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

One of the many things both actors and models have in common is they require professional headshots for use as proper marketing tools. Whether freelance or agency represented, this is your biggest calling card. To get caught up on why these types of photos are so essential for pursuing the industry seriously, check out my previous post: "The Importance of Actor Headshots & Model Headshots." So let's dive into what makes an acting headshot different from a modeling headshot (the "why" is answered in the blog post link above btw). MOOD/THEME Acting and modeling headshots all have a particular theme or mood they're trying to capture.  Model Headshots: Fashion, Runway, Editorial Headshots for models often are very dramatic/moody in nature. No big toothy smiles or fun facial expressions. This is especially true for high fashion, runway, and editorial models. Although black and white headshots (for acting) are seen as "old school" these days, in the ...

It doesn't matter whether you want to be a model and/or an actor, one of the most important materials you'll need for marketing/promotion is a professional headshot. As I've mentioned before, there are many similarities between pursuing a modeling career and an acting career but it's essential to understand the nuances.  One of the first to take note of is that the road to getting a professional headshot comes at different times for a model than it does an actor. MODELING HEADSHOTS When first submitting to agencies, aspiring models with no experience aren't expected to have professional headshots yet.  In fact, a majority of agency websites state their preference for non-professional, digital snapshots, with female and male models wearing no makeup. In addition to other digital snapshots (profile, full body, etc.), those types of images are enough for an agency to determine your modeling potential. If you already have professional headshots to submit, a modeling age...

*This post will be especially beneficial for freelance models. The modeling portfolio is what helps clients determine whether a model has what it takes to sell their product/brand/idea/concept. Even the most basic project casting could result in a client reviewing dozens of portfolios. One of the best ways to stand out is to make sure your images are relevant. By "relevant," I mean the photos in your portfolio should showcase the types of modeling work that matches what clients are casting for.  Do you want to be a swimwear catalog model? Then your portfolio should have several pictures of you not just in swimwear but posing in the style that a catalog model would, both in studio and on location. Is bridal modeling your dream? Then your portfolio better have you in a wedding dress at some point. See where I'm going with this? The very first line of this blog post mentions freelance models and I stated that for a reason. Models with agency representation already have suppo...

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...

Being published in a magazine couldn't be more exciting for a model. Female and male models alike know that when you get published, you've easily upped your status as a professional. Aside from the bragging rights, publication means tearsheets, which provide the ultimate boost for a modeling portfolio. This particular post is designed to help "school" newbies and those currently learning the ropes of the industry about what to expect when it comes to shooting for potential magazine publication and to avoid making mistakes that could cause issues later on. ______________________ Before I proceed with my gems of wisdom, lol, let me first say that I am a girl scout when it comes to modeling. I've never been the one to rock the boat, act like a diva or behave in an otherwise "dramatic" manner. I follow the rules and make sure that I'm going by the book. There are models out there that don't or won't follow what I'll be writing about...

When it comes to retouching and modeling photos, it's easy for retouchers to get carried away. We've all seen examples of extreme results where the model doesn't even look real. The role of retouching is a big one in the modeling industry and while appearing flawless is the goal, you don't want to go overboard. Magazines, ads, catalogs and other publications do call for a high level of retouching most times. But for those of you getting photos done for things like your headshot, comp/zed card and general modeling portfolio, you don't want to appear like an airbrushed creation. Not all photographers stick to the minimum when touching up photos for models. The best headshots and comp cards are those where you can't really tell any extensive retouching has been done. For those of you that have modeling images that are in need of subtle retouching that gets the job done and still keeps you looking picture-perfect, I wanted to post about an opportunity to ha...