Hi everyone! Welcome back to the second installment of the discussion of common mistakes made by new models. I’m here to help!
Last week we discussed the three “SW’s” - Shooting Whatever, Shooting Whenever, and Shooting with Whoever. This week we will delve into a little more of the “nitty gritty” of things.
4- Using too many photos from the same set in your portfolio:
While I know it is really easy to fall in love with all of the edits from a shoot, make sure to only use one or two in your portfolio! You really want to show diversity and flexibility in your portfolio. Let’s say that I am booking models for a shoot for a client who has a line of street-style clothing. From the perspective of a “booking agent,” I don’t want to see 10 very similar photos from that one time you did a streetwear shoot. What I do want to see is a mix of photos from different apparel shoots- different photographers, different poses, different hair and makeup, different facial expressions, etc. I want to see what you are capable of. Where you can post all you’d like from the same set is on your Instagram feed. Make sure your portfolio has variety.
5- Lack of a solid, up to date headshot:
Headshots are so important. A headshot is supposed to show you as you are. They are supposed to show your professionalism as a model or actor… and show you as the palette you are (models are supposed to “be” anything for brands, so you need to be a nice, clean slate (if you’d like to think of yourself that way)). They also convey your personality as a model or actor. A selfie taken on an iPhone is definitely not a headshot and I am always shocked to get so many of these when I put out casting calls. I would highly recommend hiring a headshot photographer to take your headshots. I also recommend hiring a makeup artist for your headshots. PS, if you are in the Denver area and would like some recommendations for either of these things… email me!
When should you update your headshot(s)? Generally, I would say every 6 months to a year or so. Sometimes specific roles require us to change our appearance and we decide to stick with it afterwards. It honestly depends on how often your look changes and how much you are working as a model or actor. You should update your headshot any time that you have a change to your physical appearance (hair color, hair length, plastic surgery, weight loss or weight gain, growing a beard/shaving a beard off for a while, etc).
When choosing a headshot photographer, make sure you select someone who knows what they are doing. You really want a solid headshot, so someone who “can” shoot headshots but doesn’t shoot them very often might not be the best choice. I feel like I say this in every single blog post, but I’ll say it again. Quality is everything. Invest! You’ll be looking at $100-$250/ hour generally, but it’ll be money well spent when you hire the right person.
6- Using inaccurate measurements on your comp card:
It’s just as important to have the correct information on your comp card. When it really matters is when a client is providing wardrobe for a shoot. Never ever be ashamed to put down your true measurements (you. are. beautiful. at. every. frikken. size.). It was REALLY freaking hard for me to update my measurements while I was pregnant. I was used to being smaller, but I knew it was important to be honest with the clients who were interested in booking with me at that time. Designers, booking agents, clients, etc. really need to know this information! Sometimes a client is really set on having a model who is a very specific size with no room for flexibility, and you will get sent home from a set if you arrive with different measurements or look different from the photos you have submitted. Use accurate measurements! Have a friend help you update them.
Have a specific question that you would like me to answer? Reach out!
