The Anatomy of a Modeling Website Pt IV: Resume Page

I've already written three posts in this series:

"The Anatomy of a Modeling Website Pt I: Welcome Page"

"The Anatomy of a Modeling Website Pt II: Photo Gallery"

“The Anatomy of a Modeling Website Pt III: About Me”

If you haven't had a chance to check it them out yet, those links will take you right to it and get you up to speed on this mini-series of blog posts.

All right, let's get to the fourth installment in this series: The Resume Page!

WHY NEED A RESUME? ISN'T THAT WHAT THE PORTFOLIO IS FOR?

It's true that models are known for having their portfolios (both online and hard copy "books") as proof of their career and accomplishments. However, there is also a need to have documentation of those jobs. Not all photos in a portfolio give clients the information they need to know about the scope of your work and experience.

Having a resume with a list of the modeling jobs you've done, the role you played and the client you worked for is a great way to clearly show potential clients/agencies exactly what you've done. Tearsheets do a lot in that respect as well but backing that up with a polished resume makes for a winning combination that looks really good on a model's official website.

It is important to note that your modeling resume should not resemble a traditional job resume. For example, you don't need to include your contact information, mailing address, header/footer, Objective statement, Education or previous Employment/Employers. Simply follow what's listed below and you'll be good to go.

WHAT DOES THE RESUME NEED TO HAVE?

There are a number of templates and ways you can present your resume on your official modeling website. Even though there may be other parts of your site that has some of the same info, that's okay because you can't expect all visitors to your website to go through every page. Remember: don't make them search for the important info.

Depending on what kind of publishing platform you're using, you may have a template already set up that you simply plug your info into and that's totally fine. But if you're starting from scratch and/or don't want to use a premade template, then you'll want to make sure your website's Resume Page has the following vital info:

• STATS: For Women: Height, Weight, Bust, Waist, Hips, Dress, Shoe, Pants, Shirt, Inseam, Eye Color, Hair Color. Ethnicity is optional. For Men: Height, Weight, Chest, Waist, Hips, Shoe, Suit, Neck, Inseam, Shirt, Pants, Eye Color, Hair Color. Ethnicity is optional.

• CLEARLY LABELED CATEGORIES: Your resume shouldn't be a long list of your modeling experience all jumbled together. Freelance models are known for specializing in more than one category of modeling so--once again--make it easy for your visitors to see what areas of modeling you have done work in. The main categories you can choose from are many and include, but are not limited to: Print, Fitness, Swimwear, Fashion, Runway, Editorial, Beauty, Catalog, Bridal, Parts, Lingerie/Glamour.

• NAME OF PROJECT/YOUR ROLE/CLIENT NAME: When listing each modeling gig, it is important to explain as briefly as possible what the nature of each job was. Let's use an example, shall we? Let's say the modeling assignment was a look book for a designer named Autumn Reeves (totally fictitious name btw!). You could list this info on your resume as follows:

Fall 2015 Look Book - Fashion Model - Autumn Reeves

You can also choose to list the photographer's name in addition to the name of the client if you want. It's personal preference. If you weren't given an official "role," you can simply say "Model." It doesn't have to be super specific.

Feel free to check out how I formatted my own Resume Page on my official modeling website for reference and inspiration.

SPECIAL SKILLS (OPTIONAL)

I don't have a Special Skills section listed on my resume because it never really crossed my mind but it's one of those things that is personal preference. Including this small section on your resume can only help and not hurt so don't be afraid to throw it in but only if you have solid and demonstrable experience in the special skills you want to list.

Want to know more about Special Skills as it relates to modeling? Click on the link below to a blog post I wrote about that very topic: 

How "Special Skills" Applies to Modeling 

PHOTO

It's nice to have a photo of yourself somewhere on the resume page. It shouldn't be your portfolio, however. A nice headshot or other type of flattering professional image should accompany the text on your resume page. This gives visitors a great way to associate your image with what they're reading about your experience. The photo you choose should enhance the overall look and presentation of the page.

WHAT IF I'VE ONLY DONE PORTFOLIO SHOOTS?

Every model has to start somewhere so if you're a newer model with a website but little to no professional experience, then you won't be expected to have a resume page. You'll already have a portfolio/photo gallery on your site that shows your images and that will serve you just fine until you start to book work.

There is always the option of adding a resume page later after you've started really getting solid modeling jobs. Like the Special Skills section, a resume page can only help and not hurt but don't try to make it exist if there isn't enough there to really flesh it out. Give it time, get those modeling notches on your belt and then put up a resume page when the time is right.