Modeling Questions Answered - How do I get the most modeling work?

Well, here ya go.

I have spent the last 5 hours trying to figure out the answer to this question in a nutshell. At this point, I gotta say I see why soooo many aspiring models do not get called.

I spent hours looking at modeling portfolios on the largest talent site on the internet, Exploretalent.com. Exploretalent.com is a talent job site that matches models and actors with casting agents. Here is what I found…

Out of the 100’s of modeling portfolios I looked at, and yes, these are mostly FREE profiles, 90% of them where below average and could be updated and changed to be great.

Here are some of the issues I found:

The profile (height, weight, size) did not match the photos.
I know everyone wants to be a bit thinner, taller, whatever… but YOU CAN NOT do it in your portfolio! Be aware that the casting agents looking do this for a living and can tell a 10lb. difference between the photo and info given. If they see you lying, you will NEVER get called.

Be as acurate as possible when it comes to measurements. Popular belief IS WRONG. Most models are not 6 ft. tall and 100 lbs. and commercial work is available to all shapes and sizes. Most modeling work is commercial and many times you are missing work because they are looking for 5′4″ 130 (which you may be), but your profile says otherwise.

The tall skinny look is good for high fashion which is a very small percent of the modeling industry, that very few, elite models enjoy, majority of models may not fit that profile at all and get work based on their own look. Open up a target catalog and check out the models…. Commercial, not Prada. Now figure out how many clothing catalogs are printed. Those catalogs are geared towards the average woman not the stick figure and use models that represent their audience.

Also, do not use old pictures of yourself that do not represent you today. If you do and get the interview, do you really think they will hire you once they notice you may have gained 30lbs since then. When doing this all you are doing is sabotaging your own career.

There were very few photos or poor quality photos
7 out of 10 profiles I looked at had horrible photos. Why would you ever put bad pictures into a modeling portfolio? If you do not have any… take some. You can not even expect anyone to hire you on bad photos hoping that you look better in person.

Make sure you have enough photos. If you have 10 great pics, put them up, don’t get lazy.

Remember, you are looking for work as a model which means taking great pictures. If you were a writer would you ever put a mess of misspelling into your resume? well, its about the same.

5 out of 10 aspiring models are missing the physical specifics like height, weight, dress size, hair, etc. Casting agents search on specifics like height and weight, not first name. If the information is missing than you will NEVER be found by them because you are not even included in the model search results they see.

Answer and check your messages
I personally sent messages to dozens of wanna be models through their online portfolio. Only 2 got back to me. It seems that many people feel they can post a profile and never check it. Casting agents and photographers will not wait forever… they will not even wait a few days, they just move on to another model that will respond.

If you are serious, be proactive in your own modeling career. Log in and check messages, update your photos, update the resume, YOU want the job, the casting agents can give it to anyone and sometimes it goes to the one person who responds to them first!

Be yourself always because someone is looking for YOU.

written by Ginna Trather(talent scout) for the modeling blog at modeling.net

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