My friend Brittany wrote this blog…and as someone who has been in the business since I was 6 y/o, I thought it was extremely well-informed. We have both been through a lot in this industry, and I think it’s nice to do something to help other girls who are interested. So here she goes:

I’ve had random people and friends ask me about fashion modeling so I thought I would provide information on getting on the right path to becoming involved in this industry.

What I have learned:

You do not need a portfolio when you go to an agency. If you are going to bring anything, bring polaroids/snapshots.

What To Have/Wear In Standard Polaroids/Snapshots:

1.) Little to no make-up.
2.) Hair pulled back in some pictures.
3.) Solid color t-shirt, preferrably white.
4.) Jeans, I’d say go for a dark fitted skinny jean.
5.) A two-piece swimsuit, solid color, any color.
6.) Heels. (If you are too short, don’t think they won’t notice; they almost always ask you to take off your shoes)
7.) White background, don’t have anything distracting.

What Pictures To Take:

1.) One headshot with no smile and hair pulled back.
2.) One headshot with smile, (teeth or no teeth showing) and hair pulled back.

You don’t have to have your hair pulled back but remember, agencies want to see your face and not have any distractions.

3.) One full body shot from the front.
4.) One full body shot from the back. (Hair up for this shot).
5.) One full body shot from the right side. (Hair up for this shot).
6.) One full body shot from the left side. (Hair up for this shot).
7.) One 3/4 length shot…just in case

Also do these shots from your waist up too because that will bring more focus to your face, the others are for your whole body. Do these shots also in your two-piece bikini. For guys, all the same rules, just take the body shots in briefs.

If you do have a portfolio remember that you should mostly seek after tear sheets, (pages from a magazine with you in them). Some girls will ask, “Well how do I get tear sheets from a magazine if I don’t have an agency?” That’s the trick. Build relationships. Find the right photographers, meet magazine editors etc etc etc. It’s all about getting out there and meeting the right people. Make sure you get GOOD tears. Just because you have a tear sheet(s) doesn’t make it a good tear sheet(s). The reason why some agencies want to see tears, (New York wants a model to usually have a full book of tears) is because when you are older they want a developed model. Why take a model in her early twenties when she still needs to be developed? They can find a twelve-fourteen year old they can develop who they will give them a much longer career.

For other pictures in your book, DO NOT focus so much on themes. It’s different to do something with a British theme or a French theme such as wardrobe opposed to EVERYTHING being themed such as the background and props. That will do nothing for your book. When it comes to what shots you need, most agencies will want commercial. Commercial is the biggest market and that’s what will make you money, high fashion will not. Models who do high fashion more than likely do not do it for the money, (because there isn’t much of it unless you are a constant working model and a well-known name) they do it for the love of it.

What’s commercial?

The way I like to describe it is happy smiling gay shit. This is what’s going to be making you money so take pictures that would go along with this. Commercial should not be shot in black and white, ALWAYS color and in bright clothing.

If you want to do fashion you need to know the classic standards of it:

The “cut off” for fashion is said to be 5’7″ but mostly models around 5’7″-5’8″ will be commercial models. Fashion models are 5’9″ and up. Runway is idealistically 5’11″. I have friends who are 5’9″-5’9.5″ be told at castings for runway work that they are too short.

“Well what about Kate Moss? She is only 5’7″ and her agencies say she is 5’8″. She’s short and she has always done fashion.”

Yeah, out of HOW many girls since she started in her young teen years have reached her status in the modeling world? Not many. It was a combination of the right time with meeting the right people, she was young and very thin, not to mention she is a great model. There is more to modeling than just looking at the camera, most girls don’t understand this and it’s something that does take practice and learning from trying new things.

However there are exceptions so don’t lose hope. My favorite model Agyness Deyn is said to be 5’9.5″-5″10″ when in actuality she is really 5’8″ and is known as the new Kate Moss.

If you are an aspiring fashion model be prepared to be told to lose weight. Designers want models to be tall and very thin to put more focus on the design. Large breasts etc are distracting. Miami is better for girls who are fuller with breasts, hips and ass. If you want a specific agency I would say try Mega, they are a Brazilian agency but don’t just sign Brazilian girls. Miami is mostly commercial just like L.A. New York is for fashion and that’s what most models have to lose weight for along with Europe.

