Tuesday, July 05, 2016

What kind of model do you want to be? YOU decide!

So what kind of model do you want to be? It seems like a simple enough question, but in fact it is not. Lately I have seen an unfortunate trend where models will offer up their image (and bodies) for whatever free photo shoots come their way and these shoots are FAR from free- there is most definitely a cost.

Deciding what kind of model you want to be is always in your control - always. If anyone tries to take that from you- another model, an agent or a photographer you need to take control and step away.
So think about it- do u want to be a Gisele, a Cara or an Adriana? Or do you want to start your career by taking all your clothes off for whatever photographer asks you to do so and THEN ask a legitimate agency to try to get you work with those photos floating around cyberspace? What if your new agent wants to book you on a great editorial or commercial job but you have just shot some scandalous photos shoot? What if the client sees them? How will your resolve that with your agency? AND Do you tell your agent that you have done it and the photos are published? YES.

So what kind of model do you want to be? A nicely paid commercial print model or an aspiring "adult" model? The two are NOT mutually inclusive.

Hear this: you don't need to build a portfolio of naked pictures, half naked pictures or sexually explicate photos to make it as a model in this market or ANY market. You know who will contradict me? The guys who want to see you naked. Oh yeah, but they are going to shoot you for free! Really? YOU take your clothes off, they take YOUR photo au natural, keep copies forever, and they are doing YOU a favor? Perhaps you need to read that again...slowly. If they are trying to tell you this will help your book and show your diversity (diverse and perverse are not the same thing), then tell them to take their clothes off and you will post their picture on the internet as it will help their photography career- one is just as ridiculous as the other.

Check the web sites and Instagram feeds of the models above or other top earners. If you want to be like them then emulate them. If you want to be a porn star, emulate them. You decide. (remember these models are all at the pinnacle of their careers- they CAN do some tasteful nudes but they are done very carefully- VERY different from this trend I am talking about.

I have seen some photos of beautiful girls who aspire to do legitimate modeling work and the photos are beyond tasteless. To be clear- these aren't tasteful nudes- these photos have a specific purpose and they are not for a PG audience. NOTE- if the name of the site is degrading and the tone of the photos are degrading then your image will probably be degraded. Period. If that is okay with you then you have already read to much of what I have written.

We live in a DIGITAL age. When a photographer puts his finger on that little button and takes your image- he has TAKEN your image. It is now belongs to him (or her) and once it has then gone to the web you can pretty much imagine every person you know including your grandpa, your un-borns,  your future bosses and any one who may want to vote for you should you run for office perusing your private parts. Who is actually "liking" your photos anyway? A random dude from across the country? Or an agent, commercial photographer or creative director?

Again- your career is ultimately in your control, which is where it belongs. YOU are the one who decides what kind of model or anything else you want to be. YOU.

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