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

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.

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.

Welcome to Modeling 101

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Modeling is awesome. There are tons of avenues that you can go in when being a model. Whether you choose to be with an agent, go freelance, or just model to have it as a hobby, it should always be treated like a business. You hear the stories of models who have done several things that they regret doing. This is one avenue to learn some of them before you get approached with them or tactics to avoid them in the first place.

My Modeling Boot Camp can assist you in time management and figuring out what avenue of modeling might suit you best. Since we are not an agency, we are not able to represent you in that fashion. We work with you to see again where you are comfortable in the areas of modeling that are discussed in your consultation. Again making modeling a business is the business that we are in.

When you are deciding on becoming a model there usually are people who will pop out of the wood work to help you. They do not always have your best intentions in mind. If it sounds too good to be true then it usually is. You have to take that into consideration at all times.

If you have someone who wants to be your manager you need to ask them and yourself several questions. What reputation do they have? How long have they been in the modeling business? How much time can they commit to assisting in getting you booked to assignments? What type of contract are they asking you to sign? Are they receiving a percentage of your paid assignments? There are several further in depth questions that you have to ask before getting a manager.

For more information on My Modeling Boot Camp and how to get started check out our Introduction Page Here. We look forward from hearing from you!

Welcome to My Modeling Boot Camp News!

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This is the first installment of this, so I am crossing my fingers that it goes over well. There is a lot of information and resources here on the site. Please look around and see if you find someone you can work with or network with. Right now My Modeling Boot Camp is only US based. I am looking to branch out more to the west coasts and Northern states. Let’s see what 2018 brings!

My Modeling Boot Camp is a mentoring company for new and aspiring models. Most models get into the business and are super busy. That is great. Then after that they get stuck in a rut and am not sure what they can do to get more assignments. My Modeling Boot Camp works with these models to help assist them in making their modeling into a business.
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