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BASIC INFORMATION
Of the millions of young, bright, attractive people who want to get into modeling, only a small percentage find any success at it. Why is that? Simply because they don't possess all of the following key elements of a successful model.

Determination:
Many young actors, actresses and models fail to reach their potential simply because they don't have enough drive and desire to overcome the inevitable slumps and setbacks they encounter. They simply quit.

Professional Attitude:
Modeling is a business, pure and simple. It can be great fun, but professional photographers, art directors, casting directors, and video graphers are in the business of creating images for a profit. Their time is money, and so is yours. Treat these professionals as you would expect to be treated when it comes to time. Don't waste their time by not being punctual or ready to work at the scheduled start time. The most beautiful model in the world will run out of work if she constantly wastes people's time by being late, (or not showing at all), or by not being prepared to work.

Good Work Ethic:
Experienced actors, actresses and models know that there is not a steady stream of work at all times. By being aggressive with your self promotion and focusing on continually marketing your skills, you can create more work opportunities. When work opportunities arise, be prepared to do your best.

Imagination:
Use your unique look and thoughts to create something that makes you special. There are a million pretty faces out there, but if you offer a unique look or attitude, you can create a demand for your services. Be creative when you put your portfolio together and use your best shots for your promotional materials. Collaborate with your photographers to come up with something really special that just screams who you are.

Networking Skills:
All good business people create networks of clients that are constantly growing. actors, actresses and models are no different. You need to find ways to reach potential clients and generate more work and more clients from referrals and other network techniques. Of the clients you work with, ask them for referrals to other opportunities for you. And if a client was referred to you, always let them know who referred them. The common networking rule of thumb is that for every satisfied client you have they, in turn, will tell 2-5 others about you, but for every dissatisfied client, 10 potential new clients will hear the bad news. Never burn your bridges with clients. You may not want to work with them any more, and that is fine, but never, never be rude or unprofessional. It only harms yourself. Always make it a goal to either work a number of times with a client or get referrals to others from them. Work makes work in this business.

Discipline:
Be prepared for work. Develop the discipline to keep your valuable assets, (smile, face, figure, or what ever else you model), in good shape. Have your portfolio ready when you get a go-see, (interview or test shoot), and have your promotional materials, (headshots, zed cards, and resumes), ready for any potential interview or marketing opportunity. This chance may not come around again. Have the discipline to be a go-getter, not a wanna-be.

Persistence:
Successful actors, actresses and models are made, not born. They work at all aspects of what they do and they do not stop because of a few setbacks. They are determined to accomplish a goal and they are not easily stopped by petty excuses or fears of the unknown.

A Plan of Action:
Successful actors, actresses and models have a direction, a plan of action. They set goals for their portfolio, their resume, their network of potential clients and the part of the market they want to work in, and they plan a way to achieve those goals.

What are T.F.P.?
Trade for Time or Trade for Prints T.F.P.   A photographer will often offer to photograph you and pay you with photos from the shoot.   This is good if you are new to modeling and need photos for your portfolio.  The down side is, make sure you know the photographer and that he will in fact trade your prints for your time. Very important, never ever, ever meet a photographer who you do not know anywhere for a photo shoot.  Always take someone with you on photo shoots.  Safety should always come first.   

Photo RELEASE FORMS
In order to prevent lawsuits, release forms are not only common place but required for many types of photo sessions. They are required in the United States in order to use photographs for commercial purposes. Essentially a release form gives a photographer or his clients the copyrights and right to use and sell your photos. As a model you should understand that release forms are a routine requirement for most photography sessions.
 
For most types of modeling, you should not have any cause for concern about signing a release, but always read anything carefully before you sign it. If you have a problem with having your photos published, than modeling is probably the wrong profession to be in. Signing a release form for nude photography or other pictures that you might be uncomfortable with deserves special consideration. By signing a release form, you are giving permission for the pictures to be published at any time, forever.
 
Consider whether you want nude pictures of yourself published years from now. A reputable photographer will take the time to discuss and answer any questions you might have about release forms. Photographers: You should always obtain a signed release form from models for any photos you plan to publish or exhibit. While laws vary >from state to state, publishing a photo without written consent opens the door to lawsuits based on various right of privacy issues.
 
Many if not most magazines and stock agencies will not accept photos which do not have accompanying release forms. Better to be safe than sorry. There is also the ethical issue of publishing a photo with consent. Think twice before publishing an image without written consent, if only to protect yourself, your reputation, and the profession. Release forms are also required for certain property, objects, pets, etc. For example: the designs on balloons are often copyrighted or trademarks; I've heard of a photographer who lost a lawsuit for selling a photo of a mountain-scape in which a balloon was present. You may wish to consult the following materials or an attorney if you have questions.

MODELING PROFESSIONALISM
There are plenty of attractive men and women our there who want to be models. What is most important to clients and photographers are models who are professional and dependable. Your looks might get you a job once, but your professionalism will get you repeat work. Some advice:

• Always be on time for a job. A photo shoot with assistants, makeup artists, location rentals, equipment rentals, not to mention the clients time can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
   
  
• Wasting people's time costs money. Accidents happen, but if you are going to be late try to call and let people know. When you arrive you should look and feel your best, ready to work. Not tired from lack of sleep. No hang-overs!
  
  

• You are being paid to do a job. No whining or complaining, unless of course you feel that your physical well-being is in question.  You _like_ the clients product or clothes, no matter how stupid they look.

