Skip to main content

Branding & Modeling Pt V: Quality & Content Creation

Notice the title of this latest post in the mini blog series is "Quality & Content Creation"? That's because even though it's important to post often and keep creating content, it's also vital to think about what you're posting and what you're trying to communicate to followers.
Because this mini blog post series is focused on branding and modeling, it only makes sense that I’ll be talking about creating quality content related to…yep, you guessed it: modeling! But what does that mean?

PROFESSIONAL IMAGES

Photo of one of the magazines I had an editorial feature in.
Digital tearsheet of one of the romance novel covers I've been on.


What better way to promote your brand as a model than by sharing the fruit of your labors? Posting images from your latest shoots, tearsheets of published work and other pictures related to your career are the best way to show people, including potential clients, what you’ve done and what you can do.
There’s no better proof of your success than these kinds of images, and sharing them on your social media sites and official website makes it very clear to anyone who is just learning about you for the first time who you are, what you do and what you’re about.

BTS IMAGES

BTS shot of me doing a bridal/beauty shoot in-studio.
BTS shot of me getting my makeup done during a bridal show.

Behind the scenes images are always popular because it gives people an insider look as to what goes on in things they don’t have access to. Who doesn’t want to know what happens during modeling shoots, shows and other related happenings?

Posting BTS photos in the makeup chair, shopping for wardrobe, posing with other models, candid shots of you in studio or on location is a wonderful way to let people into your world. Modeling in general is still considered mysterious by many so any insight you give them will be appreciated.

CAREER UPDATES/HIGHLIGHTS

A short snippet of my own Twitter feed, where I like to do quick updates about what's going on in my career.

Your brand can be enforced and better understood if your images are also paired with descriptive captions/text that explains to people what you are up to, what’s coming up and other projects that may be in the works.

Excited about a casting or go-see coming up in the next few days? Post about it. Booked a modeling assignment? Definitely post about it! Tired after a long shoot and just want to take a nap? Tell people about it.

Those brief and fun play-by-plays showcase your personality and the things that are important to you. In addition to the other info described above, it paints a better overall picture of you as a person and that makes it easier for followers of your brand to understand what matters to you, as well as attract new followers to your profiles who can identify with various aspects of your life and personality.

SHOUTOUTS TO OTHERS

This was a collage I posted as a shoutout, where I thanked the photographer, makeup artist and the model I was mentoring. I made sure to include each person's social media handle and tagged them as well so it popped up in their feeds

Networking plays a large part in a person’s ability to get opportunities and line up future gigs. This can’t happen without the help of others. I like to say that people work with the model, not for the model.

That being said, it’s a good practice to give shoutouts to recognize and give credit to the people you work with by mentioning them on your social media profiles (and/or reposting content they’ve posted of you). Links to their professional sites and including other relevant info is also ideal for not just spreading the love and hopefully getting them future work but to show others the kind of company you surround yourself with.

When you do shoutouts, you not only put those folks on the radar of your followers, it works the other way as well. A company or individual that is connected to someone you shoutout could easily reach out to you now based on the shoutout they’ll undoubtedly see on that person’s profile. Plus, it helps when you’re booked on a project that has mutual friends/colleagues on it. You may even get booked with the same people you’ve worked with before and that’s always fun.

SILLY, MISC THINGS

Fun candid of me and my girls during the 2016 USA Petite Pageant in Florida.
I'm terrible about snacking before, during and after photo shoots.

There’s totally nothing wrong with being candid and breaking away from the professional model mode to show a silly and playful side. Whether it’s work related or during your free time, it can be refreshing for followers to be reminded that you are a real person, too.

Both photos and video of you having a great time with friends and family can also strengthen a brand if you choose to share that part of your life with others (and depending on the audience you are trying to reach). Of course it is your choice to make. Not including things about friends and family won’t hurt your brand and there are many people who value their privacy in that respect by keeping those types of content on a separate profile.

Should you choose to include it, have fun but still be aware that you are posting on a profile that is associated with your brand. Presentation is important!

More about those dos and don’ts and tips in the final installment of this mini blog post series. Homestretch!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Modeling & Pay Rates: How Much Should You Charge?

(This post is more targeted towards freelance models and not those with agency representation, although it may apply to those that have an agent but continue to find their own work.) A part of being a successful model is making money from the jobs that you book. However, being a freelance model comes with many challenges--figuring out what you should charge is one of them. I will say upfront that there are no established black and white rules when it comes to pay rates. Each modeling job is different, each client is different and budgets vary. Ultimately the factors that should influence what you charge should be the amount of experience you have, the strength of the images in your portfolio and the client's budget/needs. Not every client is going to pay what you want to charge. There may be times when you will be skipped over for charging too much or taken advantage of for charging too little. It's going to happen so be prepared for it and do not take it personally. It

Modeling and Weight

One of the first things I hear potential models ask is what the weight requirement for modeling is. Sometimes that is the main issue they worry about when it comes to pursuing modeling. Let me tell you right now that weight should NOT be one of those concerns. Obviously, the height requirement reigns supreme when measuring up to the modeling standards sought out by agencies. If you meet the height requirements--whether it's for fashion and runway or commercial/print--that is the first step towards starting on the path to modeling. How much you weigh shouldn't be your biggest fear. It is rare that anyone can look at someone and say, "Oh, my gosh, he/she looks like they are 5 pounds over our weight requirement!" It just isn't realistic. If you look at many modeling agency websites, they clearly list the age and height requirements--rarely, if at all do they list any weight restrictions. The general rule of thumb when it comes to weight is that for models who

What Are Male Models Supposed to Look Like?

The modeling world is filled with women. That's never been a secret and sadly, that often means male models fall by the wayside. There are successful male models in all categories across the industry but the fact that the modeling business revolves around women can make it challenging for newbies to figure out how to pursue their goals of male modeling. It is important to know that because there are different types of modeling categories out there, that means there are also different types of male models. They aren't all supposed to look alike and what ends up being in demand does change every year. Let's break down the common attributes that come with male modeling in various popular categories, shall we? THE MALE FASHION/RUNWAY/EDITORIAL MODEL These are the typical types of models most of us tend to think of when it comes to men in modeling. What is important to know and understand if you're an aspiring male model is that agencies have all different looks