Safety in Freelance Modeling is priority one!

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When you are bringing someone there as a safety precaution, please convey to them that they are only there for that. They are not there to direct, interject, or assist with the shoot unless asked for. A lot of people have not told the photographer who they are bringing and they end up calling the shoot short due to disruptions and comments made by the other person. Tell your safety person what you are shooting beforehand. That way there are No surprises when the shoot commences. Again, communication is key to make a shoot a smooth success.

Freelance Modeling is a Fluid Business

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Modeling is a fluid business. With the rash of no shows and no calls that have been happening on both side of the camera, it is imperative that the role of communication is open to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Make sure you have actual contact information on the other party. Don’t rely on messenger or texts. Make that call and confirm the time and place. If you have to cancel, please give as much notice as possible as you want them to be able to fill that spot that you are not able to. It is the professional thing to do.

To learn more about how MBC can help guide you in your freelance career visit our Welcome to Model Boot Camp introduction

MBC Vendors

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My Modeling Boot Camp has a variety of vendors that are available to assist you in getting you the look that you are wanting for your shoot. From basic wardrobe to skincare for your red-carpet event. Ask them about how they can tailor their products and services for you!

To learn more about becoming a vendor click here and be sure to look over the current vendors, available here.

Never Work With

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I hear this a lot. I see the screen shots and it is a little funny in some cases. I know that there is text that comes across the wrong way. It happens. But honestly, some people just want to argue, debate, and have the last word. If you are not going to work with someone, just say that, and move on. It really is that simple.

Unless this is a predator, scammer, or fraud, you don’t know that this person is really someone to spread the word not to work with. You can give someone insight but, unless you have firsthand accounts on things, you better just steer clear. Assemble the facts for presentation. Make sure you have all of them before making this sort of post or call out. You never know if they might try to go after you for slander or libel.

What is in the Name?

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Your modeling name and your stage name. Which name do you go with? It has to be one that you will stick with. You are branding yourself to photographers and agencies. How will they present you to potentials? And what name will you answer to?

The big thing is not to link your professional modeling life to your home life. Unless you want everyone to know who your friends are, when you are going on vacation, and all of that personal stuff. It is best for you not to have them friended by your modeling community. If you have worked it correctly most will understand why you are doing that. You have to be professional on whatever profile you use for your modeling. No one will hire you if you are going on rant after rant after rant. This is only the basis for a reality show.

Investing In

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Time and time again you hear about photographers who have spent more and more money on equipment for shooting. There is investment on both sides of the camera. Whether it is equipment, clothes, props, location rental, studio rental, permits, concept creation, and anything else. There is investment. The thing is to invest it into something that works for you and your modeling business. There is that saying” It is not quantity, it is quality.” There is always a debate about this. There always will be as you only get out of an assignment what you put into it.

I say this as you are reading this on the My Modeling Boot Camp website. This is where you can invest in your modeling career. You can work with some people who can assist you in not only the modeling side but, the business side to make sure you are doing what you need to for formatting your modeling business. Remember that you are unique and that there is no cookie cutter format that works. Is it time you booked your consultation?

The chaperone/safety debate

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It has been going on for years, who says that there are not to be chaperones and why can’t I bring someone? I always have brought someone to my freelance assignments.  I just wanted to feel comfortable, safe and honestly, I didn’t want to drive. I could relax going and coming back from my shoot. It was simple.

Now in this day and age where people are always pretending to not be who they say that they say that they are, you wonder. When or did the chaperone become taboo? Did we make it that way so we don’t have to address the current issue of having or accepting one?

Taking it to the limit?

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It is one thing that in modeling you hear very often. You hear about limits being pushed. You hear about condescending, suggestive, and interesting comments being made during a shoot. This is one avenue that I find gets pushed as the shoot progresses.

A photographer might say “Let’s try this.” In some cases it is very innocent and it is something that maybe a new photographer might want to try. There has to be pre-planning to any photo shoot. How else will you know what to bring to wear? How will you know how to do your makeup or hair? Rolling with the punches at a shoot, I have found in some cases just wastes time. The more time that is wasted then the more time that the model has to get tired. Even if a model is shooting all day, if the model is not resting or getting the looks refreshed…Then the images show it in the long run. Then the complaints from the photographer about having to do so much editing come in.

The other issue that always needs to be addressed but sometimes is not talked about is where are the images going? If it is a paid shoot, there should be a models release and a contract. Even if it is TFP, there needs to be some parameters on the usage.

Limits are there to protect each other. You never want to hear about a model who has been pushed to her limit and then had to quit modeling from that experience. It happens too often. If a photographer wants to try something that is past your current comfort zone, talk with that photographer and ask about how you can schedule a shoot for that theme. Easing into it and not rushing into it possibly will assist in the outcome of the images. Again communication is key.

Snail Mail and the fluid world of modeling

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There was a scam that was going around a few years ago where a photographer, whose name was made up, was going to book a model. They said that they would FEDEX a check to the model and that she would need to deposit it. Then she would pay the other artists that were booked for her shoot. First and foremost, this would never happen. The check is usually fake or stolen and then the model’s account gets overdrawn because she/ he thinks that they have already been paid.

One of the first things that I ask of any model that I consult with is to get a PO Box. They are very inexpensive. They can get packages. You can get mail to be signed for there. You also are given a street address if they need to send something to you that way. You can get a box at one of the mail services places as well. Anywhere but your actual physical address.

There was a story in the new about a celebrity having their house broken into. With social media being posted on where you are and who you are shooting with, you are also becoming a target for thieves as well as stalkers. It is time to be more aware on this.

Just hit the reply button

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One of the things that I hate the most is waiting. I hate just sitting there after sending something out and I feel like I am going to win the lottery with a reply.  I always wonder if I have composed the email, text, or message in the manner in which it will be received.

I keep hearing that the biggest thing with some of the photographers and models is that they don’t hit the reply button! It is really easy to do. The funny thing is that most of us watch the persons profile or something and they keep positing but, then they do not reply to the message that was sent. That is very frustrating.

If you get an email, message, or text from someone whom you are not interested in working with. It is the professional thing to do with simply declining the assignment.  You can say you are not interested, you are already booked, or something else. Just make it clear for them not to come back with a rebuttal. If you feel that this is not getting the message across, then just block said person. That again is simple and solves the issue.

Communication is key in this industry. Make sure that your message regardless is crystal clear. There should not be a time where someone is questioning what you mean with your answer. Mainly, just hit the reply button. Don’t make them pace the floor for your answer.