Pro Model Do's and Don'ts
When sending models out to clients for a shoot, we always follow up and ask both parties how it went. There is nothing worse than hearing that an inexperienced model made some silly and avoidable mistakes which will put the client off of her in the future.
Get ahead:
Follow these do’s and don’ts when on a shoot and impress your clients so much that they’ll want to use you again and again.
DON’T – DRINK alcohol the night before:
At the very least alcohol the night before will make your eyes look puffy and tired. At worst being hung-over the next day could jeopardise the entire shoot. There is nothing that will stop a model getting rebooked faster than boasting to the makeup artist about how hung-over you are. Just say NO!
DO – PREPARE yourself before hand:
You want to arrive with clean hair and no make-up on when you get to a shoot – unless other instructions have been given. If you come to a shoot with make-up then it will cost extra time for the make-up artist. You should also wear lose fitting clothing and loose or no underwear before a shoot – tight clothing can cause unsightly marks on the skin for up to an hour and a half.
DON’T make excuses if you can’t make it:
Your brother’s in hospital, your great aunt has just died, you were drugged last night and overslept. Trust us, clients have heard them all – and if models were as sickly and as accident prone as they make out then it would be the most dangerous job on the planet. If you can’t make the shoot or you are going to be bit late then let the client know by telephone as soon as possible.
DO – CHECK the brief before hand:
If it tells you that you must bring your own high heels or that you shouldn’t have any fake tan then follow these instructions to the letter.
DON’T – get LOST on the way:
Once you’ve got the address of the client it is your responsibility to get to the destination. Remember to look up the route, take a map and take the address with you. Getting lost can happen to anyone but you don’t want it to happen to you on your first pro shoot – so be prepared.
DO – always show up ON TIME:
Studios, make up artists and photographers all charge by the hour and so if you’re late then you are costing the client money. It is not a good excuse that you got caught in traffic when travelling through major cities like London so always leave early and prepare your route.
Note: Don’t be too early either! Agencies and clients offices may be small and you may cause a problem by arriving early. If you do find yourself there early then find the address and then find somewhere to chill – you will then arrive relaxed, unflustered and on time.
DON’T – bring the entire FAMILY:
Models on a professional shoot should ideally go alone as any other professional would. Bringing family members highlights that you are a new model and looks unprofessional to the client. If you feel that a chaperone is necessary for your safety then you should first consider whether this is a client that you should be working with. If you do want to work with them then limit your chaperone to one person of the same sex (not a boyfriend) and ask if they can wait in an adjacent room. If the chaperone is there purely for a lift then they should not come into the building.
DO – FOLLOW the instructions:
Clients will all have an aim of what they want to achieve and you can best help them do this by following the instructions as closely as possible. It’s great to be sociable but remember that you must also concentrate on what you are doing. That way you and the clients will be happy with the results.
DON’T: Give your creative opinion unless you are ASKED for it:
A models job is hard enough as it is without taking on the role of the make-up artist, art director and photographer. It is not for you to say that you normally do your make-up differently or that you think that you should pout rather smile. Concentrate on doing your job well and let them to do theirs.
DO: SPEAK out if you feel uncomfortable:
There is a time when speaking out is important. On most jobs you will know exactly what is expected of you when you arrive and there will be no need to speak out. Occasionally a photographer may try to encourage you to exceed your modelling limits or may ask you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. In this situation your reputation will not suffer from speaking out, or if you have to, terminating the shoot.
DON’T: Ask to leave EARLY:
If a certain amount of time was agreed for the shoot before hand then be prepared to stick to this. Asking to leave early because you want to catch the next bus is a sure way of not getting a repeat booking.
DO: Be friendly, ENTHUSIASTIC and relaxed:
This is one of the most important factors in getting good reviews and repeat bookings. If you’re relaxed then everyone around you can automatically relax and the shoot will be much more successful.
So, it may sound like a lot but it is basically just common sense. You would be amazed at how many models don’t follow these simple rules and by doing so you’ll make sure that you’re the one they book again and again.
Further reading coming soon:
Agency castings faqs
Killer poses every model should master
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