• Never ever steal anything from a session. If you forget to remove the earrings or whatever, return them immediately or people will assume you stole them deliberately. Models who steal are quickly black-listed and never work again.
  
  

• Pay attention to what you are doing. Often times you may be asked to repeat the previous pose. If your mind is wandering, the photographer will have to direct you back to that pose again; wasting time.

• Be pleasant and cheerful to the people you work with. Modeling is hard work but so is everyone else's job. Nobody wants to be around someone who isn't a team player.

• Always remember that the photographer is the one who is ultimately responsible for every photo shoot. Everyone works a little differently and some photographers might want to hear your ideas or suggestions, while others do not. Watch and listen to see how a particular team works before offering advice. In any case, the photographer and client always have the final say.

• Treat every session and appointment, even if you are just testing, as though it was the most important session of your life. The people you please or make angry today just might make or break your career months down the road. Always_ bring your voucher book to your sessions. Having the client sign you voucher book provides them a last impression of you. Forgetting your voucher book is unprofessional. Be sure to spell the client's name right!

• Always pick up after yourself; do not expect others to pick up after you. Even if you are being paid for a job, behave as though you are a guest there.

PORTFOLIO TIPS
Your portfolio is your visual resume. Here are some tips about getting yours into shape.

Presentation:
Your portfolio should be organized and visually appealing. Loose photos, cut up contact sheets, loose slides, torn or bent photos, and a dilapidated case are signs of a poor portfolio presentation. Just as an accountant wouldn't present his resume on a crumpled piece of paper, you shouldn't have a sloppy portfolio. Your portfolio represents you; make it a lasting, positive impression.

Number of Photos:
Your portfolio (or "book" as it is sometimes called) should have between 6 and 20 shots of you or work you are in. There should be a variety of poses and a combination of headshots, half body shots, and full body shots.

Kinds of Photos:
A high quality headshot is a must. After you get some experience, you should have a couple different headshots showing different hairstyles and makeup looks. Your book should also contain shots of you showing the kinds of work you want to do. If you want to be a swim wear model, have swim wear shots, not high fashion, in your book. Versatility is good but don't get caught up in trying to be everything. Stick to what you are suited for and are interested in.

Sizes of Photos:
Actors, actresses and models should have 11x14 cases with either 8x10 or 11x14 photos. Actors should have 8x10 cases with 8x10 photos. Most serious actors, actresses and models don't use 5x7's or smaller in their books.

Tear Sheets:
Experienced actors, actresses and models put tear sheets (samples from the work they have done) in there books to show prospective clients; 1) that they have experience, and 2) that they have proven to be marketable for certain looks and uses. Inexperienced actors, actresses and models have shots of themselves showing the types of work they are capable of and interested in doing.

Other Marketing Tools:
For your mailings, go-sees and any other meetings, you should have some sort of comp card or headshot to give to potential clients. Composite cards should have 1-4 of your best shots showing what you like most. You should always have a resume containing your contact information to give them as well. We can shoot your photos and make as many composite cards as you need.

NETWORKING TIPS
Exposure is getting information about you to potential clients letting them know what you have to offer and that you are available for modeling work. Here are different methods of getting exposure.

Mailings:
Actors, actresses and models sometimes mail their promotional materials to prospective clients to generate work contacts.

Cold Calling Photographers:
Making an introductory call to a photographer to set up a go-see to introduce yourself can sometimes produce great results if you and your portfolio are prepared.

Contacting Local Shops or Manufacturers:
Contact local retailers or manufacturers of the types of clothing or products you would be interested in representing. (Lingerie stores, swim suit manufacturers, leather garment manufacturers, sportswear designers and so on).

Model Exposure Magazines:
Although I have not run across any that are very successful, exposure magazines can provide some exposure to actors, actresses and models. I wouldn't recommend spending much time or money with them. If they are free or provide good circulation to real clients at a small cost, they may be of some value.

Agencies:
Agencies can provide you with a number of assignments if your look is really in demand. There are a number of things that you should be wary of when contacting an agency.

• What is their commission percentage? (10% to 25% is in the normal range.)
  
• Is there a fee to be represented? (Legitimate agencies do not charge registration or sign up fees.)
• Can you use your existing portfolio? (If an agency offers to represent you only if you pay their photographer a large sum of money to shoot you a new portfolio, LEAVE!!!)
  
• Is the agency agreement exclusive? (Unless an agency is getting you enough work to keep you busy, never sign an exclusive representation contract.)
  
• Will you still be able to find work on your own? (If not, don't sign with them.)
  
• Is the agency licensed by the state you are in? (Different states have varying licensing requirements, check on the agency by contacting the licensing division in your state.)

Managers:
Some representatives come in the form of managers instead of agencies. They perform basically the same way as agencies in most cases, but are usually not governed the same way. Before signing with a manager, We recommend asking them for some referrals from their pool of actors, actresses and models to get some feedback about the manager. Ask the same questions as you would an agency. And remember, never sign exclusively until you are getting a lot of work.

Model Referral Services:
Depending on the fees charged and how the referrals are structured, some referrals services can provide good contacts. I provide a great service that has set up actors, actresses and models with a lot of work and future contacts.

Internet Model Services:
The Internet has really expanded in the way it provides actors, actresses and models with both exposure and work opportunities. There are many different pages of photographers who hire actors, actresses and models. Also model referral pages on the net are open to having actors, actresses and models publish their portfolios on the net. Some charge fees to cover their costs. This page has a model portfolio section for photographers to contact when searching for the perfect model for their upcoming assignments.