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.

Do you have what it takes to be a model?

Do you have what it takes to be a model?
The answer maybe be a little different that you think. Some of the people who think they do, don't-and a lot of people who don't think they could - DO!
Why, you ask? Because we aren't splitting the atom here. We are selling a product and the product is a person SELLING a product. The reason that some people have no success as a model, especially in a relatively small market is they are too busy selling themselves (their pouty lips, their large breasts, their six pack etc etc) and they have taken no time to listen to their agent tell them about the market and what the clients are looking for.
Knowing and understanding the market is paramount to being a successful model.
If you live in NYC, your portfolio has to have a certain look- same with LA or Miami. If you live in Syracuse or Buffalo that portfolio will probably not work no matter how hard you try to cram that square peg into the round hole.
If you just want sexy/pretty/funky/wild photos of yourself to put on Facebook or Instagram I say have a ball. If you want to get modeling work you MUST listen to your agent. Your agent should know the market and be able to look at you and tell you the kind of work they are going to get for you. To do that you need a certain type of photo.
If a 45 year old woman joins my agency I am not putting her in a bustier and black leather pants (no matter how good she may look in them!) to sell her to my upstate NY clients.
Back to my original thought. The people that think they would make good models often think that because they get a lot of LIKES on FB with their selfies. When I try to tell them to stop pouting and start smiling we stop communicating. Its the sharp looking 50 year old guy I meet at Lord and Taylor or the fit 60 year old woman who I bump into at Wegmans, who thinks that they could never be a model (and asks me if I am crazy) that make the best models. They don't know anything about the business so they LISTEN, follow directions and they make GREAT models. Which one are you?

Curb the BIG small talk...

Curb the BIG small talk....
We all know that person- the "one upper", the bragger, the person that no one wants to talk to or listen to because they always have something to brag about. Basically, the person that is the center of the universe? Well, when that person is on someone else's set, what are really doing is sabotaging themselves.
The worst thing that you can do on the set of any type of commercial shoot is constantly brag about yourself (and lets face it folks, in a market this small you need to keep your perspective- it IS Upstate NY.)
Everyone on the set is on the same job and at that point are equal. Whatever got you there is dandy- but let it go. Don't bore your com padres and especially the CLIENT with your life story, your previous work, your last 73 indie films, your high school blue ribbons etc etc. In addition to making yourself seem like a big boastful talking head you could also be accomplishing the following:
A. Freaking out a newer talent who is buying into your braggadocios blustering. (and that just isn't nice)
B. Making yourself look ridiculous (and perhaps even mildly amusing) to seriously experienced talent who are quietly doing their job and counting backwards from 1000 in their head in an attempt to drown you out.
C. Making the client regret hiring you because you are disruptive, lack humility and have only a slight foothold in reality.
Yes, I am being humorous and somewhat hyperbolic but there is a serious lesson here. These comments come from over 30 years of experience in this industry as talent and an agent, as well as conversations with clients (including a really funny one just last night!)
It is truly meant to educate talent on how to behave on set and at auditions. Remember-if you are good- people will know.
"Posers scream, Talent whispers." - Ann Marie Stonecypher

Copyright Ann Marie Stonecypher. no portion of this may be copied or reproduced without expressed permission from the author.

Did you know....

I thought I would take a moment to give a little FYI about AMS
Did you know? Every new AMS Model goes through a free 2 hour orientation/training session with us? AMS is a model management company that makes our money when our models get work by taking a commission. The only fee is an initial 95.00 to cover photo editing for the model's web page, access to our weekly private casting notices and our admin fees. It cost more than 95.00 to process one new model. AMS accepts less than 20% of all applicants because we only take people for whom we think there is work for in the upstate market. We don't make money from talent photos, we don't require portfolios, classes or comp cards (we actually have a template we provide to our models for FREE to bring to auditions!) Professional Modeling in upstate NY is an opportunity to have a little fun and make a little money....you don't have to get dirty and we aren't splitting the atom,..and it shouldn't cost you a mortgage payment to get started. :)
I have blogged and spoken publicly many times about how it shouldn't cost you a lot of money to start modeling. There are things you MUST have- you must have photos. Period, end of discussion. They must be GOOD photos. A terrific head shot is a must and don't skimp out on this. But if it cost you more than 300.00 for a photo package and you MUST buy it with classes or other things then think twice. Always do your due diligence when it comes to spending a lot of money (on anything :) but especially things as nebulous as getting modeling work. No one should be making you promises. All I can ever promise anyone is that I have the clients and I will do my best and that I KNOW the market already and my track record speaks for itself.
When something sounds too good to be true it usually is. If it sounds ridiculous...run.

Do you know how to like a professional?

This is actually from our AMS Models Facebook page and I am making a post out of it as it was viewed over 1500 times.

