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

Anonymous Wrote: Hi. I am going to a casting call for hair/fashion and I have braces. Do you think the braces will be a problem? Please reply! Thanks!  Hi, Anonymous! To be honest, I can't really answer that question accurately for you simply because each casting process is different. While some may not care one way or another if you have braces, others may be much pickier--although I don't know of any casting calls for a hair/fashion show where a girl was rejected just because she had braces, which is a good thing. I will say, however, that if you have a great look, personality and interact well with the people in charge of the casting, that could definitely work in your favor to the point where having braces won't be such a big deal. The good news is that casting calls for events like hair and fashion shows aren't usually as strict as going to a casting for a modeling agency so chances are, they may be more flexible to working with models with braces. So go...

Category: Networking For male and female models--mainly freelance. When sending out online submissions to clients for modeling gigs, PLEASE pay attention to your grammar and avoid typos, misspelled words and typing like you text ( If U have Evr sent a email that looks like dis 4 a modeling gig, UR crazy & shud not be hired! ). Remember, you're presenting yourself as a professional and any written correspondence should reflect that. A client that hired me for a modeling assignment in the past once told me that in addition to my experience, one of the major reasons I was chosen out of everyone else was because my initial email message to them was the most articulate and readable...and I find that such a sad occurrence that writing a proper email message is what impresses clients these days--it says a lot about the majority of people they interact with. You don't have to be an English major to know how to write a decent email. Read your email messages BEFORE sending them ...

Because there seems to be so much confusion as to what types of modeling there are out there, here is a basic rundown, including the requirements (thanks to Infiniti Models) : High Fashion ( Runway ): This is for the tall and thin body type. This is a very strict division of modeling because all the top designers only make their new designs in certain sizes. Fashion models mostly do runway shows, promote new clothing designs in magazines, newspapers and sometimes TV. As a high fashion model you must have a tall, lean frame and be attractive. Possessing unique, alien, exotic or prominent features is a plus, as is having strong bone structure. Requirements: Age between 15-22 yrs old, Height: 5'8 - 6'0", Bust: 34, Waist: 24", Hips: 34" or less. Average weight 100 - 125 lbs. Promotional Modeling (Or Swimsuit / Beauty Modeling): Promotional models do just that, they promote a variety of products at events such as trade shows, malls, conventions and more...

ABC Wrote: Hi Dania, I'm wondering if you have any tips for breaking in heels. I tend to get blisters a lot on the knuckles of my toes when wearing heels. Is there a way to prevent that? And why is carpet bad for practicing? My apartment is all carpeted unfortunately. I'm practicing walking because I have a student runway show this weekend. Thanks!  Hey, ABC! Great questions! So to knock out your first question about breaking in high heels, I came across this great article that is filled with tips for handling this situation. Breaking in heels takes some effort but is so worth it so try out the tips/suggestions the article talks about: High Heels: How to Wear Them Pain-Free To answer your second question, there is a huge difference between walking in high heels on a carpeted surface and a flat one, like concrete/pavement. First, the feeling is different--walking on carpet will cause your body to move a certain way and walking on pavement will make your body move a...

Lydia Wrote: Hi, I've wanted to be a Victoria's Secret model for a really long time but I'm 17 and only 5' 4" so I'm probably done growing. I'm guessing there aren't any jobs for like a petite Victoria's Secret model? I'm working on applying for Ford modeling, and I've done a little bit of modeling for a smaller local modeling agency. Do you know of any other good modeling jobs that I could work towards? Thanks so much  Hi, Lydia! There isn't much work for shorter models along the lines of VS, especially since petite modeling isn't very high in demand, unfortunately, unless you want to get into glamor modeling, which I'm not sure you have an interest in or not. However, you are close to the minimum height for commercial/print modeling, which is between 5'5"-5'7". Oftentimes commercial/print modeling agencies will consider a model that is 5'4" if she has a great personality and look that is ma...

Notice I put three exclamation points on my blog post title? That's because this topic, as simple as it may seem, is SO important if you are a new/inexperienced model that wants to do fashion shows! This particular blog post is for all models of all heights that want to be on a runway. I'm not a snob so yes, I am addressing not just models that are participating in huge, top notch fashion shows, I'm also including the smaller, local ones--even the ones put on by fashion design students. They all count as fashion shows and regardless of whether the outfits you'll be wearing are brand name or put together by an aspiring designer, the end result is still the same: you want to make sure you showcase the clothes and rock the runway! New models, if you want to get hired repeatedly for fashion shows, you've got to learn how to walk in high heels. I cannot say this enough times! Although you are new/inexperienced, this is not an excuse to NOT know how to walk in hee...

(This post is mainly for female models that are doing fashion shows. Fellas, to be honest I'm not a male model and I really don't pay attention to wardrobe when it comes to the guys because 9 times out of 10 the shows I do are only using female models. So I apologize if I leave you out of this post for the simple fact that I don't want to put out any info that may not be accurate. However, I will say that male models planning on being in a fashion show should direct any and all questions/concerns to the "contact person" associated with the event.) Despite my shorter stature, I've been very fortunate over the past few months to work with local designers that have no problem letting me showcase their stuff on runways. As I've completed each show, there are certain things that I do notice that I figure would make for a good blog post. This particular entry is all about the things that female models should make sure to have for every fashion show. Now I ...

