If you get booked for a modelling shoot – congratulations!
You’re well on your way. Now it’s a good idea to make sure you’re prepared for
the shoot and come across a professionally as possible.
Here are the top tips for making the most of the modellingshoot and maximising your chances of getting more work:
Be prepared
Find out as much as you can in advance about what’s going to
be expected of you, to ensure you turn up appropriately dressed and made-up (or
not). If possible, find out about the client, the more you know, the better you
will come across
Be punctual (or early!)
Ideally, you’ll walk in the door dead on time, but if in doubt it’s better to be early than
late – even if it means you have to hang around outside beforehand. There are
usually a whole team of people involved in a modelling shoot, and if you keep
them waiting, you’re wasting a lot of the client’s money – which isn’t going to
make you popular.
Network, baby!
Don’t be shy! Talk to as many people as you can – make-up
artists, hairdressers, the photographer, and of course the client – plus anyone
else who’s there. You never know who else they might know, and if they like
you, the might mention you – and that could lead to your next modelling job. If
you’re not sure what to talk about, the best option is always to ask people
questions about themselves (though not so much you come across as nosy), most
people love talking about themselves!
Stick to the programme
This means not discussing changing the rates of the job with
the photographer or client, and not doing any more or less than what was agreed
and booked in advance.
If you start discussing rates with a photographer, you’re
going to very quickly get into the bad books of your agent, and that’s the last
place you want to be. They are your greatest ally, and upsetting them will do
you no favours.
As for not doing any more of less than what was agreed. It
should be obvious why you wouldn’t want to do less, but regarding more - for
example, if the job is for a lingerie shoot and the client asks you to just
quickly do a couple of bikini shots against a beach backdrop, you must be very
careful. Ideally, you’ll just tell them you need to consult your agent to see
if that’s okay – and they will sort it out for you. If you do deviate from the
booking, you may end up losing out – especially if your agent isn’t there to
guide you.
Which is probably exactly why they’re waited until the last minute
to ask you in the first place.
Make a note of time spent
You should be supplied with paperwork to sign, which details
how long was spent on the shoot and the copyright and usage rights the client
requires of the photos. You should note down when the shoot started and
finished, to the nearest 15 minutes. You should take two copies (one for you
and one of the agency) and leave one with the photographer or client.
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