Modeling & Acting 101 - A Model/Actor's Diary

I'm pretty excited because I recently updated my makeup arsenal from MAC. And I learned some great application techniques that allowed me to do my makeup myself for my test shoot with Joy O Designs. I thought it'd be fun to let you know how I did my makeup and what products I used. You know, a little insider stuff...what female model doesn't want to know about makeup? LOL. Mind you, I don't wear makeup on a daily basis and only for when I have shoots and castings but the girl in me can't help but be interested in makeup for what it's worth! My skin type is combination (dry cheeks and oily T-zone--forehead, nose, and chin) and I have eczema so my complexion is naturally slightly discolored. I got lucky and had the manager of the MAC store advising me that day so she totally filled me in on what I would need and showed me how to apply everything. This is a picture of me the day of my test shoot (ah, the perks of having a photographer for a boyfriend!). The ...

I had the great opportunity to come across a model casting for a jewelry designer who was in need of a new face for her jewelry company. After checking out the website and seeing that not only was it legit but popular on the red carpet, I knew I had to submit. So I sent along my photos and information and got a reply. The jewelry designer's name is Joy of Joy O Designs and she was very interested in meeting with me so we set up a date and time for a test shoot at her boutique in San Francisco. I made sure to get there early with plenty of time to find parking. She told me to bring simple, plain black tops, wear my hair in a ponytail and wear makeup that was more natural. Joy was such a sweetheart and we clicked immediately. We were joking and getting to know one another the whole time. It was nice to talk to a client who was genuinely interested in what I was doing and the feeling was definitely mutual. If you're ever in the San Francisco area, I highly suggest visiting her ...

Ah, so many things can happen in life. But I believe in blessings in disguise. It's time to catch up on what Dania Denise has been up to! =) So for those of you that don't know, in addition to modeling I also hold down a full-time office job. Needless to say things got hectic from time to time with juggling castings, shoots, and my work schedule. My company doesn't know that I model (I learned the hard way from past experience to keep such knowledge to myself) so at times I ran myself ragged with making excuses and taking time off. If you're wondering why I don't do modeling full time, refer to my past post on the subject . Of course over time things change and boy have they ever! My boss is a beast...totally disrespectful, doesn't particularly think much of women and we've butted heads since day one. But I bit my tongue and hung in as long as I could (one year to be exact). Well, I finally had enough verbal harassment and decided that it was time to get out...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi i understand everything you said about the contracts but what if you signed the contracted and they asked me to pay 250 dollars a year for three years for the website crap, plus an additional 20% which i know is normal when i ever get a job!. I've already signed the contract like a dummy and its almost a year and i've only been to one audition! How can i get out of this! sign, Help I've been fooled! Uh-oh! That sounds fishy to me. The 20% is fine but what's with the $250 a year stuff?! I know that many agencies (not all but some) now have additional fees due to website and gallery features that have their models on it, which is totally legit, but that price is pretty steep. I pay $9.00 a month to have myself listed online for one of my agencies (I have two, one for acting and one for modeling) and even then it isn't as much as $250 a year. The fact that you've only received one audition does not justify the amount of money you are putting i...

In this day and age just about everything is available on the Internet, most notably through websites. From the large corporations to your friends, just about everyone has their own website. So what do you do when a modeling agency you come across online does not have its own website to showcase? Just a decade ago, many businesses weren't visible on the Internet via websites. Many dealt with business as usual. Modeling agencies also followed this path. Back in those days, you either had to call the agency, attend open calls, or simply snail mail your photos and hope for the best. Not all modeling agencies had snazzy websites that offered all the information you needed for submitting pictures or attending open casting calls. Of course this is no longer the case. Everyone knows that if you want to make an impact and a good first impression, you'll need a website. It goes without saying that the large agencies (Elite, Willie, Ford, etc.) have the best looking websites chock...

