I want to be a model!! What does it take??



Model: Lindsay Post

 Disclaimer: The picture above is inserted for page appeal only. No comments or opinions shared in this blog are related to any particular model. This article is simply a generic viewpoint of what I feel separates a good model from a bad one.

    " I want to get into modeling, what do you look for when choosing for a project"?  This is a question I have been asked MANY times, so I felt this would be a good subject matter for this segment. For starters I will simply state: It takes more than just a pretty face! The client/magazine many times wants a certain look, and of course my personal concept images require specifics as well. Since this is my article, my opinions are based on my shoot style and the realization that some types of modeling do not apply. But we are going to attack this subject in a general way with principals for ALL models.

   As we all know, there are many levels of modeling from TFP portfolio building on up to the almighty tear sheet or paid shoot. I feel that experience is key! Practice makes perfect right? Yes... but only if you are learning and evolving through your journey. Does it take a pretty/marketable look? YES! Does it take perfection? NO!  Let's not forget... a good shooter will make you look even better.

   Confidence:  A good model will be confident and outgoing. She should already know what she has committed to shoot and be 100% comfy doing it. That means outfit as well as location. There is no time or place for shy when it is shoot time.  Let's face it... a stiff and timid model will project it through her images, and a photographer can only capture what is there! A reputable photog is NOT interested in seeing you in a sexy outfit, but is moreso after a pic that captivates an audience inspiring multiple views. (Be choosy with your photogs... there are alot of dirtbags out there!)

   Presentation: A good model KNOWS her strengths and weaknesses. Since nobodys perfect.... work what you've got! The way you "present" for the camera can greatly decide how good you'll look in the final outcome, especially if the shooter uses angles that will help you. Here's an example: Some gals look best from a profile with their body because their hips may be wide but their back side is lifted nicely. Then there's the size differences up top. What's your best quality? Use it?

   Posing: Don't be afraid to move around! With good photographer direction, you can move around and still present your best for the camera. Stiff and straight equals boring and bland! You need a variety of poses standing, crouching, leaning, laying, crawling etc. Spend time in front of a large mirror practicing even if it feels silly. A photographer shouldn't have to instruct you through every pose, but simply give input and moderate direction. Again.... no straight limbs or hidden limbs if possible. Use those arms, touch your hair, face and hips for that "complete" look in your photo. This takes confidence to do effectively. I once had a "model" chosen by the client show up for a shoot. She had a very pretty face, but the first thing she asked after discussing the shot was: "So, how do you want me?" That's the last thing an experienced model asks. Sadly, her images didn't reach their full potential. Work your environment, and your shooter will automatically offer direction.

   Prepare personally: There aren't always hair and makeup artists available, so you need to be savvy putting yourself together at times. Read magazines and pay attention to the latest looks. You can learn much from studying various magazines, advertisements and images. Experiment with makeup! Practice makes perfect right? Think about details... even the little ones. 99% of the time fake eyelashes look best to draw attention to the eyes in my opinion. Accessorizing is also a must. Think about a complete look including neck, ears, wrist and nails. It's not fun or easy having to paint nails with photoshop because they weren't addressed LOL.

    Discipline:  " I look fat in my pictures"! Yep, I've heard that one before. Don't forget, a photographer can only do so much, the rest is up to you! If you want lean lines, prep for your shoot a month out with proper diet and exercise. You will only get from your shoot what you put in. In professional settings I have seen models sent home for showing up 10 lbs heavier than what they advertise themselves at. But hey...variety is an awesome thing! If your look is more curvy and your good with that, so am I! Just don't complain later haha.

   Expressions: Again...variety. The "deer in the headlights" look just isn't marketable. Don't end up with a portfolio full of different outfits but same faces. Practice with turned heads, eyes on camera, looking away, closed eyes, happy face, angry face, sultry face etc. You get the idea.

   Well there it is, a basic rundown from my personal point of view and shoot style. I'm fully aware that private sessions with new or non-models require lots of input from me. I certainly enjoy that aspect of private shoots, so don't let this write up place unnecessary pressure on you. But if you wish to pursue modeling.... these are common subjects shared by the pro's.

   Thanks for stopping by! And until next time....
~Tommy Post

  

Skin editing like the pro's!

    At some point EVERY photographer browses around for tips and ideas for better skin editing. We all know that nobody is perfect, and we also realize that certain types of lighting can exaggerate imperfections in the skin. To really make your images stand out, good skin editing is an absolute MUST. Of course like all things... there's more than one way to "skin a cat" LOL, but the same goal is shared by all for skin perfection especially in magazine/commercial imagery. Today... I'm sharing my way ;)

    To begin with, even mid level editing programs can accomplish the task as long as layers are used properly. This image was done with an old version of Photoshop Elements 7. LAYERS ARE THE LAW... so practice using them daily so that you are comfortable with them and their capabilities. For me, I am after smooth skin with no wrinkles, crows feet or large blemishes. There's a fine line that's easy to cross when editing that yields fake looking results... so don't over do it! Over doing it with the blur or liquify tools can make plastic looking results that are not always the most marketable, so I try to maintain realism when editing.

    The first thing I do is grab my "clone stamp" tool and set it with a small soft brush. I usually set the strength somewhere around 65% and go looking for large moles, birth marks, blemishes and dark circles etc. Sample the skin very close to the repair spots to maintain tonality and contour. Small blemishes are easy to cover, but be careful around the eyes! It's cool to lighten the lower lids, but don't fully remove them. If too much is removed, the face will end up all the same skin tone and end up looking like a flat china mask face. The same principal applies to the cheek bones! The face is 3 dimensional and the only thing that reflects that in an image is shadows and highlights.... so preserve those contours.

    After I have achieved a good "base canvas", I make a duplicate layer of the subject. Now that you have 2 layers, shut off visibility on the top copy and select the lower copy. Here's where it gets tricky and requires finesse. Select "gaussian blur" for your lower layer and apply.  The goal is to look at your preview window when deciding how much blur to apply. Watch the areas of the face like cheek bones and eyes and increase blur ONLY until the cracks and wrinkles fully smooth, but not so much that the shadows and highlights melt together and flatten out. YOU must decide how much.... but for me it's usually around 2.2-3.5 %!  Wait a minute.... all the pores are gone and the skin looks plastic! No worries... pores can be created! Now select "add noise" and apply a small percentage of digital noise to that layer. Basically you end up with a blurry image with little tiny dots all over it. Ready for the final step?

    Now make the un-blurred top layer visible! Your image is back to normal crows feet and all... and now it's time to go for the gold. Select your eraser tool with a soft brush and set it around 75%. You'll need your brush size to be about the size of a dime on the face but being careful not to touch things like eyes or hair edges. Now start to erase parts of the face on that top layer, revealing the blurred and spotted layer below. GO SLOW and do a little at a time only where you need it! That lower layer bleeding through will look like flawless skin with pores and all. Make sure you use that soft brush though because you want a gradual blend of skin!

     Well there it basically is.... skin editing like the pro's do! What are you waiting for, get busy experimenting! Practice makes perfect ;) Until next time, keep on shooting!

~Tommy Post
tommypost@yahoo.com