Modeling Tips from a Professional Photographer
Jason Cole shares useful
information about the mode common questions (in no particular order).
Canceling
These days everyone leads busy lives and from time to time things
do come up. Its very important when these things do come up that you let the
photographer know the second you know.
On an average professional shoot (say for a magazine) the photographer will have
a stylist, a makeup lady, and assistant and will have booked the location and
the clothes.
Now if you don't turn up to a shoot or cancel at the very last minute (i.e the
night before), the photographer still has to pay everyone he has booked and I
can tell you, it will put you right at the bottom of his "don't ever call again"
time waster book.
Canceling should only be done at the absolute last minute for family
emergencies. I fully understand that sometimes this happens and it’s
unavoidable. Family should always come first. But be warned, us photographers
know that generally no one has more than two nan's or two pops so you must
always be truthful. The only thing in my eyes worse than a late canceller is a
liar.
I wanted to put this in as a separate category as I think it has
some merit. Often when out shooting it's either too hot or too cold. If you
continually complain about the heat or the cold it starts to affect you mentally
and you start to feel that it is actually worse than it is.
I have proven to models time and time again that if you don't complain about the
temperature, it wont affect you nearly as much. I am the most patient person on
earth but I can tell you, I have had some models that would complain the bark
off a tree. It gets no one anywhere and becomes very annoying after a while.
We all know it's cold or it's hot. Do your best to manage. Having said that, if
there is something you're not happy with, you should definitely speak up and get
it off your chest, but just once, not through the entire shoot.
A lot of girls ask me about the photos and who owns them. The law
states that the photographer always owns the copyright to a photo unless the
photographer expressly signs away that right. Even if you are paying the
photographer, the photographer still owns the copyright to the images. You are
paying for his time and his expertise.
Having said that; the photographer cannot publish those images unless you give
your express permission. You can't publish those images either without his
express permission. That's where a model release form comes in handy (see the
model release section).
As a rule a photographer will generally never give out high resolution images /
negatives. This can be arranged before hand but as a rule the photographer will
generally say no. I personally do not give out any high resolution modeling
negatives / images.
I am however always happy to give out low resolution images for you to choose
prints from. I charge the same price that your local Camera House does for
prints, so there is no benefit in you going anywhere else, I color correct each
image and size the images for the printer... all so I can maintain the quality
in my work that you expect. Everybody wins.
One of the most important aspects of modeling is your facial
expressions. Think about when you see a photo. What is the first part of the
photo you look at? The face.
If the face isn't right then the photos is flat. Our faces say a lot about us
and what we are feeling and thinking. A face can be happy, sad, sexy, moody or
flat.
The flat face is the blank look that has no expression and is the one you want
to avoid. You can have the sexiest drop dead gorgeous face, a body to die for
that looks like it has been chiseled out of solid rock, yet if your facial
expression is flat, the photo is also flat.
Never underestimate the value of your facial expressions. As a model you should
at least be able to smile, pout, grin and do that sexy "soups on" look. They are
the four basic faces in modeling.
If you can master these facial expressions then you are off to a good start. A
good idea is to use the mirror! Find some photos that you like and practice in
the mirror until you can do those faces on demand every single time.
Once you have your facial expressions right its very important to
get your figure posing right too. Like facial expressions, figure posing can
mean the difference between a good photo and a great photo.
Check out magazines and other girls photos and practise those poses in front of
the mirror. Remember the better you can pose, the more the photographers are
going to like you and the more work you will get.
My favorite models are models that can pose themselves. It leave me free to be
much more creative about the photography process when a model is thinking of her
own poses.
Never be scared to try your own poses in front of a photographer. You will be
suprised at just how well the photographer responds and just how good your shots
will be.
So find that mirror and get posing now!
Even though your main goal is to make an income from modeling,
never under estimate the value of having fun! You should always treat every
shoot as a fun experience. If you just be yourself and don't be too serious then
the shots will just flow on from there.
The best shots I ever take are with fun easy going models. The more serious
models don't generally get the best shots in my experience. After all your the
absolute center of attention on every modeling shoot so enjoy it!! Lap it up!!!
Relish in your new found stardom!
A happy model is a good model. A good model produces the best shots and
photographers love models that constantly produce good shots.
TFP/TFCD - Commonly known as "Time For Prints" or "Time For CD".
This is basically exchanging your time for a photographer’s time. You get some
prints or a CD for your portfolio and the photographer gets to use your photos
on his website / publications / portfolio etc. It's VERY important that you
agree on how / where the photos will be used before the shoot. You need to agree
what photos will be provided to you at the end of the shoot and even more
important you need to make sure that you know the full use of the photos that
the photographer is taking. Suppose you get a really bad set of photos. You
don't want to be in the situation where you have given the photographer
permission to use those photos all over the internet do you? Especially when YOU
are the subject and you absolutely hate the photos!! Any commercial use of the
photos should also be agreed upon up front before any shooting takes place as
well. Commercial use of the photos should see you getting a fee for being the
Model.
TFSOP - Time for Share of Prize Money. Simply put you enter a competition with a
photographer (and sometimes other models), then if you win you split the prize
money. If you lose you get nothing.
A Model Release Form is an agreement between the photographer /
agent / company and the model. Model Release forms should be read very carefully
and should only be signed if both parties agree.
Not every photographer uses model release forms, but the ones that do will
generally insist that you sign it. Don't feel pressured; ask to have a copy
emailed to you before the shoot so you can read over it. Ask any questions
before the shoot.
If in doubt, ask the question. Better to get an answer up front than be
disappointed on the day (or even worse be ripped off!!).
