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Modeling in 2020 Pt. IV: What to Keep & What to Leave Behind

Let's see where we're at so far in this mini blog post series:

1st Installment - Modeling Portfolios

2nd Installment - Comp/Zed Cards

 3rd Installment - Modeling Vouchers

So what are we looking at for the 4th and final installment of what to keep and what to toss in 2020?

That would be modeling websites! I feel like you already know the answer to this one so I'll make it easy for you...

KEEP IT OR TOSS IT: KEEP IT!

Although this one is a no brainer, there might be those of you who want to know why or how relevant it still is to have a modeling website when social media is king and a lot easier to create and maintain? Well, I have an answer for that.

Anyone who has been a reader of this blog for a while knows I take modeling as a business very seriously and believe in taking certain steps to establish your brand to stand out from the rest. The care you take to craft who you are, what you do and what you want out of your career is essential in attracting clients of the caliber you want to work with.

Social media is also essential to branding and should be part of a model's career moves. But that is just one aspect of your online identity. The only way people know you exist is if you create enough content that is good quality and uniform with your brand. A modeling website, in my opinion, is the foundation of that. The social media profiles are an extension of that foundation.

Can you survive as a model with just Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc? Sure, and many do just fine without a modeling website. For those out there who really want to build their brand and go above and beyond, having a modeling website showcasing your work, resume, biography and anything else you want to share is a great way to introduce yourself to potential clients/agencies in a way that is professional, polished and well put together.

But it is a personal decision that each model has to make for him/herself. Already have a website but don't update it much and are more comfortable with social media? Do you see the costs involved with running and maintaining your website to be a bit too much and want to simplify things overall while saving a few dollars? Are you just not thrilled at all by the idea of creating a modeling website? That's okay! Having a website set up is not mandatory, it's just a great booster for marketing and promoting yourself and your brand.

Wanting to keep things simple and more cost-effective by sticking with social media is a popular approach. The purpose of this post is to not scare anyone into thinking they have to sign on for a website they aren't prepared for or interested in. It's just an informative way to get the point across of how beneficial having a website is. It might look like a bunch of content just sitting there not being updated the same way your IG profile is but think of it as an anchor that represents you and serves as a solid stopping point when potential clients are searching online for new faces to work with.

Having a well put together modeling website can't hurt, it can only help but the only way it will succeed is if you want it and it's not as difficult to throw together as you may think.

__________________


Reading through these four posts, you probably noticed one thing: there were no items mentioned that should be tossed. However, that's not entirely accurate so I wanted to mention at least one item (so far) that came to mind. I may add to this list over time and if it gets long enough, I'll revive this mini blog post series with a 5th installment but for now...

BLACK & WHITE HEADSHOTS - KEEP IT OR TOSS IT: TOSS IT!

This can actually be applied to actors, too. No one really does black and white headshots anymore--I'm specifically talking about the headshots used in a model's portfolio or comp/zed card. That went out in the '90s. It's all about color now for the most part.

Does that mean you can't have a headshot in black and white at all or elsewhere in your portfolio? Of course not. You can have photos in black and white BUT you don't have to use a black and white photo for the headshot you would typically submit for modeling jobs (freelance models) and modeling agencies these days often use color headshots to market the female and male models on roster.

Are there exceptions to this rule? Are there agencies who do have black and white headshots of models on their websites? Sure, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Think of this as more of a rule of thumb. Classic black and white headshots are still in use but more or less as a regular image in your portfolio, not the main image to market yourself. At the end of the day it won't kill your career and if you prefer to roll with the black and white, by all means do so. I'm just the messenger. :-)
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Unknown said…
Im not bragging however I do not look my age at all good genes on both sides of my family except my mom my great grandfather died @99 he still had a head full of thick mostly dark hair he had 1 line on his forehead and very few lines around his eyes no saggy skin no kind of plastic surgery he never dranks drop n his life never did any illici ive taken care of my skin since age15&stayed out of the sun also oily skin runs n my family&I know its kept me younger looking. I could do skincare commercials&long lashes
January 6, 2021 at 3:12 PM
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