network...Network....NETWORK! It is one of THE MOST important things you can do for your career. Your hometown just launched a new fashion line and is holding a launch party. GO! Be sure to NEVER over drink and dress to impress. This does not mean pushing the puppies together and up with a plunging neck line. This means dress fashionable, modern and professional! Think... Night out with your boyfriend or girlfriends family. Fluff up the hair line, curl the lashes and paint on a pout! Be charming and introduce yourself to EVERYBODY there! If you can avoid it, do not give out any personal online networking information or personal phone numbers. You do not want them to call you and reach the same message as your friends. Set up an email account that has your first and last name or a business online networking site. Give this information over personal contact info. You would be greatly surprised what a difference this can make!
You could easily meet a photographer or designer one year and then receive a great opportunity for a paying gig later on. If you make a good impression and stay in contact, they may just think of you next time they need a fresh face. I have met people 7-10 years ago that have helped me get amazing jobs now! Fashion week being one of them! This is not a joke!
Now, we shall touch on the importance of the MOD PORTFOLIO! You will need this tool to book jobs! No if's, ands or buts about it! And not just a folder filled with mediocre images that your boyfriend took. You will need the proper aspects of a portfolio to ever be taken seriously by an agent or designer. NEVER GO ON A GO-SEE WITHOUT THIS TOOL! They will blacklist you as a person who is amateur and not serious about this industry. First impressions are hard to overcome and you want to make it count! I will be creating a post that further details the proper images you will need in a portfolio, but first lets discuss how to get there.
It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on images! If you go to a casting that asks for copious amounts of money then walk the other way. It is a scam! If an agent wants to represent you it is because they see you as marketable. This means that they believe they can make money by representing you. Therefor they will not expect you to pay them for their services! They will be making money by collecting a percentage of your earnings on jobs that they help you to book.
Start small and work your way up. It will be doing yourself a disservice if you just pay a photographer to take all of your images. This can be a good thing to do in some instances, but you will be missing out on great exposure and practice if you put all of your eggs in one basket. Start by doing "trade" shoots with local photographers. This means that a photographer is not being paid because they will be gaining images for their portfolio as will you. Sometimes online modeling network sites can be helpful for this, but use caution! Never go blindly with a person you have never met and have not obtained references on. There are creeps out there that use those sites as a means to an end. A way to prey on vulnerable woman. If you are approached by a person who would like to work with you, then ask around. Ask other models or girls who have shot locally and if nobody has worked with them or heard of them, it is not a good idea. I am always happy to recommend photographers to girls. Of course a lot of them are from my area so if you are from another state you will need to contact other models in your area. I cannot stress enough that you must be careful. I have heard too many horror stories and you do not want to be making the evening news because you were victimized. But if you meet the right people and a reputable photographer then it can be a great start. There are certain things that really cannot be taught without doing them and photoshoots are an excellent way to learn. Also, if you enjoy shooting with that photographer, you can build a long lasting professional relationship which is another great way to network! Once you get some great trade shoots under your belt and if you have the talent and a good look, you will most likely have more opportunity to shoot with some awesome photographers that have a lot of experience shooting fashion models. This is how you can begin to build your portfolio.
One of the only times that I think it is alright to pay money toward your career is shooting with a photographer who has a great portfolio. Sometimes they may ask you to shoot, but require a small payment to cover materials. It is not cheap for photographers. They have lighting, backdrops, studio space as well as any sort of editing programs and props they may use so it is ok for them to ask for a small amount to help cover all of the expenses. A model really doesn't need to invest in any sort of material for shooting so sometimes it is good to help share in the cost ensued by a great shoot. Also, photographers that charge does not mean that they are not reputable. This, of course, is their trade so they need to make money. Sometimes girls do opt to pay for a portfolio shoot. There is nothing shady or wrong about this. I just think it is also important to get some trade shoots under your belt before you get out there. Experience is important! I know a lot of awesome photographers that would do great work for a model looking to put together a portfolio. It is just not the only way. Patience are a virtue and if you are willing to invest a bit of time before you try getting out there, you can do a lot of this without paying any money. But if you are from my area and would like to pay for a professional portfolio shoot, feel free to contact me for recommendations.
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