Do you want to be a Model ?

Just having good looks or good body is not enough to become a successful model. Modeling is jus like any other business. If you make it big as a model there is no looking back and it pays very well. 

Steps to becoming a model.

1. Modeling is a business , you are the product so take care of yourself.  Keep yourself in the best shape take care of your skin and hair.
2. Understand your assets, and what genre of modeling you fit in. ( Soon i will talk about different types of modeling.
3. Learn to act. Modeling requires acting. Practice your poses in front of a mirror every day for about 30 minutes, even top models do it everyday.
4. Modeling is a very cut through t business where you have to make a first impression. There are enough pretty looking people out there. I see every day that so many aspiring models act penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to getting three portfolio shot, which is by far the most important thing for you to market as a model. Every agency or client that you contact- your portfolio, comp card will go in the door before you.  If your images will not stand out of the crowd you will never ever get there.  It's like when someone is trying to get a job in Corporate America they have to have a very articulate well written and designed resume which will put them in front of the employers and give them interviews. Skills will always come to play later on. Having said all that select a good fashion photographer to shoot your portfolio.
5. Look for good local modeling agencies. Once you have your portfolio ready. You need to go and meet with local agents and scouts and drop your Comp cards and show your portfolio book. Your local fashion Photographer will have a list of all the legit modeling agencies in your area.
6.  Do not use a cheap portfolio book from staples or office max. Go to a good art store or portfolio stores like, " House of portfolio". Remember your first impression is the last, if the agent will see you with a cheap portfolio book then they get a impression that you are not too serious about modeling
7. Be persistant and dedication is important.

                                          Beauty picture shot of Kassie from Wilhelmina Models.

http://youtu.be/e_WFAxbxMuU

Video link of behind the scenes Video from this shoot.

Here is a behind the scenes video from the Hair shoot for Stitch 224, The best thing about this shoot was that I shot most of the video then Will finished the later part of it. Shooting Hair and beauty is just awesome, We had months in advance planned to shoot and developed the visuals in our creative meetings with Chinere.  We shot 3 looks for this shoot.  My favorite look was of Joslynn in the black top and pink skirt the shot above. This was shot with three lights. Key on Octadome and then fill from back. Another fill from front and then backdrop was lit up seprate. Always make sure when you lit up the backdrop specially when it is white, that it will always bounce back light on your model so create a distacne in between your model and the backdrop which should help you drop the intensity of the background lights. Typically to get the white color expose it about stop or two higher than your subject. I always try to block the spill with V flats. Then my assistant Chris created the wind with blowing a simple cardboard. Love to get your feedback or if you have any questions please let me know.

Photographing beautiful Curves

 Photographers lots of time face this as a huge challenge when they have to shoot a Curvy girl.  I have some secrets when I am shooting a curvy girl and today I will share these secrets with you but before let me tell you my story with Chantel. When I say beautiful I mean not just outer beauty I also mean inner beauty, She is just an amazing person inside out. One day I got a message on my Facebook page that she is interested in booking a shoot with me. I responded back to her and we set up a creative meeting which we usually do before shooting with anyone, In the creative session we get to know the person  better and they get to know us. I always like to know my clients before the shoot it makes our shoot so much better. We discussed her looks did some sketches and pulled some inspirational images.  Decided on her outfits. We then setup our shoot date. I have created a document which i love to share and give to all the people I am shooting with which talks about the dos and don't. ( I will blog it soon) I was  Just amazed with how well a girl can do in front of the camera who has never faced a camera.  Chantel is a postal lady I could have never ever guessed that because she is so glamourous.  Came her shoot day and we had our whole team ready to pamper this beautiful young lady.  Our Makeup artist Mariluz as always glamoured her even more , did her hair and I was ready to shoot. When shooting curves here is your first tip as a Photographer always Tilt your camera down. Shoot above the models eye level if the model is lean then you can go below the eye level and even lower. Always remember to ease your model first, do not put the model in front of everyone as if they are on the spot. It is our job to relax the nerves. compliment her make her feel special, when you start your shoot tell her that you will taking some test shots and she can do whatever she feels like, trust me this will make all the difference in the world, do a few test shots and compliment her on how well she is doing and how gorgeous you think she looks.Your opinion as a photographer will always matter the most. Your client does not know how they are looking. I also have another secret which i will share with you, whenever I start my shoot I always create a box feel by putting up these 8 feet reflectors on either sides of the backdrop it will just give her a sense of security and create that privacy they need intially. You know it is the initial hitch we have to get over with. Just like how a person would dance without any inhibition if no one is watching them similarly we have to make our clients feel that  no one is watching. I am invisible or act like a mirror where they can see how beautiful they are looking. Posing comes after all these things, the hardest thing is to know the angles and lighting, The way you light your subject has a lot to do with the body types you are shooting with. Posing is a tiny equation directing is the key. Most of the times the lighting has to be directional from a higher angle either on the side or upfront where it can create some nice shadows under the neck line which will hide the double chin.  If the hair line is in front falling from both sides of the face lighting from top front will create a nice oval looking face.

Play with your lens: When you are shooting straight up portrait then fix the posture first Chin forward and down remember not the neck just the chin. make the model lean have them push the butt back away from the camera, cross the legs and hands on the waist will create a nice slender look, always watch the hands they should look relaxed and unobtrusive. Ready to click now... Press that shutter baby, what are you waiting for...   

 Image shot of her from higher angle face down chin tucked under her shoulders will hide the doubble chin and accentuate the sexy back, Hair and eyes.. Watch the lighting carefully From top right is my key light and left is my fill. I exposed it on the fill exposure to give the background a burned out feel get a nice highlight on her hair.

Check out the lighting how I have carefully placed it in front of the model and used the posing rules i talked about above, created a nice oval face no double chin, enhanced the eyes and hair