WHAT IS A "LOOK?"

 

In the modeling industry, the term "look" is used to describe one disctint set of images.  Either a change of wardrobe, or location, or photography style.  For instance, head shots are considered one look.  A studio fashion shoot with a single outfit is one look. And so on.  When booking a shoot, we generally refer to them by the number of different looks we are shooting.

 

DIVERSITY IS KEY

 

Unless you have very specific goals, it is always best to appeal to the widest audience.  A portfolio full of variety shows you are diverse and books more work.  A typical starter portfolio is 3 or 5 different looks.

 

WHAT LOOKS TO SHOOT?

 

There are many different modeling styles, and we've briefly explained them to the rigth.  Briefly, most modeling falls into these basic categories:

 

Commercial / Print:   This style of modeling is generally used to sell non-fashion items and services in print and online advertising.  One style of commercial modeling overlooked by new models is "lifestyle," which is described as regular people, doing everything kinds of things like drinking coffee at a cafe, playing sports, etc.  It's important to add lifestyle to a portoflio to show clients that you have the ability to smile, laugh, and play out a role.

 

Beauty:  Beauty shoots are all about makeup, hair and skin.  They can be used to sell beauty projects like cosmetics and hair products.  Or to showcase a models' beauty, makeup artist's abilities, and so on.

 

Fashion:  Fashion is about showing and selling wardrobe and accessories.  This can be anything from clean and simple "catalog" styles used by Macy's, Old Navy, and similar.  To dark and edgy ads for Calvin Klien, to more artistic "high fashion" styles seen in Vogue and cutting-edge magazines.

 

Glamour - Glamour is about portraying the model as beautiful or having sex appeal.  Glamour can range from swimwear and lingerie to bouidoir, Maxim and Playboy styles.

 

Art  - Art modeling places emphasis on body posing and conceptual imagery.  Generally considered art nude styles, but do not need to include nudity.

 

HEAD SHOTS

 

All actors (and most models) need a head shot that accurately portrays your current look.  It is important that casting directors and clients recognize you from your head shot image the moment you walk in their door.

 

Typically these are updated every six months, although some of my acting clients has indicated they book more work by updating head shots more frequently.  If your appearance changes significantly, it's time to update your head shot.  Especially if you have a radically different hair color or length, or lose significant weight, etc.  

 

BODY TYPE

 

From petite to plus and everything in between, showing body type is important for models (and sometimes actors too).  Standard content in the industry is swimear, and sometimes lingerie... but are not requirements.  We know plenty of ways to use other wardrobe to accurately represent and flatter your body type within your comfort levels.