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

Making a quick announcement that I'm planning on scheduling the first Modeling 101 Skype group chat for this Sunday, March 23. Time is TBD but will likely be after 5pm PST (please take note for those of you in different time zones). There's a really important step you need to follow if you want to be a part of this group chat: you have to add me on Skype: dania.denise No add, no group chat. I doubt many of you want to post your Skype usernames in the comments section of this blog post so that I can add you myself but if you're cool with making that info public, feel free and I'll send a request to connect. Or you can email me your Skype username directly to keep it private: daniadenise@gmail.com. It's funny because there was a bunch of you that replied "Very Interested" to the poll I posted a month ago, asking if these types of group chats would be something worth putting together, yet not that many of you have added me on Skype to participate. ...

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I gotta tell ya, I've trained a lot of female models when it comes to walking in high heels for runway and fashion shows and almost every time I've almost had a heart attack for fear that one of the girls was going to roll or break her ankle. In the past I've vented about how I really hate the latest trends of high heels that place a lot of weight on the front of the shoe using the "platform style," which automatically makes the wearer feel like she's teeter-tottering. Even I've had to do extra practice in these types of heels. To be quite honest, I'm looking forward to the day when high heels do away with excessive platforms and models can once again go back to wearing heels that promote more stability when walking. But then again, when has being fashion forward ever meant being comfortable? But I digress... Okay, back to what I was saying about training models to walk in high heels...newbies are the ones I worry about the most because they ...

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...

If you've read Part 1 in this 3-series post ( How Much Do Models Get Paid? Part 1 - Overview ), then you're already caught up on where my train of thought is going when it comes to explaining how the average working female and male model earns income. The first part of the series served as a summary or overview of the subject but part 2 will focus on breaking down the factors that typically influence the kind of pay a model could command per booked assignment. As I mentioned in my other post, there is no guidebook, rule book or other established chart that says exactly what clients should be paying models. Why? Simply because not every modeling gig is exactly the same. It all varies from project to project, client to client, budget to budget and situation to situation. However, there are some common factors that help clients determine what kind of pay rate to offer a model. I'm speaking in generalities here so keep that in mind. There are always exceptions to the ru...

Category: Posing For: Female & Male Models Are you having trouble producing a really intense, dramatic stare? Then try this awesome tip from fellow model/actor (and photographer!) Breanna Baker (who took the headshot image of me below): Focus your eyes on the photographer's camera...you know how oftentimes the lense or some part around it will have wording (usually it's white and contains the name of the camera or product info)? Concentrate on trying to read what the writing on the camera around the lense is. The key is to not squint but instead hold a steady and intense gaze into the camera as if you're in deep thought. The result: a really great dramatic shot that doesn't take a lot of effort to produce.  The key to perfecting this "tip" is by practicing in the mirror at home. Write something on a small piece of paper and tape it to the mirror at eye level and practice staring at the words and pretending to try and read it. The paper...