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Heidi Van Horne
Photo: Danielle Bedics/White Rabbit Studio
Hair and Make Up: Jennifer Corona

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!
Heidi Van Horne
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!" 

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