Want to dip your toe in the water?
Before you make your mind up get some decent pics taken, TAKE CARE. There are lots of dodgy photographers out there.  Don't even think about taking publicity picture yourself on your phone!  You can send a few pictures taken this way to a photographer so he make a quick assessment of your potential, but don't use these pics for advertising for work. Models who advertise on the web with pictures taken on a mobile phone and often stating "No experience", and "Paid work only" are classed as a joke by most serious photographers and fair game by the seedier ones.

  You may be able to find a good photographer who will do a session with you so that you both get some good pictures - this is called "Time for prints" (TFP, or sometimes PFT or nowadays TFCD - Time for CD).  Some hobbyist photographers are very good, but most are mediocre. (Some are downright sleazy, but sadly this applies to pros too)  Always ask to see his work on the web (this is to make sure the work is actually his).

  If a modelling agency asks you to pay for a portfolio DON'T.  That is a 100% sure sign of an organization that makes its money directly from the models rather than from clients who hire the models. Most of the web based modelling agencies fall into this category and should be avoided.

Consider paying a professional photographer for a shoot.  Established full time professional photographers who are experienced in this area (like us for instance) come up with goods within a few days, and you could recover the fee with a half day of paid work.  Don't confuse this with an agency - the photographer makes his money by his photography, proper agencies make their money by finding models work. After you have paid the photographer, finding the work thereafter is up to you.   However a very small number of photographic businesses (like us for instance) can provide effective publicity for new models.

  You've had your pictures taken, you look pretty good, Now what?

1.  Decide if you want to be a model. 
Modelling is a job, even if it's only occasional work, and the rewards are only a CD of images.  All jobs need some organization and a professional attitude.  If you think modelling is easy money, and all you need is a pretty face, and that photographers will be queuing up to pay you, then dream on.  You are one of the 90% of wannabes (actually it's more "I-suppose-I-could-be's") who give up after 6 months of no or dodgy offers.  If you ARE realistic- read on.

2.  Decide on what type of modelling you want to do,
and be realistic. 

Fashion? It's tough, but fashion models need to be over 5'8" and slim, with a flawless complexion, perfect teeth, and no obvious tattoos.  If this is not you, then you will not be taken on by the modelling agencies who supply the fashion industry. If you meet all criteria except the height, you may be able to get paid fashion shoots directly from photographers. (OK Kate Moss is only 5'7", but she is the exception)

Promotional? This means attending events and the remit may range from standing around looking pretty to interviewing to basic acting.  Your personality and possibly your speaking voice are important here. 

Glamour? Nowadays this usually means scantily clad, and involves topless and nude modelling.  It encompasses everything from page three style to hard core porn videos.  Decide where YOU want to position yourself. Glamour is a huge industry - remember though that it is an industry and the rules of supply and demand apply.

Fun? Life is not all about making money.  You can dance all night without being a professional dancer.  Many (actually, probably most) models treat modelling as a hobby, and like most people, actually spend money on their hobby and treat the occasional paid shoot as a wee offset for costs.

Now it may make sense to do another shoot concentrating on the style of pictures that you feel you are best at, are comfortable with, and, if its your aim, to your  make some money from.  You can go back to your original photographer or try another but make sure he can do the style you want. Highly artistic angst ridden stark grainy black and white pictures are of little use to a would be glamour model.  Similarly all boobs and bum shots are no good to a would-be fashion model. 

3. How much can you earn? 

There will be many girls who will work for free, or for a few prints (you will probably have to in the beginning to get experience).  You must ask yourself why a photographer would choose to pay you instead of using a model who works for free. How are you different from a nice looking girl in the street?  Answers may be:-

• You have an appearance which is demand by photographers
• You have a reputation for working well in front of the camera with an arsenal of different expression and poses
• You have a large wardrobe of outfits
• You are prepared to work topless of nude
• etc.

Also remember that a photographer takes your pictures for a reason, so you will have little or no control over where are how your images are displayed or shown.

Rates that photographers pay in our studio range from TFP (Time for prints)  to £75 an hour.  As a guide, the usual rate paid for an fairly experienced model working to tasteful art-nude is around £35 per hour.  Typical booking times are two hours. 

Travelling expenses are important.  Most photographers would prefer to book a local model and avoid travelling expenses.  Most are not keen to pay travelling expenses for the model and her chaperone.  As ever, there are always exceptions, but look upon these as a bonus and not a regular occurrence.  If you do travel, try to get other shoots in the same area.  You can then either spread the travelling costs, or charge travelling costs multiple times (always risky though - photographers do talk to each other)

4. Model Releases.
This is a document which clarifies that the photographer holds the copyright to the photographs (which he does by law anyway) and states that you have agreed that he can use them as he wishes. He wants to sell them, of course, and some markets insist on a model release. Some models charge extra for a model release. This is really just the same as adding to your fee, and most photographers will find this an irritation, and just a higher fee to pay - after all, don't you WANT to be published?  Most professional models do not charge for signing a model release.

5. To get started
How long have you been modelling?  If its more than 6 months and you do not have a decent set of pictures yet, then maybe its time to give up (Shock Horror).
The simple truth is that you are not sufficiently motivated.  If you were really serious you would have got together some good pictures somehow.  You may have went for a week or two looking for some photographer to turn out professional quality work for free but then, out of impatience and keenness, you would have bit the bullet and paid a pro.  The chances are that you will continue shilly-shallying around, with the odd shoot here and there. That is what most I-suppose-I-could-be's do. 

If you really are motivated, you need a portfolio so that prospective clients can see what you look like.  Its expensive to send prints out, and the best way nowadays is to either email your images or have them on the web. 

Publicise yourself on message boards and all the free portfolio hosting sites you can.  The images you get from us are web-ready - i.e. the right size for uploading directly to these sites.  Keep a note of your login details so you can change the pictures as required.
 

6. When you are up and running
ABOVE ALL have a professional attitude.

Email is important to you. Reply promptly to all emails which are not offensive or from known timewasters.  Models who succeed in this business check their email every day.  They also travel a lot which means they have to use internet cafes and libraries and friends etc. At first this will be tedious as there will not be much of interest, but if you have some ability and natural talent, and a professional attitude it will build up.  If you don't, it won't. 

Your Mobile is almost as important. Never switch it off or allow the batteries to run down. Reply to your voicemail and text messages promptly.

If you do get offensive emails, then do not reply or acknowledge in any way. 

Always turn up on time or a few minutes early for a shoot.  Photographers talk to each other, and models quickly develop reputations - make sure yours is a good one.  

Talk to other models (email is fine).  Ask for and give your views on photographers, without being libellous.

  BEWARE OF AGENCIES. 95% or more of the agencies who advertise on the web are bogus and make their money from the joining fees of gullible models.
 

7. When you decide to call it a day
you cannot remove your pictures from circulation.  They will probably be somewhere on the web for the foreseeable future.  But let us know and we will remove your pictures from our sites if you wish. 

--------------------------------

Still not sure??
If you just want to see how you look,  you can book a session and see how you it goes.  If you don't want to "go public" then we won't put your pictures on the site.
Or you can book a private commission shoot where the pictures are not put on line anyway, and no one sees them except you and us (guaranteed)

Now, if we have not put you off, email us or give us a call on 0777 625 6496 and we can set up a shoot.

Looking forward to working with you

Dave and Zoe
    

NOTE, if having booked a shoot, you don't turn up without giving reasonable notice, we will not book another shoot with you.