Hey all! This will be a multi-part blog post on some of the different mistakes newer models tend to make when first trying to make their way into the industry. Follow along in the following weeks for the rest of this post, and share with some newer models.
Everyone has to start somewhere. Getting started in the industry can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming (hobbyists, this will still be a helpful read for you as well). There will be a lot of people telling you a lot of things, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in doing things that won’t actually benefit you. Here are the first three mistakes commonly made and what you can do to avoid them (or at least minimize them so you aren’t wasting your time). We’ll start with the three “SW’s” - Shooting Whatever, Shooting Whenever, and Shooting with Whoever.
1- Shooting “Whatever” Unless you’re going for something artsy, unplanned, and spontaneous, it’s generally not good to go into a shoot with the “I’ll shoot whatever” mindset. Have a plan in mind- a theme, a vibe, a style… Be ready to shoot something specific. Shooting “whatever” will land you a messy portfolio. For example, if you’re wanting to do a fitness shoot, plan an appropriate location (gym, field, court, etc), wardrobe (activewear), hair and makeup (clean, natural), etc. It is good to try new things, yes. But do so in a calculated manner. It’s very easy to tell when a set was done with a “whatever” mindset. Take your time to give your vision the life it deserves.
2- Shooting “Whenever” You don’t need to be shooting all the time to stay relevant (really!). There is only so much time in the day. If you are working a full time job and modeling on the side, you want to be using that shoot time wisely. It’s more important to use your time setting up quality shoots. Which brings us to our next bullet here…
3-Shooting with “Whoever” It can be fun and exciting to be shooting all the time and meeting new people. Back to the messy portfolio thought though- if you want to be taken seriously, you need a clean portfolio. Clean portfolios come from quality photographers. If someone asks you to shoot and their portfolio doesn’t fit what you are looking for, you don’t have to work with them. Simple as that. Just be courteous and professional when turning down a shoot. Also- ask to see a full portfolio. Visit the photographer’s website in addition to viewing their “Instagram Portfolio.”
That’s it for Part 1! Next week I’ll cover a few more on the list. Cheers, creatives!
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