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

After writing my mini-series of blog posts about the importance of putting together a solid “About Me” section, it made me want to write about why an official modeling website in particular is such a vital tool for all models, especially freelancers. Social media has made it easy for models to market themselves and gain some measure of exposure. But too many models rely on just their social media sites and treat them as websites, which they are not.  Having a Facebook page is not the same as having a website. Having an Instagram and/or Twitter account is not the same as having a website. Even a profile on a social networking site like Model Mayhem is not the same as having a website. Just as helpful as social media profiles are, an actual website is still golden as an effective marketing tool. Below are a few key reasons why: It’s Steadfast & Constant Remember that thing called Myspace? What about Friendster? Sure, Facebook is still going strong but i...

***This post is ideal for freelance models, especially those utilizing social media to attract potential clients and enhance their visibility online.*** Haven't had a chance to check out Part I and II in this blog series? Catch up on this topic (and why I decided to make a mini series of posts about it) by clicking on these links: http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-about-me-section-your-modeling.html http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-about-me-section-your-modeling.html The world of social media has certainly made things a lot easier for models, especially freelancers, to get noticed and attract business. But, as with just about everything in life, technology has a way of making us content and--dare I say it--lazy. When it comes to online matters, many models are okay with maintaining social media profiles and ignoring the option of having a professional website. I won't spend this post talking about how important it still is to have an actual webs...

***This post is ideal for freelance models, especially those utilizing social media to attract potential clients and enhance their visibility online.*** Haven't had a chance to check out Part I in this blog series? Catch up on this topic (and why I decided to make a mini series of posts about it) by clicking on this link: http://amodelsdiary.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-about-me-section-your-modeling.html Love it or hate it, social media in particular has helped models of all experience levels and backgrounds build their brand and gain followers in a way that is unprecedented. But what makes the difference between successfully using social media to your advantage and just being another profile taking up space is by paying attention to details, such as helping people understand who you are, what you're about and--as it applies to your modeling career--why they should hire you for their projects. The most effective way to get these points across is by properly filling out...

***This post is ideal for freelance models, especially those utilizing social media to attract potential clients and enhance their visibility online.*** Love it or hate it, social media in particular has helped models of all experience levels and backgrounds build their brand and gain followers in a way that is unprecedented. However, just as eagerly as people are jumping onto the Internet and using social media for their modeling endeavors, the "About Me" section is one specific area where I see a lot of female and male models making mistakes, usually by not filling out this area properly. Am I an expert at writing About Me sections? I feel pretty confident saying, "Yes," not just because I'm a trained writer/journalist but because I've written about myself and my modeling career so many times it isn't even funny. I've experienced firsthand what works and what doesn't when it comes to this subject. I do understand that not everyone is ...

Submitting quality snapshots is just as crucial for aspiring male models as their female counterparts. While there isn't as much for male models to worry about, that doesn't mean the snapshots they submit to modeling agencies should be a free-for-all. Some of the dos and don'ts listed below are the same as listed in my blog post for female models , however, it is still important to mention it separately here as well. DO: Follow Any & All Instructions Agency websites contain all the info new models need to know, including what kinds of snapshots to send. Many even post reference images to copy. If you come across an agency site that has all this laid out, follow the instructions to a tee. DON'T: Take Random Snapshots It's great when there's a site with full guidelines but even if you come across an agency with a website where there isn't much info or none at all about what types of snapshots to send, you can follow the bare minimum requireme...

I haven't had a chance to blog about my experience shooting for romance novel covers but I will be sure to recount that most interesting work experience soon. :-) Till then, I am happy to say I can share my latest tearsheet, which happens to also be the second book cover I've gotten in my modeling career. The male model is Jimmy Thomas who is the new Fabio (for those of you not old enough to know Fabio, he was THE heartthrob of women everywhere by being one of the most popular male models on romance novel covers back in the 1980s and 1990s). Jimmy Thomas is currently one of the most popular male models in the romance novel genre and his images have appeared on thousands of covers (you read that right--thousands...that's thanks to the huge boom with e-books and other digital formats). Here's the cover we both appear on...I believe it should be on the market soon if it hasn't already been published: Me and Jimmy shot many different sets for our shoot and the ...

As you've probably already gained from my blog, the role of snapshots is hugely crucial to new models hoping to get into the industry--namely, those with goals of snagging an agent. Learning how to put together quality modeling snapshots is a great way to make a strong first impression and improve the chances of getting invited to an agency interview. Below are some easy dos and don'ts for aspiring female models when it comes to putting their snapshots together (male models, don't worry--I haven't forgotten about you! The next blog post after this one will be filled with snapshot tips just for you). :-) DO: Follow Any & All Instructions Agency websites contain all the info new models need to know, including what kinds of snapshots to send. Many even post reference images to copy. If you come across an agency site that has all this laid out, follow the instructions to a tee. DON'T: Take Random Snapshots It's great when there's a site with ...