Are you submitting to an agency like a PROFESSIONAL? I am constantly surprised by the way people email us or they FB message us (WRONG!) about wanting to be a model. First- in the 15 years I have been an agent less than 10 people have gone on to be BIG things and I have rep'd 1000's. That is the reality no matter what you have been reading. The best you can hope for here is that you can make some ...cool pocket cash. So if you are going around town or FB bragging and calling yourself a big time model that's like being the tallest guy in a hobbit movie. Get over yourself. It is Upstate NY. Have fun, make a little money, be HUMBLE and be realistic ,
If you wouldn't send the correspondence to a potential employer in that fashion don't send it to us in that fashion. So that means use capital letters. (Yup, stretch that pinky finger over to the shift button), give us your NAME (so we know what to call you), your phone, your address (so we know you aren't submitting from the Ukraine) and current photos. (just so you know, I have been doing this for over 30 years. I know a shot from the 80's when I see one, and please NO SELFIES! Also-If there are bathroom fixtures in your photo you can keep them as well) You should use complete sentences and NO Profanity. (I wish I didn't have to include that last thing and I can't even tell you why I must- its just too unbelievable) FYI- the proper way to submit to this agency unless we ask for direct submissions is to go to our on line app on our web page. Happy submitting!

Additional comment based on a question: They asked how models are supposed to find info when they are lied to....and who trains them?

First this is largely an etiquette issue and transcends this industry. Professionalism is professionalism. ALSO there is a LOT of good info out there and a lot of bad. JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. Often people want to believe what they want to hear not the truth. Research! There is no substitute. We live in a world of Google and YouTube. ..you should have started when I did! Lol. There is so much info at your fingertips but if you are gathering from non - credible sources you are subjecting yourself to scammers and bad info. I spend1.5 to 2 hours (for free) with every new model I take into AMS MODELS. Knowledge equals power and confidence. :)
This is also mostly for models vs actors. Acting is a craft and you must train and have a special skill set. ACTORS in my industry bring something extra as the standards are much higher. (I tip my hat to you...)

Here is the link and thread: https://www.facebook.com/AMSmodelsandtalent?fref=ts 

New Model photos!

I am going to start posting some great model pics on this blog from now on (at least I will give it the old college try!) I see so many bad photos its a good thing exposure to them doesn't cause blindness or I would have a seeing eye dog by now.
A good model photo is well lit and shows the models face well looking nice and natural. The rest of the photos should show different poses and expressions. They ALL should be nicely lit (even natural light is nice as below) and they should be appropriate to the market place. In upstate NY we want a variety of shots that show first a great smiling head shot then (for adults) a business shot, a casual shot (ie upscale consumer) and then possibly athletic etc. Those are the basics. In no case to we want overly photo shopped, all sun glassed, hooded, ANGRY, overly accessorized shots that hide YOU. The client needs to see you to hire you. You can't fool an art director with photoshopped/overly accessorized shenanigans.

o that I can show people what good photos look like. I have been getting
Cute Dominic!

How to apply to an agency- we aren't splitting the atom here.

So how do you apply to an agency? It is really quite simple but it is surprising how many people mess it up. Often the most obvious things trip people up.
First remember that there is a professional business person on the other end of your transmission. If you can't spell or create a capital letter then by all means find someone to assist you. Your letter should start with a "Dear someone". Not Hey, or Hi. (Yes, I have gotten emails with no punctuation, no capitalization and HEY as a salutation.)
Most agencies including ours have a detailed list of what we require for our submissions and even have an on line application so that potential models can easily enter their data. It also lists what we are not looking for ie nude photos and out of state talent- which doesn't mean we don't get those submission. I can't stress enough how important it is to READ all of this information because not all agencies are kind enough to respond to you if you do this incorrectly. We respond to all applicants but some agencies simply lose your application.
When applying to agencies who do not have an application like this make sure you send them exactly what they requested and be considerate of their in box. Size matters so don't muck up an agency's email with 20mb photos. That will earn you no brownie points. Make sure you reduce your photos to a size that is reasonable as it will ensure that not only do they get them but you won't crash their email account.
We also want to know if you look good. If we can't SEE you, how are we know? DO NOT send photos of yourself that obscure your body or face. This seems so simple again, but  if I had a nickel for every sunglassed, ball-capped, mumu wearing model I could have a closet full of Christian Louboutins. To take that further, would you mind showing us your teeth? Most models have pretty nice teeth, not perfect but nice- so show us your pearly whites.
Don't forget contact infomation. This seems truly obvious but one of the reasons we created the form was that probably half of our submissions had photos and no contact information. Another half had no personal stats. Please tell us your height, weight, dress, pant, shoe sizes etc. You aren't applying for a telemarketing job here- you want to model so this info is germane. (and we will eventually know if you weren't being truthful so you might as well be honest here)
Most agencies are looking for new talent and don't want to waste time opening incomplete emails or applications- time is money.  The bottom line is if you want be considered as a professional model then send something akin to a professional submission. So SIMPLE!(and for the record save your duck face for your friends on FB; they may garner OMG's from your BFF's but they just get LOL's and deletes from profession talent agents) Good luck!

