Skip to main content

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. :-)
Labels:

Comments

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
Post a Comment

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
36 comments
Read more

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
6 comments
Read more

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
4 comments
Read more