insideyournwa.com

This is most definitely the most common question i get asked! If you want to model professionally, you’ll need a good strong headshot for starters. This is a clean picture of just your face with minimal makeup and your hair pulled back off your face.

Decide what type of modeling you want to do and begin developing your craft. Take some classes. But, don’t pay thousands of dollars to a school! Beware! There are SO many scams out there! Ask local models who’s cool and who’s not. They are happy to tell their stories!

Runway?

Just because you aren’t 5′8 does NOT mean you’ll never do runway. If that is your passion, GO FOR IT!! You may never walk the catwalk in LA but there are tons of jobs you can do locally and regionally. Start at myspace. Poke around to find sites for local runway shows or go to a local runway show and ask who is producing the event and how they get their models. Different shows and producers like different walks. You may have to learn a few styles to get more work. Be sure you can walk in heels!

Print?

If you are just starting, pick photogs who are just starting. You don’t want the top photogs to see you as green. Consider your first few shoots as training. Alot of new photogs will do free shoots in exchange for your posing. It’s called tfp (trade for print or trade for pix ). Use self control here. Don’t go willy-nilly booking tfp shoots. You don’t want word all over town that you will shoot for free! Restraint will be tough. Shooting is addictive! Pick one or two photogs you are comfortable with and stick with them. NEVER stand up a photog! That’s career suicide. Word spreads fast! Don’t just jump into your shoot cold. Start looking at fashion mags. Tear out pix of poses that interest you. Tape them around your mirror and practice them. Some of the best poses feel wildly un-natural. Once you get your pics, don’t start posting them all over the internet. I know you are excited about your new pics. But trust me. You don’t want to present yourself to the industry with all 400 pix from your first shoot. Really, it’s just embarassing. When you have more experience under your belt, you’ll thank me for that advice.

After you have started to get comfortable in front of the camera, book a session at a portfolio building workshop. This is a tremendous opportunity. There are different types. But I am the director for House of Style in Ark and Ok and i think it is exceptional. 20 - 25 models are there along with about a dozen photogs, hair stylists , & make up artists. Wardrobe is provided. You are transformed into super model for the day! A couple of great things happen. You get atleast 3 portfolio quality pix from each photog and you get networking info from everyone there. That’s the invaluable part! Check out www.houseofsyle.tv and hit me up if you have any questions. The June session is sold out. July is now booking.

Once you get your pictures in, this is a good time to set up a model mayhem account at www.modelmayhem.com. Don’t jump in there too quickly. Photogs are searching it everyday and you don’t want your first impression to be a bad one! Here you need to be cautious of the creeps looking for models to pose nude for them. Set your boundaries. Post them clearly on your site and stick to it. When a photog contacts you , go to his comments and contact the models who posted them.

Continue working on your portfolio. It’ll take some time . Once you have a nice variety in your port, you’ll want to develop a zed card or comp card. This is a 2 sided card about the size of a large index card. On one side is your headshot and the other shows 4-5 of your best pics. Be sure to show variety. No matter what you are told you CANNOT SHOOT a ZED card in one sitting. You need variety. You can’t just sweep your bangs to the other side and change your shirt. These cards are your resume.

How to find jobs

Once you have all your ducks in a row you are ready to put yourself out there. Here are some recommended avenues.

1. model mayhem

2. craigslist

3. myspace

4. agent? BEWARE OF SCAMS! Ask around about their reputation. You DO NOT need an agent to work locally. If you want to see if you are ready for the big time, let me know, I can help you with requirements to interview with Wilemina and other large national and international agencies.

5. casting conventions? As with anything, there are good ones and bad ones. We’ll have to do a whole article on that! I endorse Global Stars Network. www.gsn.net It’s the real deal. There are others that come thru town that are known scams. So, be sure to do your homework before investing in one of these. They are priceless when you pick the right one! You will auditon for Disney ,Nickelodeon ,Ford models,ABC Network, movie directors, and more. Be sure you are game ready when you take this step. Again, feel free to contact me if you have any questions about GSN.

6. Photo Society - They always need models. Our local division is the PSNWA ( psnwa.org ) . They boast over a hundred members Call and ask them where they get their models. (lol - Our branch will tell you through me - so skip a step and call me for that one, too).

7.Faces, Inc. - It’s an industry resource center. People come to me for models, photgs , make up artists, classes, anything industry related www.myspace.com/facesinc or facesincinark@gmail.com

When you apply for a job, the producer may have a stack of 100 or more ZED cards to consider. He’s just blowing through them to see who’s headshots catch his eye. He sets those to the side. Then goes back and looks at the back to check out your stats and info. Once he has chosen a few, you will be called in for an interview so he can see your portfolio. Now, you’ve booked your first gig! Congratulations!!