Couple shoots are among my favorite types of gigs to do because there is so much you can do with another model in the picture. Recently a male model messaged me on Facebook to ask for a critique of his latest photoshoot with female models. Luckily, he was very receptive to my constructive criticism and that experience inspired me to do this post. Fellas, the following tips should definitely be put into practice any time you're casting for a female model to do a shoot with (this doesn't count for situations where you're hired by a client that is already providing a model for you to shoot with so it's mainly for freelancing and portfolio updating purposes). Don't Limit Yourself: In couple shoots the male and female models don't always have to be of the same ethnicity. While you should have images in your portfolio that showcase you with a model that is (or appears to be) of the same or similar ethnic background, it is also a good idea to pose with female mod...

Anonymous Wrote: Hi Dania, My name's Caroline and modeling has been a dream of mine for several years now. I am 13 years old, 5'9", and weigh around 132 pounds. My measurements are 34-25-36....which is why I'd like to get into commercial or print modeling rather than fashion. I know my measurements are pushing it, but it you had any tips for me they would be GREATLY appreciated. I live in the San Francisco area, so if you know of any agencies or anything around there please fill me in. Thank you bunches! I really admire your work. :)  Hi, Caroline! First, thank you for the kind words...you are so sweet! Second, you are in my area, woot! I've been running around San Francisco doing gigs and castings for the past two weeks lol. Sorry, I always get excited when I know my readers are local to me. Okay, back to business. ;-) Commercial/print is definitely much more forgiving in terms of measurements and you are still proportional based on the numbers you p...

Anonymous Wrote: do you have to pay income tax in every state in which you shoot? even if the client was from out-of-state and you are from out of state too? thanks  Hi, Anonymous! This is a great question and I am going to answer it to the best of my ability. Please bear in mind, I am not a tax expert and any specific questions should be directed to a certified and reputable tax consultant as it applies to your situation. When it comes to dealing with income taxes for modeling, you are an independent contractor. That means you have to report the amount of income you make from each modeling gig you book. As far as I know, it is not specific to what state you shoot in--what the IRS cares about is how much you made, not where you were when you made it. As far as the client that hires and pays you as the model, the majority of clients will not issue a 1099 form (A 1099 is a tax form for independent contractors that shows how much they made from a certain business) if the a...

Mdeanne Wrote: hi ive always wanted to be a model it was the first thing thaypoped up in my head for a job. ive been asked by alot of eople if i was a model and if not i should start, even by my teachers... im 5"7 and 15 this year. i really want yo start modelling now so i can get higher into elite or ford or VS ahhh my dream since maths or english is deffinatly not my thing and i know for sure moddeling is! what should i do?  Hi, Mdeanne, thanks for the question! At your current height you are ideal for commercial/print. Fashion agencies have a minimum height requirement of 5'8" but since you are younger, some of them lower that requirement to 5'6" or 5'7" but it depends on your location and what market you're in. I would suggest reading the following blog post about how to get started in modeling, which will give you some pointers on what you need to do: Where Do You Start? If you need additional assistance, feel free to shoot me an...

Funny thing, I've mentioned the concept of freelance modeling all throughout my blog but realized that I never really did a post addressing just what this type of modeling is. So here goes: Like I tell the many model hopefuls that contact me for help with starting their careers, freelance modeling basically requires a person to act as his/her own modeling agent. Instead of having an agent represent you, you represent yourself. While the goal is the same--to book paying work and increase exposure--the approach is different. Submitting to agencies means attending casting calls or email/snail mailing digital snapshots. If a person is new to modeling, they don't necessarily need professional images or a portfolio in order to get signed because the agency will help them put these materials together after offering a contract. However, it is the exact opposite for freelance models. If you want to pursue freelancing, then you will first and foremost have to get professional pic...

I'm so excited! I finally found out that the April 2011 issue of Bay Fashion Magazine is the one that my pictures appear in, which are from a shoot I did back in February. The shoot was set up to showcase designer Caley Johnson of Miss G Designs. She specializes in making couture fashion headpieces. Her stuff is absolutely amazing! We networked through Facebook and after sending her a friend request with a message about how I admired her work, she hired me for this shoot, with guaranteed tearsheets as compensation. The shoot took place in her home in San Francisco. A small room was set up as a studio with a plain backdrop. The photographer, Sid Erthal, is my new BFF lol. He is so much fun to work with and an absolute doll...we work together really well and couldn't stop laughing. I hope to collab with him on future shoots for sure. It was a long day because there were a lot of headpieces to photograph, although not all of them made it into the magazine. Some of the pieces...

...out of all the models actively working in the industry around the world, only about 1% make it to "supermodel" status? Crazy!

