haven’t been removed and washed in weeks and create bumps around the head, chewed off nails, and bad body shaving. 

You are hired to arrive as a blank canvas, ready to be made up into the representation of the brand. It is your brand collaborating with theirs and the responsibility for a great outcome is as much your responsibility as theirs. 

A profession model knows to:

Hair:  arrive with clean hair, properly cut, and with hair extensions removed and cleaned.

Face: fuzz-free, eyebrows tidy, clean face, and facial skin maintained so as to be free of pimples and redness – avoid any dermatological treatments within a few days of a booking in case there is a reaction.

Body:  remove all piercings, wax, or use your chosen hair-removal method; wear sunscreen on exposed skin daily to avoid any tan lines and discoloration, arms and décolletage included.  If you have bruises, apply arnica regularly to expedite the healing process, and use over-the-counter creams and gels on cuts and scars to heal and reduce their appearance.

Nails:  either learn how to give yourself a clean, simple, clear-colored manicure and pedicure, or book an appointment.  Long or fake nails are out.  Clear or nude shades are best since the makeup artist might need to use a particular color for the project. 

Tattoos:  lots of models have them and most of them know that a tattoo needs to be small and discreetly situated.  Have your own tattoo-covering body makeup in a color that matches your skin tone ready, but don't apply it beforehand as it might come off on the clothes you have to wear for the photos or the show.  Offer it to the makeup artist so they can cover your tattoo in a way it won't soil the styling.

We are all human, models included, and our skin does break out, we get bruises, and we sometimes have forgotten to wear sunscreen, but if you keep yourself generally photo-ready and maintain your hair, nails and complexion, then when something does go awry, an honest comment to the agency to give a potential client a heads-up before a booking can go a long way and shows you are committed to the job and professional.  

Remember it is your job to arrive ready to go and it is not just your personal beauty day to have a free mani-pedi, or free hair trim, or free facial.  More than anything it is just a matter of personal hygiene that is maintained.  It is never okay to expect that any of these issues will be fixed by the beauty team or by the retoucher.  It is not their job.  It’s yours. 

                                                             XOXO  Shelley


#modeling 101 #how to be a professional model #modeling tips #getting into modeling #beauty tips for modeling #modeling: what not to do #professional model beauty tips #facethis.blogspot.com  #Shelley Goodstein