As a model, comp/zed cards are a part of the industry. These serve as your calling card or business card, which lists your stats, contact info and your photos. Agencies use this as an easy way for clients to see who you are and what projects you'd be ideal for. However, for freelance models and agency represented models who also find their own work, you may want to look into having a regular business card for your modeling endeavors. While comp cards are perfect for the industry, they are usually pretty large in size (much larger than a business card). Most agency represented models don't deal with the comp cards unless they bring them to a casting or go-see, and the agencies tend to keep them at the office. So what are you to do when you're on your own and see a great potential for networking or come across a client you really want to work with? Handing them a comp card is one solution but like I mentioned...

I did a post a while back talking about playing music during a photoshoot to help get you into the right mood and help with posing. Did you know that Giselle listens to classical music during her shoots? It's true. It doesn't matter what your musical tastes are, as long as it gets you in the right frame of mind to pull off amazing images, it helps to put together your own song list just for modeling. I have a few CDs that I use for modeling. I tend to update them from time to time, especially when certain songs get played out for me. I thought it would be fun to share my latest song list of my "Model Mix" CD that I currently use. This particular batch of songs have great beats that make my body move and totally make me feel sexy. Of course I don't use it for all my shoots and sometimes I'll choose more mellow music depending on the theme of my shoot. It helps to ask the photographer you're working with ahead of time if it's okay to bring music....

If there’s anything that makes my modeling boots shake, it’s the Polaroid camera. As a model, why on Earth would I be scared of a camera (and an old school one at that!)? Well, simply put, I HATE how my picture looks. I swear, I can never take a good Polaroid picture. Feel free to agree with me so that I know I’m not alone. Haha. However, as much as I dislike it, the Polaroid camera is a part of the modeling industry and one that you should get familiar with. Modeling agencies rely on their trusty Polaroid camera when it comes to taking snapshots of models for open casting calls, as well as those they invite for an interview. Some agencies, like Ford, actually post their models’ Polaroid flicks along with their professional photos on the gallery page of the agency’s website. Many castings and go-sees you’ll attend will also use a Polaroid camera to place your name with the right face. Below are samples of Polaroid pictures taken of models: So with all the technologica...

There is still some debate as to whether or not aspiring models should send non-professional photos or professional photos to modeling agencies in hopes of seeking representation. My personal and professional opinion: non-professional photos all the way. There are some that may disagree with me, and that’s fine, but I will speak for a bit about this topic and why I suggest non-pro over pro. In all my time researching and being a part of the modeling industry, 99% of all agency websites I’ve looked at specifically requested that aspiring/new models send in non-professional photos. Some even went as far as to say that those who sent in professional pictures would not be looked at. Case and point. When in doubt, go with what the agency states on their site or when you speak to them. No two agencies are the same so of course there are going to be instances where professional photos may be required but the majority of the time, all they simply want are snapshots. That means a dig...

So in my usual online travels through websites and forums, I came across one thread by an aspiring model that was talking about her experiences taking modeling classes. Another person responded to her thread, stating that she, too, took modeling classes, only to find out afterwards that she didn’t really like modeling and decided it wasn’t for her. I couldn’t help but think in both of these girls’ cases: Geez, that’s a lot of money down the toilet! The original poster of the thread did have a point that it’s sometimes necessary to take classes to see if you’d like it…however, where I would disagree with her is about the classes part. The only way to know if you’ll like being a model is if you have some experience with it right? Sure, why not? But you don’t have to throw your money away by taking modeling classes. Most models have natural talent. They have that “it” factor. They possess the physical requirements and are naturally photogenic, expressive, etc, etc. But maybe there ar...

Today I got to break up the monotony of my office job to head to San Francisco for a casting for a Verizon print ad. Luckily, the photography studio where the casting was being held was right on the outskirts of the city and right next to the freeway. That meant no crazy maneuvering within the city and plenty of free parking! The great thing about this casting was that no appointments were needed...all I had to do was show up anytime between 1pm-5pm so I gave myself plenty of time. I made sure to arrive a little after 1pm, and sat in my car for a few minutes to apply my lipstick and add a touch of powder to combat any shine. Because Verizon is a very commercial product, I kept my outfit business casual: black capri slacks, peep-toe heels and a short-sleeved, emerald green shirt with a scooped neckline. I didn't apply any eye shadow, just mascara to give my lashes length and a subtle pink shade of lipstick with a tiny touch of gloss. I signed in and filled out a contact sheet...

