April 2007
Last month I spelled it out--the difference
between an amateur "for fun" pinup girl and a pro model is a paying client.
So let's talk about potential clients and look at who the BUYERS are:
Photographers/Stock
Some photographers hire models for client
work or publications (this is actually the most common way to book that
type of work.) Sometimes photographers also hire models for stock
content, which they will then sell later to various clients. Just make
sure when shooting for stock that you have a clause in your contract/release
that restricts usage if you do not want your pictures used in medical ads
or for adult usage, for example. Make sure that you are clear what you
are and aren't okay with in advance of shooting and make sure that you
get it in writing. You can make some decent money at a flat day or hourly
rate and have some interesting, high production value shots for your book
by shooting stock.
Magazines
This is usually unpaid or for little pay and
most often you will get magazine work through photographers at first. Some
magazines solicit models on their websites--check there first for submission
information. Major magazines book their models through legit mainstream
modeling agencies or purchase the photos from photographers.
Book Publishers
Also usually booked through the photographer,
sometimes publishers will hold castings for book cover roles on certain
projects. The pay is typically good for a short day's work.
Designers/Clothing Companies
There are endless clothing designers and companies
that use models for their lines. Print ads, websites, commercials, runway
shows--are all ways they employ models to sell their clothing. Payment
ranges from everything from trade for clothes to $20 to high $ agency rate
hourly pay with extensive usage agreements. Big surprise--the smaller the
company, the smaller the budget for shoots and the less they pay. However,
sometimes the smaller companies treat their people better and can be a
regular employer and lead to steady gigs. (And good word of mouth!)
Other Commercial clients (products/services)
You'd be amazed at the range of clients I've
had and seen. Anyone selling a service or product might need a model for
their print ad, website or commercial. Try to stay aware of potential clients
that usually hire pinups or girls your "type." Especially pay attention
to companies local to you, as they will sometimes be more likely to hire
someone who lives in their area.
Events/Promoters
Lots of venues and promoters will hire models
to attend events and/or do signings for fans. Sometimes they contact known
models directly for a rate, sometimes they hire girls attending the events/venues
that fit what they are looking for to promote for them. Also, there are
usually lots of photographers at events where models show up (car shows,
conventions, club events, band shows, etc.) and the shots they use sometimes
get magazine coverage.
Paid Sites
Obviously you can model for some paid sites
that hire models, though most require nudity and you must hire your own
photographer. You can also always run your own paid site, though you really
need to have a large fan base and a big enough name, or to offer something
unique, to make it worth people's monthly fees. Then you also are expected
to deliver quality content on a regular basis or risk losing paying members.
If you work or shoot often enough and can maintain the site it might be
worth it.
How Do You “Get In”?
Standard/mainstream jobs (agency work):
*Call and ask or look at their website for their submission policy
(Open call day? Mail in? Email?)
*Fashion work/Modeling Agents
*“Commercial” or “Character” looks (anything not standard “model”--over
23, under 5’8”, or less than thin). Acting/Commercial Agents (look for
SAG franchised agents if you want to do “legit” acting work or just look
for print houses if you only want commercial print work)
Word of Mouth!
Most of the work I get comes from referrals--people
I've worked with before have recommended me to new clients, or the new
client has seen my work with another client. The only way to get this is
do good work and keep at it! You also never know when you will get a job
because a friend or family member bragged about you to someone who now
needs a model for their company's new print ad or a girl to model in their
stores upcoming fashion show! You don't have to have major connections
for the word of mouth to work in your favor!
Submitting yourself:
*Online--Ideas of where to submit yourself for work:
1) Agencies, publishers or magazines that
accept online submissions
2) Modeling sites’ casting--Model Mayhem,
OMP, Retrokitten, etc.
3) Acting Sites---Actor’s Access, Now casting,
etc.
4) Craigslist
(Safety reminder--Just don't forget to keep basic safety in mind when
working with people you've “met” online. We all know that the internet
can be a great networking tool, but you must keep yourself aware when there
are potential weirdoes out there, too! Always leave your location and contact
info with a friend or relative and whenever possible, bring a friend or
an escort along with you!)
When submitting yourself for work, send a link
to your online portfolio (website, OMP, Model Mayhem, etc.) and a brief
note. Make it personal and your own. Here is a sample note:
Hi! I love your line, especially the new ____1
If you are ever looking for models, I hope you will keep me in mind.
Most recently I shot for the next cover of Deadbeat Magazine with Octavio
Arizala.2
Thanks!
-Heidi Van Horne
www.HeidiVanHorne.com
1. Give a GENUINE compliment about what drew you to them and made you
want to shoot for them.
2. Sometimes I will mention what I've been up to, a recent highlight.
You can't be shy here. You have to be able to be confident and toot your
own horn without being arrogant or coming across as cocky. You have to
be able to promote yourself, but keep it brief.
Dropping names vs. Having referrals
Referrals are important in business--especially
so in modeling and entertainment industry work where its so often about
the personality. Just like I mentioned, the more good work you put out
there, the more people will begin to come to you. One way to keep this
going is to know the difference between dropping a name and having a referral.
A referral is someone who, if asked, would give a good recommendation--someone
who knows your quality of work and your work ethics (on set behavior, professionalism,
etc.), whereas, a dropped name is, well… just yet another way to bite yourself
in the butt.
Using the names of people who you barely know
to try and get in with a potential client could hurt you much more than
help you. Don't drop a name unless you are 100% certain that the person
will say something positive and back up whatever claims you made. Saying
you are great friends with someone you've only ever met once will likely
garner a confused response and lead to an uncomfortable situation with
someone who would have otherwise been supportive. I've had it happen before,
and in one case if the girl had approached me before trying to use my name
to get in on the job I was negotiating, I would have helped her out, but
hearing that she made false claims and catching her in a lie made both
my client and I hesitant to deal with her altogether. The sad part?
