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

Makeup is an art and as a model you want to put your best face forward when it comes to shoots for your portfolio, fashion shows and booked assignments. If you've never worked with a professional makeup artist before or if you have but are still learning the ropes of the industry in general, it doesn't hurt to know some helpful tips to keep every makeup artist you work with happy and showcase you as the professional you are. BOOKED GIGS When you've been hired for a job, either through your agent or on your own via freelance modeling, and there is a makeup artist onset, it is a dream come true. That means less work on your end but there are still important things to keep in mind to ensure each experience with a makeup artist is a positive one. Arrive With a Freshly Cleaned & Moisturized Face--That Means No Makeup! I know this sounds like common sense but you'd be surprised by the stories I've heard from makeup artists who have worked with models that ...

Just when you thought you had agencies figured out, right? :-) I've often received emails from confused models freshly signed to an agency, with questions as to why they are being sent to auditions for commercials and other acting projects. Models are just supposed to model, right? Well, not really. At least, not these days. There are a LOT of models out there. Actors for sure, too, but when it comes to modeling in particular, it goes without saying that there are way more female and male models than there are gigs. This creates an imbalance and for agencies to maximize their ability to make money and give their talent a fighting chance, that means requiring some cross over action. In the industry today, it is now standard for talent agencies to send models on their roster to auditions for acting jobs. If you have an interest in acting and have expressed that to your agent, then this won't be a surprise but there are many instances where a model who just wants to mode...

(This post will be especially beneficial for freelance models.) Models wouldn't get very far without professional photographers. Regardless of what kind of modeling you're into, both female and male models alike greatly benefit not just from the images from the shoot but the networking that takes place as a result. Oftentimes, models are able to develop a list of go-to-photographers they regularly work with. Those types of business relationships are golden in the industry because everyone involved benefits. Of course, first thing's first: you have to know how to work with photographers and be the type of model they would drop everything to shoot with in a heartbeat. Below are some helpful tips that can be applied to most situations when it comes to working with photographers: COMMUNICATE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL When contacting photographers, don't talk to them like they're your bestie. That means messaging/emailing them using complete sentences with good g...

***I'm not writing this post to say that pressed powder isn't important for female models--because it totally is--but I wanted to make sure my fellas had a bit more of a customized post on the subject to help them navigate their way through the modeling industry.*** We all know that when it comes being a man in the modeling world, the territory is going to look a whole lot different than any other industry. One of my most popular blog posts is titled, "Real Men Wear Makeup!" and in the same vein of this theme, I decided to do a post about one of the most important items male models should have in their possession at all times: pressed powder. If you're the kind of guy who is completely clueless about makeup in general, the good news is that pressed powder is one of the easier items to understand the role of when it comes to modeling. One of the worst ways to take a photograph is to have a shiny complexion. Whether it's sweat or you have naturally ...

If you've been submitting to projects on your own--depending on what resources you're using--chances are you may have come across gigs that mention wanting models with "video experience." Sometimes they'll also refer to acting experience but in general, this means the client is looking for individuals with the "model look and build" but who is also comfortable in front of a video camera. So what does this kind of job mean and what exactly does video experience have to do with modeling? I'm glad you asked. :-) It isn't uncommon--and completely normal, in fact--for some models to have absolutely zero interest in acting in any capacity. And that's totally okay. It isn't mandatory for models to have acting experience. Does it help? It sure does and with the way the industry is going, many agencies are purposely sending their models to acting auditions, whether they like it or not. But that's a whole different story. For the pur...

The modeling world has become notorious for thriving despite all the changes going on as the years go by. In the past, modeling agencies were a type of secret society that not just anybody could penetrate, let alone try to locate. Then came the Internet and along with it total access via websites from the very agencies model hopefuls had been searching for--equipped with submission information and open call guidelines that opened up the modeling industry to the masses...or at least those gutsy enough to send in their snapshots or walk through the agency's doors. Now we're in the social media era where the modeling industry has once again needed to update their way of doing business. While being scouted on IG is all the rage, this latest version of the modeling beast can actually end up confusing newbies even more when it comes to figuring out where to begin and what to do/not do. So what does it mean to be a model in the age of IG? MORE VISIBILITY It is still impo...

Red flags are everywhere and they exist for a reason. The modeling industry is far from perfect and despite the strides in technology and social media that make it easier than ever these days to find out how to submit to agencies and pursue a modeling career, there are still pitfalls that unsuspecting newbies tend to find themselves falling into. Even if I've done a post similar to this one, I think it warrants bringing up again (or at least think of this as an updated post of sorts) to continue educating and informing those of you that aren't sure whether to move forward with a particular opportunity, project or individual/company. Nudity Should Never Be Involved Never. Ever. EVER! Are there very hyper-sexualized images of models in magazines and advertisements? You bet. Sex sells. It's not a secret. However, just because certain fields within the modeling industry rely on selling sex and sexy models, when it comes to newbies submitting to agencies, they don...