1. Know who you are working with.
Check references, even for major agencies. If freelancing, contact past collaborators and Google the person. If approaching an agency, check the validity of the agency by either contacting other models, if possible, and/or searching their name and reputation online.
2. Communicate effectively, efficiently, and honestly.
Ask questions concerning the shoot, location, hair, makeup, and props! Respond – even if you are saying no (it’s professional, respectful, and you will not be burning that bridge you may desire one day). NEVER take an assignment that you are not 100% comfortable with. NEVER breach your own boundaries unless you are 100% okay with it and have given it serious thought.
3. Arrive ready and on time!
Your first impression was made the initial moment you two made contact. There is a second sort-of first impression the moment they lay eyes on you. Don’t dampen your awesomeness and professional reputation arriving even five minutes late. Time is money, even if it is for TF. Your every word and move matter. They
will be watched and remembered, consciously and otherwise.
4. Take care of yourself.
This extends from making sure you get enough sleep and drinking enough water to minimizing stressful people in your life. You are your canvas. Every decision you make will show on your body and demeanor one way or another. Take care of yourself mentally, spiritually, and physically. No amount of money can make a picture amazing if you are neglecting yourself.
5. Go in with little, come out with little.
Group shoots, conventions, any work conventions you go to may require you to take your ID and a small amount of cash ($10 or less). Do not bring any card other than your ID. Your physical safety is more important than your financial safety, but not by much. Better to be alive and poor, but easier to avoid any concern of cards being stolen, lost, or otherwise.
6. Respect will get you a long way.
You do not need to kiss the ass of every person you encounter and work with. In fact, please, don’t. However, you are an adult with the ability to mind your manners. Say “please” and “thank you”. Open the door for others. Clean up after yourself. Stay off your phone when speaking with someone – especially about work. Leave a shoot location in better condition than when you arrived. Seriously. Major brownie points.
7. Practice, practice, and mess up.
Congratulations! You are human! You will NOT be a total bad ass when you start out. In fact, it takes some serious time, dedication, effort, and commitment to get that flower to bloom. This means that you need to make the effort to practice doing your hair, makeup, and poses in your free time. You are a creative soul, so exploit yourself! Tutorials for hair and makeup are available by the thousands on YouTube alone. Go crazy! Spend a night or two a week doing your face and learning how to use the tools at hand. You don’t need hundred dollar tools to make yourself look amazing. You will improve, with time. You will mess up. Then, you’ll keep getting better.
8. Daydream.
Cultivate your own shoot ideas! If you decide that you have an idea that you want to capture, start laying out all the details. Location, makeup, poses, concepts, props, hair, and anything monetary that may factor in. Why do this? One, it is a chance to network. Two, you’re helping keep your creativity alive. Three, chances are that a photographer will NOT know what to do. Having a list of solidly planned ideas at the ready will go a very long way for coming across prepared, ready, and helpful.
9. Confirm your work.
Two days before an assignment, email or call the person hosting you to confirm the time, date, and location of the shoot. It sucks to be ditched, and you want to alleviate your host/employer of any concern you may be a flake. To top it off, you may have inherently misunderstood a detail. This is a great way to cover everything previously discussed and remove room for error. Confirm the day of, and you are gambling money and time that you cannot replace.
10. Leave the drama at the door.
Keep your opinions to yourself unless it is of righteous virtue that you voice it. For example, if you discover a person stealing, say something. If you hear Suzie ranting about her boyfriend’s mother’s baby daddy drama, don’t bother. If you had a nightmare of a morning before coming to work, no one cares. You aren’t proving that you are resilient and a badass. It comes off as complaining and asking for pity 95% of the time. Chances are, you’ll never be that 5%. Pay sincere compliments where they may be due. Don’t be afraid to smile. Keep it clean, laugh, and enjoy the company you are with. The negative stuff? It will either be there when you walk back out the door, if it’s even worth picking back up to begin with.
Ultimately, enjoy your time as you explore the industry as a model. You will be rejected and you will be accepted. You will hit a wall. You can either climb it or walk around it. Grow as a person, love yourself, then reach out and create something worthy of being tied to your name – whether or not those of us around you are conscious of it. Maintain your health and well-being. You’re no good to the world dead or hurt. If you are hurting, reach out. Someone will always be there to help you. Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid to be you. You have more potential than you may care to realize. If you can lay your head on your pillow at the end of the day and be confident that you have honored your soul and mind, you’re quite alright. Enjoy!