How badly do you want it?

We sometimes hear from models who ask us why they haven't gotten a job yet or in a while. There is no one answer to this question. One possible answer is another question: "How badly do you want it?"

If you really want to get the job(s) there are a few things that you simply must do:
1. You MUST have good, recent professional photos. Period, end of it. Often the person with the best photos wins. It is not about who is the prettiest model, it is about the model with the best photos. The photos that are the most diverse, best styled, best lit etc. Very few people with bad photos work regularly. They also must look like you do RIGHT NOW. If you have changed your look at all you must update your photos. If the photos are old you should also update. My clients look at our web site all the time and they are pretty discriminating and savvy. If they even think your photos might be out of date they will skip over you for new talent. The thought process being: fresh talent, fresh photos. Even if you still look like your photos, a good model updates them.

2. Do you attend auditions? Booking the gig(s) is not about getting an agent and waiting for the phone to ring. You must be proactive. My top bookers are also my most proactive talent. Coincidence? I don't think so. Attending auditions also gets you in FRONT of clients. That is never a bad thing. Even if you don't book every job you got out for, the clients will know you and see your dedication. I have had models book assignments for jobs they didn't even audition for because the client has seen them so many times before and remembered them or already had them on a reel. This type of over exposure is a good thing.

So sitting back and letting your agent do all the work is not really how its done. It should be a partnership. If you have a job change and you are now more available than you previously were, let your agent know. If you think you need new photos, ask your agent. Consult your agent BEFORE you get photos so they can coach you on what kind of photos are appropriate for the area you will be booking. (all locales are not created equal) Every time you get a booking your agent makes money- they want you to get work as much as you do. Every bit of advice they give you is to that end.

Do you know what you are worth? Your agent does!

I am sharing an email that I just sent to all of my models today as it may help people better understand what a manager does for their talent. Many of you who know me well, know this to be my philosophy but just as a refresher or for those of you who don't, I want to share this with all of you. My job as your agent is more than just answering the phone and plugging you into a job, collecting a check and taking a cut. My job is to get the best price for your image and your experience. I don't sell models out to the lowest bidder. There are places (and people) you can go to that can get you jobs just to get you a [modeling] job. Facebook has turned into that place among other places, but if you are somewhat serious about this and wish to protect your image long term, you need to be careful what you say YES too. We just received a phone call from a local client who wanted an experienced, attractive spokeswoman for a TV ad. She had to be over 5'6" and deliver lines for a .30 second ad. I gave this client a quote that was quite fair and reasonable, and limited the use to a year (I also said they would have to pay travel for out of town selects). That client came back with a response that said additionally they would like to use that talent for 2 to 3 hours, my quote had to remain in effect for a year (what?!), they would not pay any travel, they wanted a full buy out to use whenever, whereever and however long they would like and that their budget was 125.00 and it was non-negotiable. The very polite response (the one I sent back ;) simply said that I had to respectfully decline as what he wanted in talent did not match up with his budget and I wished him a good weekend. Do I need the 20% so badly that I would sell any of my talent down the river on this job? NO WAY. Will he post this somewhere and get a whole bunch of responses? Probably. Should you respond and make 125.00. That is up to you. The bottom line is if you do get this "plum gig" you could be out of the running for something better that comes up because now this job has you out there on the little screen as this guy's gal precluding you from other [possibly better] things. Do we have jobs that come up that with rates I don't like? - yes. Some of you have replied to them and I have told you I would rather you didn't take it and leave it to someone starting out. (that's me, doing my job) It is also upstate and in a not so great economy and sometimes we have to play ball....but not all the time..... Do you know what you are worth? I do- its my job. :)

To Tattoo or not to Tattoo...that is the question.

I have put off a post like this for a long time. Mostly because tattoos are a really personal choice and a bit of a touchy subject. I am only posting now because they DO relate to the field of modeling and I it has been coming up a lot in the office lately, so that is how I am slanting this posting. (though I my personal opinion on the matter will seep in LOL)
First, let me start by saying that I don't have anything against tattoos or the people that sport them. I consider it a style choice- albeit a mighty permanent one. I am also going to say in the interest of full disclosure that I don't have any and I don't want any. I liken getting a tattoo to deciding on a husband, sofa, throw pillows, shoes, car, finger nail polish, comforter and wall paint for every room in my house (all of which I have changed already- some many times ;)- and never EVER being able to change them again. No thanks. Again- I couldn't make the decision on a husband stick; so I am going to select the ink that someone is going to drill [permanently] into my flesh with a needle? Um, no.

