The Problem with Blogs . . . .

. . . . is that you have to continue to write and update them!!  Been a while since I posted but I had a good laugh this morning and wanted to share.

Some may know or have seen that I have been trying to shoot a LOT of fashion lately for practice to be able to put together a separate portfolio to take to agencies.  Well today, after going thru a ton of email that I received I found an old message. It had the requested information, photos, etc and phone number.  When I want to work with someone, it requires that timely phone calls are made and accepted.  This response was from Jane (a fake name I am using here to protect the stupid) and had the phone number, so I called it and explained who I was and why I was calling and I hear "Click".  We've had bad storms here so, OK, phone problems?......I'll call again.  Second time went right to voice mail so I waited and tried again. It rang the obligatory 3-4 times, went to voice mail and I left a polite message that we were disconnected, and left my number.

5 minutes later, my phone rings and I answer to hear no one there until I asked for the 2nd time "can you hear me?"  Well it was Jane and she said "STOP CALLING ME, I'M NOT INTERESTED!"  Taken by a flashing moment in my mind thinking, SHE was originally contacting ME, I responded "You first contacted me with your number.. have a good day."

Listen here people!! . . . Don't answer a casting call with all the correct, requested information if you are going to go off the deep end like this.  I just got a good laugh and moved on. There are plenty of good professional folks out there but too bad you have to wade through the piles of people whose elevators do not go to the top floor.

I have heard from many models about the creeps out there and I know there are some less than credible people out there in all areas of this industry (just like any other industry).  So a word of advise, if you want to succeed - learn to effectively communicate in all forms of today's communication technology.


Nuff said.... Have a great day!  Someone I know well always says "Attitudes are free - why not take the best one?"

People Skills Required

More cameras, lenses, gadgets, & huge studios won’t make a model relaxed -

your professional energetic and fun attitude will.

I have the pleasure of renting my studio to a photographer who’s business is mostly photo journalistic editorial weddings. His background is world-wide journalistic news work and he brings that style to weddings – HIGH end weddings; weddings of the rich who fly the entire wedding party, family and guest to exotic islands. In the “off season” he brings his talents to Ford and Factor agencies in Chicago.

This professional has real people skills. As I write this he is working with a new 16 year old model sent to him from Factor Women (formerly Elite). His assistant, the makeup artist, and hair stylist are helping.  His energy is contagious and he’s hopping around demonstrating some moves…and I learned from him to tell the model to forget about “posing” but “just move”.  His chatter is positive and constant.  The air is full of the following phrases:

·         Nice nice nice

·         Beautiful look there

·         Oh that’s good!

·         Sell me that jacket!!!

·         Excellent!

·         Attitude! Just slouch into position!

·         Oh I like that a lot!

·         Enjoy – you are living the GAP life – sell me those jeans!

·         Awesome - perfect

·         Kick back that foot, no your left foot, no no your other left!

·         I like what you just did with your hair, pulling on it a little…

And the list goes on. The exact phrases really don’t matter as long as they remain upbeat, say what you want, and learn to be able to belch out several phrases that crescendo to an end without stumbling! ENERGY!  My point here is that he is connecting and feeding energy to the model.  I see a lot of photographers that struggle with this and the atmosphere is dull and unexciting.  Guess what?  It shows in the gestures from the model.  Your chatter needs to be not over done, but fun and professional.  There cannot be any inappropriate comments or innuendos.

How do you as a photographer learn this??  First off, I don’t believe anyone can multi-task, I just don’t.  Therefore when you shoot, you should be thinking about one topic – communication with the model and getting the shots you both want.  You must have an unconsciously competent technical knowledge of your gear and lighting. If you don’t and you are worried about and fixing things as the shoot goes, it’s a major road block of communication between everyone involved.  Get the set ready before the shoot and if you want to make changes in lighting and set, make the changes to ones that have been tried and tested and successful.  

Try this approach and over time you’ll see a big difference.

Lil more about "Playing House"

I hope those only guilty of playing house THINKING they are much more than that, get what I am saying. There is nothing wrong with playing house if you understand you are doing it for fun and as a hobby and not expecting much more out of it. What is unfortunate are those that really think they are top notch and don't understand their true status in the business.

For instance, I had a woman answer a casting call for agency quality, 5'8"+, dress size 2 fashion models. She said she was 5'3" and 165 lbs. and didn't skip a beat in saying "I would work well for their "plus size" division." (Need I explain that?!)

It happens in many industries/business - for instance, let's say you played a musical instrument in school and high school.  You were average in ability, had fun, built confidence, met new friends, stayed busy and didn't have time to get into trouble because of your activity.  Unfortunately there were always those average high school musicians that thought they should catapult immediately onto Carnegie Hall's stage.  They were playing house.