Motivating the Photographer
Nothing motivates me more than an energetic girl who has some of
her own posing ideas. More motivation means better shots. If I have a really
flat model who just doesn't have any of her own ideas and is scared to pose or
to be herself then the shots are never as good.
If I have to pose every inch of a girl for the entire shoot to get a good shot,
then that takes a lot of the creativity out of the shoot. Photographers will
respond very well to a model who knows how to pose and is willing to give things
a try. Don't ever underestimate your ability to motivate the photographer.
I recently had a shoot with a really flat model, a really non motivating girl
who just killed any possible creativeness. Everything was too hard for her and
she didn't really try. That left me feeling a little worn out mentally. However
the next model I was shooting that day was really into it (the exact opposite)
and she really motivated me back to being creative and before we knew it we were
getting some of the best shots of her portfolio.
It's all about personality and motivation. If you’re sensing the atmosphere is
flat then have some fun, do some spontaneous poses, be a bit nutty, have some
fun!!!! I can assure you, the photographer will appreciate it very much and your
photos will be much better as a result.
I think personality is the most important ingredient for any
model to have. I have seen many models over my time and I can remember the ones
with the stuck up personalities like it was yesterday. It's very important to be
down to earth and approachable.
No one wants to deal with a model with an attitude, no matter how cute or sexy
she is. There is always another cute sexy model down the road with a great
personality, so remember this, always say please and thank you, and never ever
swear. If you can see the photographer busily packing up everything, offer to
help, he will most probably thank you and decline your offer, but people like
the fact that your keen. It goes a very long way in my book. That's just a few
simple tips for making a good impression on a photographer / agency.
Photographers and agencies that like you will give you more work. Personally, if
I like a girl, I go out of my way to see she does well. If she is not a nice
girl, or painful to work with, then I put her to the bottom of the work queue
(the less I see of her the better). This pretty much goes for all photographers.
Although a lot of jobs will provide everything you need for a
shoot, always ask if anything else is needed. If your not sure, then just bring
the props along any way’s. Props can be basically anything that would look good
in a photo (an old hat, scarf, toys etc.).
It's very important to prepare for a shoot the day before the
shoot. Good preparation can mean the difference between a good shoot and a great
shoot. It's very important to do any personal grooming the night before.
Hair should always be washed the day before a shoot and any shaving should also
be done the day before the shoot as well. Shaving on the day of the shoot can
cause skin irritations and red marks that really show up in photographs.
It's also very important to wear loose clothes to a shoot. You don't want to
arrive there and have Jean and belt marks all over you. Those marks take at
least an hour to fade and often longer. Wear loose clothes so the shoot can
commence straight away when you arrive.
If a makeup lady has been supplied don't wear any makeup to the shoot at all. It
just slows things down as the makeup lady has to take all your makeup off first
then put the real stuff on.
Some photographers will definitely take you out of your comfort
zone. That's not always a bad thing as it helps you expand your portfolio and
discover new things about yourself.
However there are times when it's just too much and you need to say no. You need
to convey this message in a manner that doesn't upset the photographer or more
importantly the mood of the shoot. Simply suggest another idea.
However If the photographer keeps down that path that your just not happy with,
then just tell him straight. As a photographer I MUCH prefer a model to say what
she does / doesn't like rather than beating around the bush all day and wasting
my time.
Models often ask me how to spot a good versus a bad photographer?
The answer is very easy. Ask to see his / her work. If you like what you see
then you can book a shoot and have a fair idea that the photographer is going to
get you the results you want.
If the photographer won't show you his work or you don't like what you see
(remember the photographer will always show his best work - so you can pretty
much assume it doesn't get any better than what he is putting forward) then
don't book a shoot.
Tell him straight out you don't really fit his style and thank him kindly for
his inquiry and his time.
What to bring to a shoot?
I shoot a lot of girls and I can tell you, almost every girl
wishes she had brought something along to a shoot that she left at home, her
favorite hat, her knee high boots, her little blue skirt etc. etc. So if in
doubt, bring it! You are much better off to bring way too many clothes than be
left scratching around for clothes you just didn't bring.
Clothes should always be ironed before a shoot too. That's very important.
Wrinkles in clothes look tacky and take away from the natural beauty of a photo.
Always bring shoes to match your outfits and have some variety so that you and
your photographer can have some choice.
Always bring some touch up makeup (including lip gloss) and always bring combs
or bushes to a shoot. You never know when the wind is just going to kill your
perfect hairstyle. Be Prepared!!!
Always bring a bottle of water and a big towel too. The water is for your thirst
and the towel is for your privacy. I always turn my back when a model is getting
changed but not every person gives you that courtesy.
A BIG towel can often be the difference between you getting changed privately
and the whole world seeing your buns!! Bring that towel.
A lot of models ask me if they can do their own makeup for their
test shoot with me. I always prefer they go and see my makeup lady and have
their makeup done properly.
Good makeup can mean the difference between a successful shoot and an average
shoot. Its $50 well spent. You go to all the other trouble to get everything
else just right and then your makeup lets you down.
Don't risk it, book into the makeup lady! I promise you that you won’t regret
it. (Note this is not compulsory, just recommended).
Disclaimer: All the articles about glamour and fashion model posing are
true to the best of our ability but Bill Stanfill Photography is not
responsible for errors in these model posing tips. This model posing guide
is just a starting point so you should get as much modeling experience as
possible through your professional photographer.
All of these
tips are adapted from various modeling and photography sites on the
Internet. You can do a search in a specific area online, and find a number
of suggestions or resources, including books, how-to-manuals, and classes. I
do not claim to be an expert in any of these areas, but know through
personal experience, trial-and-error, and testimonials, that these things
CAN work for some people.
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