Anonymous Wrote: do u do the appointment online or in person for MAC? thanks  Hi, Anonymous! To answer your question, which is related to my blog post, "Tips for Getting Your Makeup Professionally Done," it's good to make your appointment in person or you can call the store and speak to someone there that can book the date and time you want to come in. Each location has its own policies for making appointments, which is why it's better to choose either of the two methods I just mentioned. Hope that helps!

I'm sure I've mentioned this topic in a post but haven't actually done an entire post devoted to the hierarchy models should strive to follow when it comes to payment for gigs so here you go! As I always like to say, real models are those that get paid--not just take pretty pictures. This statement does not apply to or mean to discredit models (male or female) that do it as a hobby or for fun. However, there is a distinct difference between "working" models that are paid for their services and those that like to label themselves as "models" when all they really do is take pictures for free. But I digress... The point of this post is to explain what order models should put their modeling assignments in when it comes to priority--for those that seek to make some kind of "career" that involves pursuing the industry seriously, whether it is part time or full time. Below is a list (in order of highest priority to lowest) of payment arrangement...

I'm becoming pretty familiar with Hollywood (haha), since I had the chance to go back to the area a few days later for a test shoot for the clothing line, Crooks & Castles, which is located next to H&M off of W. Sunset Blvd--yes, it was a few blocks down from Le Posh Salon, where the Oribe Hair Care casting was...talk about a small world! Crooks & Castles is an urban men's clothing line (they also have a women's collection but it's mainly focused on menswear) that is pretty big with a lot of celebrities and artists in the hip hop industry. In fact, people like Jay Z have been trying to buy the label from the owners because the style of "hip hop couture" is gaining more momentum. Of course the owners know a good thing when they see it so they've continued to turn down any offers to be bought out. Anyways, I submitted myself to one of their casting calls. They're working on a new lookbook and other related print material to showcase the...

This past Monday I had the opportunity to head to Hollywood for a casting for a huge hair care and fashion show event taking place in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel in May. The show is featuring Oribe Hair Care, which is a pretty awesome product line. They've styled some amazing editorial and fashion spreads in magazines like Vogue, Vibe and V Spain, among many others. Here is a link to one of their online portfolios of the celebs and various magazines they have worked with (talk about impressive!): Oribe Hair Care Portfolio Based in New York, Oribe was casting for hair models to do the event and decided to have the casting call in Los Angeles at a place called Le Posh Salon, located off of W. Sunset Blvd. Out of the models that applied, I received a personal invite to the casting. Being "invited" to a casting is always a good sign, since it means it won't be a huge cattle call and shows that they've already weeded out most of the people that have appl...

Anonymous Wrote: Kewl! But anyway, didn't you know casting calls are more legitimate if they are sponsored by well-known companies and brands like Cover Girl, Maybelline, or AXE, for example? Actually, that is not accurate. There are many small to medium-sized companies that are not widely known that are credible and more than legitimate to model for. Just because a casting call is not for a company that everyone has heard of or isn't sponsored by a powerhouse brand, doesn't mean that it is still not an important gig to add to a model's resume and/or portfolio of experience. As long as the company conducts itself professionally, has the ability to provide exposure for the models and especially if it is paid, those are all factors that lend credibility. Saying that a designer line like Ms. Bellezza doing a casting isn't as legitimate as one for Cover Girl is like saying that being signed to a boutique agency isn't as legit as signing to a larger agency. ...

Anonymous Wrote: Should we only send two pictures or should we send a description as well? Hi, Anonymous! Only send what the instructions say so if it states to send two pictures, do not send one or three. As far as a description, if they do not ask for one, then don't worry about it. As long as you provide your basic information, you'll be fine. If you are chosen, they will ask you for additional info, which they will use in the description. Good luck!

I have Facebook to thank for booking this particular shoot for jewelry designer, Catherine Potgieter, of MsBellezza Luxe Jewelry. The designer's assistant posted a casting call for models in a special FB group that I'm in, which was created by a local photographer for the purpose of providing a forum where professionals in the Northern California modeling industry can network and post casting calls for various projects. That's how I came across this modeling opportunity. MsBellezza was casting for new faces to model their latest pieces from their Hollywood Collection, which was awesome because they were the same pieces worn by various celebrities on the most recent season of "Dancing With the Stars." The shoot took place around 8AM at the photographer's studio. There were two other models, other than myself, and while there was one male model booked originally, he woke up late. When the designer called to check on his status and found out he was running ...

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen plays classical music during her photoshoots? It's true! Music is a great element for any shoot. If you don't already, make a mix CD of songs that help you get in the mood for posing.

...to make the Victoria's Secret models' backsides look bigger in photos (for those not naturally blessed with "junk in the trunk"), the underwear they model is one size smaller? Doing this makes the fabric cut into the skin in such a way that it "appears" as if they have more of a butt. In many cases, the bras worn are also one size smaller to emphasize their cleavage, even if they already have a large bust.

...shooting on a cloudy/overcast day is much better than shooting on a sunny day? The reason for this is because direct sunlight creates harsh shadows and glare, whereas an overcast day keeps the lighting uniform and is much more flattering on a model, male or female.