So those of you knowing where you truly stand in the business and partake because of your your own grounded reasons, I applaud you.  

Are you still "playing house"?

It finally hit me. This industry is filled with those "playing house" and those that have grown up and are in the real world, or industry.

So many enter this business as a model because "my parents and Grandma have always told me how beautiful I am." or you think it's an easy gig because you are good looking.  You are still "playing house".

"Playing house" is shooting with average-at-best photographers, doing lots of shoots, thinking that modeling is all about YOU looking good.  Sorry, but that is not what modeling is.

I think a pretty good definition of a model is someone that can sell a product or service, in print, video or audio.  You draw attention to whatever it is you are selling by your looks and gesture but you have the ability to transfer the attention off of you and to the product/service.

When you quit playing house, you'll be able to move upward.

"Instant" Model - "NO TFP!"

I recently put up a casting call looking for some models (male and female) to shoot some fashion in the studio to benefit our portfolios.  This is commonly done with each party trading their time and skills and not being paid - images are the "paycheck".  Both photographers and models will do this to step outside the box and learn.

So a 26 year old model replied. Basically here were her "requirements" (which I call ignorant demands):

- I am looking for a great professional photographer to jump start my modeling career.
- travel to me, in Orland Park.
- if I have to travel to you, make sure you are within 20 minutes of Orland Park.
- I will waive my rates and you can pay me with images.
- Send me a link to your website so I can verify that you are a real professional.
- I must have a CD of ALL images immediately after the shoot.
- I will not sign a release.
- I must have at least 4 edited photos per look and location within 7 days of the shoot.

Oh brother!  Even new people in the business will look at these demands and scratch their heads.  This individual has no clue as to the business and how to try to start to become a model on any level.  Too bad the internet and some modeling pages have been an enabler to these newbie's.  Sure, open up a modeling page on a free site or social network, have a few pictures taken by GWC's (Guys With Camera), post your rates and sit back and wait for the $150,000 modeling contract. Yeah, that's how it works isn't it?

Manager or Agent?

I've been a model manager since 2004 and want to clarify the difference between the two.

If you are serious about becoming a model, get into an agency.  You should not have to pay anything to join, if they want you.  You may have to pay for professional photo shoots, comp cards, hard copy portfolio etc. "Monthly web maintenance fees" charged by an agency is not illegal and they are looking to recover some expense.  However, there is one agency that I know of that charges approx. $25 per month to represent you.  I called them and asked what they charge as commission when they find a model a job, their response was they don't take a commission... 100% goes to the model.  Well, I did the math - adding up all of their locations across the county and guestimating how many models/actors they had, the total income came up to an unbelievable number.  I doubt that they have much drive to really get the talent jobs when there is no incentive to do so.  Another situation with this particular agency was they sent up pretend companies and job fairs to have the agents send talent to so the talent felt they were getting go-sees to attend.  I know this because I worked with a model that actually had worked with them, and she was the one that set up these "companies".


Find an agency, but do your homework.  Go to the "Open Calls". Go to the open calls repeatedly - they will start to recognize your drive and persistence.

A true manager will be the one that works behind the scenes. Advising you on which opportunities to pursue and reviewing the information and jobs that your agency offers.  In the beginning, your manager will do a lot of advising to get you going on the right path, and you need to have some "blind faith" in what he/she tells you about the industry.  A model should have a manager especially if they are new to the business, but then after a period of time, the manager won't be as active if the model has nothing going on for them to manage.  A manager IS NOT responsible to find work for a model, however, a manager probably knows a lot of people in the industry, and may be called by clients to recommend talent, so a manager possible can offer employment, but don't expect it.

Why some photographers do not like managers:  Sad but true, there are a lot of unscrupulous photographers out there. They don't like managers because a manager will un-do some of the false information they tell talent.  Some photographers will really stretch the truth to the model to get what ever it is they trying to have the model do. Unfortunately, the reputation of some photographers is that they are very unprofessional with lewd comments and are after more than just good images.  A lot of these "photographers" (and I use the term loosely) don't allow chaperons at a shoot because of the same reason.  Always have other people around with you at a shoot.

Use your head and normally your gut feeling and first reaction is probably true.

Questions? Topics?

As I post, the topics may be out of sequence and seem random. Well that's because they are. Once again, this is my way of putting this all on paper so I can attract a Ghostwriter.

SO....... if you have any questions or topics you want my views on, comment here or email me at mark@creativeimagesmm.com