So all of that out on the table, here is how tattooing relates to modeling: Clients don't like it. Why would they? Much like hair that is too blond or too long, crazy colored contacts, acrylic nails and beards, they are distractions. They also are extremely personal. Good for you- bad for the COMPANY whose product you are representing. Modeling is about advertising, not about the model. You like butterflies? Great- you may not be promoting butterflies. You like skulls- it may not be a good fit for medical editorial you are being cast in.

A hidden tattoo- one that is only seen by your doctor, lover or someone you may run into on the beach may not cause a problem for a shoot upstate but big agencies are not amused by tattoos either. The big agencies are turning away people with obvious tattoos.
My favorite line [from talent] is "I can cover it with make up". Here's a news flash: if the clothing isn't yours and it is a wedding gown or its a cocktail gown or costume that belongs to a client there is no way they are going to allow body make up.

I know people that love their tats but I also know many people who have tattoos that regret them and it is MOSTLY because they got them done too young. This is my issue more than anything. I can't think of one thing that I was doing when I was 19 or 20 that is still relevant to me now. If I had gotten a tattoo back then, I shudder to think what I would have scrawled on my body. Thank goodness vibrating needles scare the bejeepers outta me or I would have some 80's rock band name embossed on my derriere or worse: an old BF's!

So in closing I would just suggest that when it comes to things that involve your body and all things permanent that you pause. If you want to model I would really, really pause. Even in smaller modeling markets like this tattoos have proven to be a an impediment.
If you feel compelled to do something permanent, commit to sending money every month to your favorite charity...or exercising...something that you can undo with minimal fuss. When you get to a point in your life where things are less likely to change and you have made all of your big life decisions (one that doesn't include a modeling career :) that maybe a good time to consider a well thought out tat.

One thing that will never change, is that things will change. I am always evolving; I still can't commit to throw pillows or wall colors for very long, and we definitely won't discuss the husband thing.... The needle issue notwithstanding, I can't imagine what I would ever consider so germane that I would have to have it tattooed on me. Perhaps when I get too old to drive, the GPS coordinates to the nearest Sephora and Panera for my driver? ;)

So you think you want to model?

We have recently been receiving many new submissions which are wonderful but it has prompted me to write about the proper way to send photos to an agent to be considered as a model. These things to vary from city to city so these are mostly my preference but some of my preferences will transcend different zip codes and time zones. (As they can be construed as common sense) While I try not to sound cynical, I hope you can forgive my occasional transgressions. Until you have opened the mail in our office for a month you couldn’t possibly imagine our perspective. Most of these nuggets are founded in actual events but instead of changing names to protect the innocent I have just gone ahead and left them out.

Keep in mind these first few shots you send us are just the preliminary step before we meet you. They don’t have to be professional shots but there are some guidelines.

First: Don’t send photos with sunglasses on. Unless we specifically said we were casting for the Unibomber or Paris Hilton- no photos with sunglasses please. We want to see you and your whole face not just the 2/3's you've decided to show us. Same with hats- do you have a bald spot, widow’s peak? They could work; but we need to know that to make an evaluation.
Another novel thought: SMILE! Forget about what you've seen on TV. If you are sending an agency photos to an agency for consideration (especially mine) I need to know IF YOU HAVE ALL YOUR TEETH. That's right, we take nothing for granted here. If some one sends me six tight lipped photos the first thing I gotta ask myself is "What are they hiding?" Maybe they do have teeth but they are the color of pond water or they have been opening soup cans with them. So send us a nice clear, smiling head shot so we can see what your face looks like. (And for the record; that whole pouty, scary, America’s Next Top Model wannabee look just makes you look silly.)
Next: Please, in the name of all that is sacred, send me photos of yourself WITH clothes on. This agent does not want to see you guys in your "da da dah's" or see Victoria’s Secret, Suzie's Secret, or anybody else's. Send us a full body photo (uh-clothed but not in a parka and mukluks either) wearing what you normally do.
The bottom line is to evaluate you properly we need to see what you REALLY look like in all of your fully clothed glory with all the perfections and imperfections that God gave you. None of us are perfect including those folks in the magazines. If you don't have teeth like Donny Osmond or hair like George Clooney, its OKAY- we just need all that information to make a decision. If you don’t have a perfect body that is okay as well. This market tolerates ALL shapes, ages, ethnicities and sizes and so do we. Our assessment is made based on whether or not we think we can get you work in THIS market. Often we get photos of people who are very attractive but have a look that is better suited to another city like Miami or LA but we don’t necessary think we can get them work here. We get back to everyone and let them know if we think that we can honestly get them work in the upstate NY area. If you are not sure you might as well just send in a photo- it won’t hurt anything and we are always nice. I am only sarcastic when I blog…LOL!