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.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
"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?
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?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
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
SO....... if you have any questions or topics you want my views on, comment here or email me at mark@creativeimagesmm.com
Need to know business?
I think so.
It’s the ‘ol right side of the brain (creative) vs. the left side (analytical) contest. Can a creative photog/model/MUA etc. market themselves? Sadly, I have seen the answer to that question is that most of the time, they cannot. Ah ha! That’s where agents and managers appear – to help guide the “artist” to succeed. (More on agents and managers later – that could be an entire book itself!)
My life has been a constant battle of my right and left sides of my brain trying to beat the other. All the way through college and beyond, I was a musician. Yep, one of those band geeks learning to play trumpet in 3rd grade. It caught on, I loved it and performed to the best of my abilities. College came along and I went to VanderCook College of Music for my Bachelor’s of Music Education degree. I think I excelled – Sophmore year I landed lead trumpet in the Jazz Band and continued to play gigs around Chicago, then taught High School for 5 years…
Left side took over when I needed more money to start a family and buy a home. I got into sales and at around age 26 and became Rookie of the 1st Quarter at Toshiba. I continued for the next 20 plus years in major accounts gaining customers such as Coca Cola in the Midwest as well as Rush Hospital.
During my sales career, I continued photography and eventually open my own Photography and Management company (Creative Images & Model Management) and helped many models with business. I write this blog today in order NOT to pat myself on my back, but to give some credence to my blog entries regarding the business side.
More later…
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Levels of competancy
Over the years, in whatever we do, we all go through the learning process of the following:
Unconsciously incompetent: This is where we don't even know what we don't know.
Consciously incompetent: Once the "journey" begins, we start to realize the vast amount of information we don't have a grasp on yet.
Consciously competent: At this level, we can now do the tasks if we think about the process, what we have to do and how to do it.
Unconsciously competent: This is the best level to be at and is the most rewarding. We can do the job/tasks and excel to the top without thinking about it - you are just correctly reacting and winning. One danger here, this is a level that we can become and remain stagnate.
On that 4th level, in order to grow, you need to step outside of your comfort zone, even when you are successful. When doing so, you may become unconsciously incompetent again, which may be scary to some.
I'll relate more of this in later blogs when it comes to photographers (and models) regarding the industry. Why do SO many "models" start out, do shoots and really never take it anywhere else? There are several answers.... stay tuned.
Unconsciously incompetent: This is where we don't even know what we don't know.
Consciously incompetent: Once the "journey" begins, we start to realize the vast amount of information we don't have a grasp on yet.
Consciously competent: At this level, we can now do the tasks if we think about the process, what we have to do and how to do it.
Unconsciously competent: This is the best level to be at and is the most rewarding. We can do the job/tasks and excel to the top without thinking about it - you are just correctly reacting and winning. One danger here, this is a level that we can become and remain stagnate.
On that 4th level, in order to grow, you need to step outside of your comfort zone, even when you are successful. When doing so, you may become unconsciously incompetent again, which may be scary to some.
I'll relate more of this in later blogs when it comes to photographers (and models) regarding the industry. Why do SO many "models" start out, do shoots and really never take it anywhere else? There are several answers.... stay tuned.
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