Eleni Wrote: ooohh...thanks...you make me really confident!another thing...what exactly is the portfolio??the Comp/Zed card??and if they contact me and tell me to go to New York for example,I'll pay the plane and all my expenses?[normally yes,right??] 1.000.000 thanks again!! You’re very welcome, Eleni! =) To answer your questions… A portfolio is the main body of work that a model has done…portfolios are either shown online in a photo gallery on the agency’s website or printed and displayed in a portfolio case, also called a model’s “book.” New models put their first photoshoot pictures in it to show to clients that want to hire them. Once a model has started booking shoots, they then add the photos from the publications (called tearsheets) into the portfolio. It is basically the model’s resume of work. No model can get work without a good portfolio. To learn more about comp/zed cards, check out this link to a post I did about the topic in detail. You’ll find all your answer there:...

It seems that everyone is a “model” on Myspace nowadays. However, with all the flack and ridicule it gets, Myspace is still a viable option for promoting yourself and your modeling career, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro. All the major models and supermodels have their own Myspace pages, as well as the local and unknown models. Of course not all girls who are on Myspace with model pages are what I would call “real models.” Many of them just take really good photos but don’t make a living off of it or generate any real income. And that’s fine, that’s them. But what I’m here to talk about with this post is how to use Myspace effectively as a marketing tool to get your name out there. First, decide on a good layout. I recommend using a custom one that has your photo in the main background. Or you can use a Flash template (lovemyflash.com) to create a really cool layout. But note when you use a Flash template, it takes longer to load the page so for people trying to access ...

Eleni Wrote: Hi again Dania... so, I have some more question...[sorry!]!I serched Elite and Ford's websites and I found some information but I didn't understand something!You enroll there,put some information about you and some photos for FREE??You don't pay anything??and is there the possibility to watch at your information and contact with you if you like to them??and then you start modelling career?? Please could you tell me how it works with enrolling at Ford's or Elite's website?? thanks again and sorry for the so many questions! =) Hi, Eleni! To answer your questions, yes, that part of the stage is free. Basically, you go to Elite or Ford’s website, and you enter your information (statistics, contact info, etc.), and upload the photos they ask for and then you send it off…all at no cost! And if they like your look, then the agency will contact you for an interview and if they really like you at the interview, they’ll offer you a modeling contract! Remember, i...

You’re probably wondering what in the world a “GWC” is, right? This term simply stands for “Guy With a Camera.” If this doesn’t sound all that bad, trust me, the GWC is the scourge of the modeling industry—for the most part because he doesn’t even belong in the industry but pretends he does. Still not getting it? Then let me paint a picture of your typical GWC: A guy goes into a store (sounds like the beginning of a funny bar joke, doesn’t it?) and buys a professional camera worth like $4,000. It’s super fancy, takes great digital photos and is truly a force to be reckoned with. Well, this GWC now thinks that because he’s got a hotshot camera, he’s qualified to take pictures of young, hot models. So without taking photography classes, reading books about photography or taking any steps towards actually learning his craft, he goes on sites like Craigslist and posts that he’s a photographer looking for young, inexperienced models to shoot with. His goal: to take pictures of young...

Eleni Wrote: hey I'm Eleni :) I'm 15 years old and I'm 1,70 metres tall and around 52 killos!I'd like to become a model and especially Victoria's secret model but I live in greece and the model agencies in my country aren't very good[I mean modelling career in my country isn't very successful].so what should I do to find a model agency abroad?and if I send photos to agencies via the internet can I trust them?? and another question...are there certain places where "model hunters" are looking for jung girls to make them models?? thanks! Hi, Eleni and thanks for reading! Greece...wow! That's too bad that modeling isn't quite popular there. Have you looked into agencies there anyway? It couldn't hurt. If you do want to look into modeling for an agency overseas, you'll have to look into large markets for modeling. In the USA, you'll want to send your photos to agencies in the following cities: New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. Other ...