Literally days later a photographer she had been wanting to work with asked
me to refer some newer girls for shooting. And instead of getting a good
referral to someone she wanted to work with--as I would have given prior
to the incident--she came with a word of caution.
The point is be genuine and sincere and you'll
get a lot further than you will lying about who you know or what you've
done. You never know how small this (worldwide!) scene is and who knows
who, and your lies will likely come back to haunt you. Besides, if you
are always lying, you'll miss out on the people and clients looking for
someone just like the real you.
Building your book
Step two in any potential booking, after just
getting in the door in the first place (literally or figuratively speaking),
is your work potential being evaluated. Obviously this is an industry or
field where looks count first. If you are a “pro” or working model, or
are charging a fee to shoot, then you are selling your image. That is what
you do, so your image is first to be scrutinized (and then referrals, experience,
attitude, etc.). The place they will look first is your website or online
portfolio, you in person if possible, or your book. You want your book
(online and/or hard copy) to represent the best of what you've done and
what you can do. You want to get as varied and as flattering photos as
possible. This does NOT mean getting only photos airbrushed to perfection
or unrealistic versions of you. Yes, you want to look good and have nice
hair and make up and lighting, but you also want photos that look like
the you that will walk through the clients’ door. (I think I've said this
one before!) So let's look at how to get yourself out there and build your
book!
Where to get shots for your book
Shootouts--These are often listed or advertised online at modeling
sites. Consider getting a friend to model at the shoot with you, so you
aren't alone. (Just because someone buys ad space and a rental studio doesn't
mean they aren't a scumbag.) Now, assuming this is a legit set up, you
will get the opportunity to shoot with numerous photographers, hopefully
in various sets and backdrops. From what I hear from other models, lots
of the photographers never get photos to you, but many will and sometime
you will find someone you click with that you might want to shoot with
again. Bring lots of cards or small photos with your email address or contact
info you can give away to people you'd like to work with again. Just be
cautious with what info you give out. I personally prefer to only give
out my email, so I have a written copy of everything, but other people
prefer just the phone. Whatever is comfortable for you, just don't give
too much! You never know where the cards that get thrown away end up.
Art Schools--If you want to model for fine artwork, look for
ads for figure models or art school model opportunities. It usually pays
decent hourly rates for a couple hours. Just know that it usually entails
nude figure work and holding poses for long periods of time, but you are
truly inspiring art the old fashion way! Look at my February column for
the link to Dr. Sketchy’s anti-art school for a modern take on art school!
Photography School students--Just like the art school students,
this isn't about the pay as much as it is about the collaboration. You
just might work with the next David LaChappelle and getting in with him
early on is what lands you as his favorite model for years’ worth of work!
Or, you may shoot for hours with someone who knows less about his camera
than you do and then never sends you any prints. It's a gamble, you must
know that going in, but if you are new and building your book, part of
the process is collaborating with others in the same position. Some will
turn into dear friends and cherished collaborators, and others you will
hope you never see again. Try to stretch yourself on student shoots and
have a good time. Sometimes the freedom of not having a client will give
you a levity in your on-camera demeanor that adds to the spirit of the
shoot. And the less you have riding on it, the less disappointed you'll
be if they turn out to be one of the less-than-professional ones.
Online profiles and job submissions--Just like I listed for seeking
paid work, use those same sites to network with people who can help build
your book now. Craigslist, Model Mayhem, OMP, Retrokitten--use those types
of sites to keep an eye on both work/castings and tfp/portfolio collaborators.
Also, you never know when the tfp shoot you did for portfolio use will
be used for a client down the road. I've had it happen many times where
a shoot that was meant to be for portfolios was so popular that clients
began requesting to license it and publishers begged to print it. Those
are the things that will lead to good word of mouth, potential pay later
down the road, and great exposure (which, of course, helps make the leap
to more quality paid gigs.)
And there I go again--it all comes around. Do good work, be sincere,
and promote yourself and soon it will come around to you, too.
Bonus Photo!
Photo: Danielle
Bedics/White Rabbit Studio
Hair and Make Up: Jennifer Corona
Keep the emails and questions coming! I've covered a lot of them
already in the past and current columns, so new and different Q’s are always
welcome!
Love and Pin-Ups!
Heidi Van Horne
www.HeidiVanHorne.com
A little about Heidi: "I starting acting
in Texas at age 13, I have worked and trained as an actress in film, TV
& commercials for most of my life, as well as working behind the lens
on various projects. I have been shooting my own retro pinups since late
2003, when I started doing self-shot photos (just like Bunny
Yeager did!) with a self timer and a tripod in my home. Since
then, I've been on the cover of 3 books ("Hot Rod Pin Ups" by David
Perry and MBI Publishing, "How to Be a Dominant Diva" by Avalon
Press, and the new "Modern Vixens: World of Winytiki" by Octavio
Arizala and Goliath Press) as well as being featured on the
cover of 3 (and inside 2 other) Pin Up Calendars for 2007, magazine covers
and countless layouts, features and interviews in counter-culture publications,
as well as a few mainstream mags. I've gotten to work with tons of amazing
companies and photographers, including original pinup, pinup photographer
& living legend, Bunny Yeager--shooting on the same beach
where she and Bettie Page made
Pin Up history! Living in LA pursuing my acting, I've kept myself busy
on the side shooting the genre I love the most- and I'm thrilled to see
how the niche has grown and grown worldwide!" |
Have a question for Heidi? E-mail
us and we'll send it along to her!
View Heidi's Femme Fatale
Page>>>