What So Many Models Do Wrong Pt. 1

There are so many things that I see as I deal with various “Models” on the internet, and so much of it is just well straight WRONG! And some of it is ridiculously wrong. I just wanted to take a moment and write about some of the more obvious things I see, and these include things that I hear about from my casting director  over at High Speed Magazine; Tia Thompson.

YOUR ONLINE PROFILES    

The truth is that more often than not your online profile as much as it can help you network and get gigs is also potentially hurting you. In case you haven’t noticed Model Mayhem doesn’t have ANY profiles for magazines, agencies, or any entities that could help propel your brand forward! That’s not a good thing for you.  

They actually told my casting director that Model Mayhem is only for photographers, models, and make-up artists to network and work on their personal projects. Not really a great idea for those hoping to get bigger and better visibility opportunity.

Also Model Mayhem doesn’t allow non members to view your nude or “mature” images. Again not a good idea for those who shoot nudes or more grown up content.

Another thing that is hurting you is not having alternate ways for those with opportunity to contact you on your online profiles. You should list your modeling email, myspace, facebook, twitter, etc clearly on your profile! Give us no reason to not be able to offer you a booking!

What I am seeing a lot of in profiles, even previously in our application process for High Speed Magazine and Luxury Standard Magazine is models listing entire resume’s or including information that is absolutely irrelevant to the purpose for being there.  As a point of information…

• Confusing or mixed message profiles: In other words; don’t tell us that you don’t shoot nudes when you have photos of you nude in your profile. It really makes you look stupid! And no there is NO excuse for doing that. Having nude images in your profile but stating you don’t shoot nudes is well pretty much selling something you don’t have. It would be MUCH better for you to simply remove all nude images, or stipulate that you shoot nudes very selectively which can increase your opportunity for revenue stream.
• Working conventions or car shows is NOT modeling. It’s you standing around handing out materials or being eye candy to draw people to a booth. It has no business being on your “Modeling” profile.
• Listing all the people, magazines you’ve shot with or for. That’s just ridiculous. Your profile should show us what you’ve done and the different levels that you are comfortable with.
• Writing the profile in the third person. STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!  If a third party and verifiable source such as a magazine etc hasn’t written about you then don’t write your profile as if they did. Use I instead of your name.
• Using cute names or nicknames. Unless you’d want to be listed in Vogue magazine as Lil Miss Badass, Or Mizz whatever knock it off because it makes you look amateurish. No one of any merit will book you unless you’re a celebrity.
• Telling us your history. No one cares. We are not concerned with your love of Jesus Christ, Puppy dogs, Political affiliation. These things are irrelevant and will certainly interfere with opportunities. You’re a model. This means you have no opinions.   Speaking out about politics will cause people to pass you up for shoots. What if you say something non complimentary about a person of one or another political party and the career maker who happened upon your profile see’s that. Now you’ve insulted them… NEXT! So shut up! What we ARE however concerned with is do you have the look that we need. Your religious, moral, and political convictions are your issues and best kept to yourself.  Your education and other background are also useless. A phd looks just the same in a bikini as a high school drop out.
• Thinking you’re somebody. You’re not, so stop acting like it!  Telling a make-up artist how they’re supposed to do your make-up is likely to get you booted off a set.  Telling the photographer how to do their job is likely to get you horrible images, a seriously bad reputation, and landed on the D.N.A listing. Believe me we talk and compare notes.
• Barbizon! PLEASE PLEASE do not post that you went to Barbie-Zon or any of those types of things. That’s a joke and makes us laugh.  All it means is that you went to charm school. You didn’t learn anything at these “Schools” that any other woman doesn’t know.
• Your Don’t Do List: What that translates into is that you don’t do anything. NEXT! Why not just say nothing and leave the door open for opportunity.
• Children And Significant Others: You know that reaction you get at the club when you tell the guy providing your alcohol that you have children or have a significant other? Well that’s the EXACT same feeling that most potential clients will have. Experience has shown us that more often than not significant others create more of a problem than not. Children are an unknown element of confusion and chaos to a model’s possible career. Children get sick and require care and of course there’s always the “I can’t find a babysitter.” drama. So it’s best to leave them out of the equation when dealing with your modeling profile. Also it generally accepted that a woman who has given birth to a child tends to create numerous other challenges when shooting, nudes, swimwear, or glamour. All things for you to consider to be prepared for what you could face. Also know that no major agency will seek to represent a “mother” especially of a young child. This is why your profiles should say nothing about such things.

PRIVATE PROFILES

This somehow makes sense? You’re a “Model” shouldn’t anyone be able to immediately see ALL your images? You never know who is looking that can possibly help further your visibility.

Trust me when I say that NO ONE with opportunity will jump through hoops to give it to you. Why would we wait until you approve our friend request to see if we want to offer you an opportunity.

We move on to the next hot girl who was smart enough to have her profile available for all to see!

If you’re worried about your mom/dad/boss/teacher seeing your sexy photos then perhaps you need to consider these other options.

• Develop a stage name and use that for your modeling
• Find something else to do.

VOTE FOR ME! Online contests. Are you serious? Ok this may have some merit in some way but don’t spam your Model Brigade profile with this vote for me to win some competition!

Please keep in mind this is VERY unprofessional and there are a thousand other people just like you on modelWTFever.Com doing the same thing. Needless to say it gets old FAST!

This is where the high number of fans you have on your MySpace, Facebook fan page, Twitter and of course the mailing list of your website come in. You DO have a website right?

You get them to vote for you. Not other models and or photographers.

YOUR WEBSITE:

Or lack there of. Being a model without a personal website that will allow you to post any kinds of photos you wish to is well foolishness. Every model should have a place where both potential clients and fans can connect with them. And this also has the potential to earn you additional revenue.

NOT PROMOTING PROJECTS: This is just insane. If you get booked for a magazine you should be promoting the hell out of that opportunity.

Your social media should be on fire with details and links to those involved with your shoot. This should happen before, during, after and most certainly when your issue comes out.

When you provided with tear sheets you should use them. In fact the tear sheet is the most valuable thing you as a model will ever get!

The tear sheets should be immediately placed as your avatar on your social media. And should really only be replaced by another tear sheet.

The reason for this is that tear sheets are like your credit score. The more of them you have the better your credit rating.

The cross promotion of projects is what is most beneficial for models. One good project will lead to many others as well as an increased fan base which increases a model’s value in the eyes of the client.

A model who doesn’t promote the projects they’re working on aren’t worth working with, and will often be bypassed for great opportunities.

There are many more things that I see constantly on the web and on sets but I will write about those at a later date!

For now absorb what is posted here and make any needed changes and watch the pace and direction of your career change.