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

I've had the great opportunity to be a guest blogger for the wonderful organization, Ms Curvaceous UK. This group of dedicated professionals is committed to putting plus size models on the map in all aspects, not just the immediate industry. They host free workshops and various events that allow all aspiring plus size gals to follow their modeling dreams, while at the same time, educating the world about the importance of not labeling what should be defined as "beautiful" or "perfect" based on dress size alone. I'll be contributing various guest blog posts to their website, MS CURVACEOUS UK , as well as sharing the highlights of their events and the models who are a part of them on my own blog. After learning about MCUK's mission, I was more than happy to be on board and help spread the word. I hope you all take a moment to visit MCUK's site and learn about what they're trying to do. It would be super cool if the US had its own version ...

This post will be of the most use to freelance models, as well as newbies learning about the importance of photography and modeling portfolios. We all know that models can't go very far in their careers without a portfolio...and you can't have a portfolio without photos. With the popularity of the Internet, a lot of things have changed in the modeling world to accommodate for new technology and its benefits. This includes portfolio images and the way they are used. If you're an aspiring model, you may or may not already be familiar with terms like "hi res" and "low res" when it comes to photos. Of course, with everyone being so snap happy with Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, chances are these terms aren't completely alien but as it applies to modeling portfolios, it is important to know what "hi res" and "low res" means and how it should be used. Let's get the easy stuff out of the way first: " Hi res " me...

Ah, the almighty modeling contract. Obtaining agency representation is the ultimate goal for a majority of those that want to get into the industry professionally and having a contract secured is the first step towards reaching those goals. However, one of the biggest mistakes newbies can make is signing without understanding what they're agreeing to. Some of the worst cases I've heard from those who have reached out to me for advice and assistance have to do with contracts. I feel so bad for those individuals because 9 times out of 10, I can't really help them at all because it's all after the fact . Folks, signing on that dotted line is a serious business decision and obligation. This applies to underage models as well, namely, the parents. Once you've put that signature down, the options for trying to get out of the contract are dramatically decreased. Models get "stuck" in contracts all the time but I hope this post will prevent this from happeni...

Whether you're a freelance model or agency represented, if you've had a bit of experience in modeling and have attended castings and go-sees, chances are you've filled out your share of paperwork. In order for clients to make their final selections for bookings, it helps if they know a bit more about the models up for consideration. Aside from filling out a sign-in sheet, many castings also have models fill out and submit a brief questionnaire that contains basic information such as statistics/measurements, contact info and level of experience. However, you may have also noticed a section that asks you to list any "Special Skills." What Are Special Skills? Sometimes included in the section of the questionnaire that asks about hobbies or special interests, special skills are any kind of talent or skill outside of modeling that you are really good at. Examples of common special skills worth noting include but are not limited to: Dance (ballet, tap, jazz...