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

(Shout out to one of my readers, Tom, for inspiring me to write this blog post based on his questions about agency boards!) Visiting modeling agency websites is a great way to get familiar with how these companies present themselves, the divisions they specialize in and view photos of the models currently on roster, not to mention learning how to submit yourself for representation. One thing you might have noticed on these same websites-- namely fashion agency sites --are terms like Main , New Faces ,  Development , Images ,  Direct , etc. What does this mean and does it apply to you? MODELING AGENCY BOARDS Similar to the concept of Pinterest, the use of boards by agencies is a way they organize and classify which models belong where, according to experience and where they are at in their modeling career. It also serves as a convenient way to communicate to clients visiting the site as to which models they may be interested in, based on project needs. When a m...

To this day, many newbies don't take into account that the payment aspect of modeling isn't immediate. In fact, even with an agency it can take time to receive the money owed to you from paid bookings. Why is that? Ultimately, it's the efficiency of the client's payroll department that plays a huge role in determining how long it will take to get paid, especially if the form of compensation is by check. FYI: cash is NEVER the form of payment from a gig booked through your agent...this is more commonplace with freelance modeling gigs. Let's take a closer look at the way payment is handled and broken down in the modeling industry for both agency represented and freelance models. GETTING PAID AS AN AGENCY REPPED MODEL Having an agent means securing the best paying gigs and dealing with reputable clients and brands. But agencies and the companies they work with are businesses and that means following protocol when it comes to payment terms. In agency c...

There is a lot of misinformation when it comes to the subject of getting into modeling and the cost factor when it comes to being agency represented. It's difficult to say exactly what the price tag of modeling could be due to the variety of factors, not to mention that no two people's journeys are exactly the same. There are a few basic ways to break down certain expenses as a starting point. Keep in mind any price ranges mentioned here are not set in stone. Also consider the fact that the actual expenses/costs incurred will be different from market to market. Small markets have very different costs for operation compared to a medium or large sized market. To get the gist of this type of scale: New York, Los Angeles and Miami are considered examples of "large markets" in the US. SUBMITTING TO AN AGENCY The cost of submitting your snapshots and information to an agency or attending an open call costs zero. Period. There should be no application or proc...

***Disclaimer: This post is for informative purposes only. I am not trying to start--nor am I interested in starting--a debate, argue points, deal with addressing counter arguments/viewpoints or try to otherwise explain every single nook and cranny of the topic I'm writing about. I am referring to things in a very broad manner on purpose. The focus is on maintaining your brand and modeling career. If you look into it any more than that, I can't help ya.*** I have opinions. I'm a news junkie. I can talk politics and other world events without hesitation. I enjoy healthy debates every now and then. I believe in knowing what's going on in the world and developing a voice to express my thoughts. However, if you've seen my posts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn, you'll be hard pressed to find any content where I'm on my soapbox, taking sides on hot button issues and terrorizing those who don't agree with me. Why? Because that's not what ...

First thing's first: let's be realistic here. It is totally possible to age gracefully and my focus with this article is about how to maintain the best looking YOU at whatever age you are. This post is not about how to turn back the clock and try to pursue anti-aging miracle solutions. The most confident models are the ones that embrace their age and understand the steps necessary to keep themselves in the best possible physical condition when it comes to skin care. This goes for both female and male models. I'll do my best to keep this post from being too lengthy but want to target general age groups, as well as share basic tips for tackling Father Time as it relates to your money maker. TEENS TO YOUNG ADULTS Don't take your youthful complexions for granted, young models! While we all wish for the days when our faces were completely free of wrinkles and fine lines, don't think that just because you're young, that leaves you off the hook with skin care...

(This post will be especially beneficial to female and male freelance models.) Although it isn't uncommon for models and photographers to meet up and shoot on the fly, if you're a bit more of a control freak (like myself!) and prefer to have some kind of game plan to follow, then mood boards are going to be one of your favorite tools to utilize in the course of your modeling career. I  LOVE  putting together mood boards. It helps me visualize what I want and keeps everyone on the same page. I can't stress enough how beneficial it is to learn how to throw one of these together. WHAT IS A MOOD BOARD? A mood board is essentially a collection of reference/inspo images that models and photographers can use for inspiration and serve as a loose guideline of what types of photos they want to capture. Think of it as an illustrative blueprint. You know that little thing called Pinterest? Well, that's basically today's version of a mood board so if you're famil...

When it comes to business, the devil is in the details. This especially applies when it comes to communication. While text and DMs are a popular way to reach out and network, email continues to be a widely and heavily used method. Regardless of your age and whether you have modeling experience or not, it is critical to pay attention to how you're presenting yourself when it comes to email correspondence. The cool thing about technology is that it's always changing and adding features that allow people to personalize and customize the websites, platforms and devices they use frequently. Email signatures have always been around but these days, there are more ways than ever to make your signature stand out. Plan on pursuing the modeling industry? Then that means you'll need to start tailoring yourself to be a professional on all fronts. If that means creating a new email account that's just for agency submissions, communicating with photographers, submitting to...