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

Forever21 Wrote: I got scouted at 15 but my parents moved from chicago and away from the agency so it didn't happen and i gave up. I just turned 21 and was thinking about trying again? sending in pictures? im 5' 8', medium brown skin..I'm mixed, I know my age is against me, should I not even bother that on top of that I'm a minority?  You will never know unless you try! I say go for it. You meet the minimum height requirement and even though 21 in the fashion world is considered "old", if you look youthful and meet the size requirements then you shouldn't have any problems. If you were scouted when you were 15, that obviously showed that you have potential. Although models of color are not exactly a common sight on runways that does not mean that you automatically do not have a shot at modeling. You should definitely look up legitimate and reputable agencies in your city/state and see what types of photos they ask for as well as what their req...

...You Don't Meet the Requirements: No matter how many of us wish all shapes, sizes and heights could appear on the runway, the industry is pretty firm about what it wants--agencies included. Until those requirements change, you cannot be 5'1" and strutting down a catwalk in New York Fashion Week. Only submit yourself for the type of modeling that you meet the criteria for. There are exceptions to the rule but for now it is the majority that rule. ... You Are Not a Morning Person: If the thought of getting up before the sun makes you ill, then modeling won't be a good fit. When I say early, I mean it. There have been shoots I've done where I had to BE on location at 7am. Not only do you have to be awake, you have to perform at the top of your game. If early mornings don't work for you, then neither will maintaining a serious modeling career. ... You Don't Play Well with Others: From agencies to photographers, makeup artists and other models you mus...

(This post is mainly for freelance models) Submitting yourself for modeling gigs often requires you to email pictures of yourself--typically headshots, comp cards or other professional images that relate to the nature/theme of the modeling gig you are trying to get. However, in some cases the client might ask you to send additional photos that are candid and not professionally taken. There are some instances where you will need to exercise good judgment and common sense to decide whether such a request is legitimate and related to the modeling gig or if it is a scammer or shady individual "fishing" for photos. It is not uncommon for a client to ask a model to submit non professional pictures. Oftentimes this is done because they want to make sure that they know what you look like without the makeup, retouching and Photoshop tricks. The last thing they want is a person walking onto the set that looks nothing like their photo--this happens all too often in the indus...

(This post is not in reference to modeling conventions, taking modeling classes or going to school while modeling. For more info on those topics, check out: "The Deal with Modeling Conventions" , "Modeling Schools" and "Modeling & School" ) Modeling isn't rocket science but it isn't exactly the easiest career path to choose, either. Many new and aspiring models falsely believe that there are certain educational requirements that are needed in order to pursue modeling. To make things very clear I am going to type in all caps (sorry for the online shouting but I'm hoping this message will be crystal clear): YOU DO NOT NEED ANY TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A MODEL! That means you do NOT need any of the following if you want to model: - Diploma - Degree - Certificate - Other related degrees or documents Modeling is not a 9-5 job that you apply for. The nature of this business does not call for the completion of sp...

Hello, my beloved Modeling 101 readers! I wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten you--things have been SO busy for me lately that I have not had the time to sit down and write a thoughtful, educational and informative post--and I don't believe in doing things half-heartedly. Here's a quick update as to what I'm up to these days that's keeping me on my toes: * Remember my post titled " I Hate Being the Guinea Pig ," where I talked about the beauty editorial gig in LA that I pretty much bombed? Well, I ended up getting a callback! Crazy, huh? So I went to LA and made the cut. Now it's the waiting game because they'll be using 12 models per month for the shoots. They also expanded the project to include not only an ad in 944 Magazine but also televised shows and other related media projects. Pretty neat. * Finished an acting gig that I've been working on since last year. It's a 5 episode series called "True Love." It...

Sojah Wrote:  I was browsing the Fashion Job Board of Elegantjobs.com and came across this listing of an agency seeking non-experienced size 12 models for a national sportswear ad. They will be paying $1900 to the selected model and travel and lodging expenses will be paid for. The name of this agency is The Talent Department. It is located in Philadelphia, PA, its website is http://talentdept.net . I searched for this agency using The Better Business Bureau. The agency is not listed. Do you know if this is a legitimate agency and if so, why isn't it listed with the BBB?  Hey, Sojah! I went to the site and wasn't very impressed. I would be cautious of dealing with this particular company. First, they do not actually state on their website that they are an agency, which I don't like. From what I read on their "About" page, they simply keep a database of models and match them with open projects. This reads more like a casting company to me and not an actual m...