For girls who are hardcore Christians and don’t believe in sexuality unless it’s with your husband…don’t get into modeling. I couldn’t agree more with this. You will be around nudity, homosexuals, flamboyant lifestyles, alkie, and drugs eventually. Go to school, live a normal life that won’t put you into situations that this industry will. Especially with fashion. If you become a fashion model you need to understand how much of fashion involves implied nudity and has nudity. Think about Europe. If you are not comfortable with that and you are against it, it’s better to just not get involved in it because they will find other girls who aren’t against it. If your look, port and body is not ready, then other girls who are ready will be booked. People will not wait for you.

Remember to study poses in magazines, study styles, do all the researching you can. Practice in the mirror!! It sounds stupid but then you understand how your muscles feel when you make certain faces and movements. Go to agency’s websites and look at the models’ ports. Get ideas for your own. Research agencies. Don’t get scammed. Go to models.com and go under agencies, they will list the ones that you should look into. DO NOT PAY!!! Never ever pay…If you are signed your agency will automatically be taking a certain percentage from the job you booked.

What is a mother agency?
A mother agency is the first agency you sign with so be careful when it comes to visiting your first agency.

It’s better not to waste your time so I hope this information was helpful. You don’t have to become a supermodel. If you truly do love what you do, then that’s all that matters.

Finally here!!!! Enjoy guys

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Yup, just models.

Actually the hottest SS08 models around.

Since there was some stupid basketball game on…my TIVO cut the last 12 minutes of the episode off :[ I’ll be posting the episode clips once I find them, but here is a quick recap of what I saw.

- Claire and Dominique got into a fight…over D’s alarm clock going off. I understand that! I HATE BEING WOKEN UP. And Claire is standing there trying to wake her up and D won’t get up ugh. I probably would have thrown it at her head and been kicked out of the house for violence. Which is again…another reason why I can’t try out lol.
- I liked Tyra’s suggestion about the painful poses. High fashion is all about looking in pain or ridiculously sad all while doing an awkward pose. I will tell you it gets hard, especially if you don’t exercise. They want you to squat down, but you can’t keep your hands on the ground to balance you…meanwhile look fierce suck in your tummy and keep your head straight. phew!
- Why is claire still breastfeeding? Enough said.
- I loved the idea for the fashion shoot. Actually something normal instead of: “omgz you guys are gonna be ice cream flavors!” I found this youtube clip of the photos from this episode. Enjoy!
- Katarzyna rocked the shoot

**spoilers ahead**

YAYYY HERE WE GO LADIES:

Part 1:

Part 2
Love the fight between whit and Domi…and then Whit of course had to say the typical thing all racists say: My best friend is black. *sigh* when will they learn!

Part 3
I would love some swag too please. kthxbai

Part 4
Loved this shoot.

Part 5

And loving fatima’s hairy armpits…who doesn’t shave!!?

**Maybe a spoiler…maybe not**

Could this be true? I know they love her…and she is Paulina Porizkova’s mini-me.

<
I personally want Claire to win. She’s stunning, unique, and seems to have a great personality. Plus they haven’t had someone that exotice looking win since Naima which was in cycle 4!!!!

Hopefully youtube will have the uploaded episode soon, but in the meantime I can entertain you with rants of my own.

****Spoilers to follow****

 Benny Ninja…what else can I say? Part of me wants to squeeze him and the other part wants to bite his head off. He’s so dramatic that I don’t think most of the girls got the difference between couture, catalogue, and commercial. I’m happy that Claire won the challenge, I ador her and I don’t know why…and wtf was Lauren doing?! All she was doing was holding her shoe the WHOLE TIME. Like switch it up a bit.  Dominique…needs to go, and she needs top stop talking about herself in the 2nd person is it? When she’s like ” and I know Dominique will win ANTM” stfu. I’m happy Fatima started to practice, god knows she needed to after her growling incident.

Last but not least we have Marvita who got eliminated…I don’t feel bad though. I agreed when Fatima said she didn’t know how to look pretty. And as we all know from Tyra that modeling is not always about pretty, I felt that Marv didn’t know what to do with her face. She has very big lips and eyes and a very small chin and she doesn’t know how to clench her lips, or squint her eyes. This episode actually made me want to make another post about how to pose well for pictures of your own.

I must admit, I haven’t seen Tyra in such a good mood in a LONG ass time. She was happy and cheery and actually offering good advice. OH and then she did her signature *smile with your eyes* and all hell broke loose in my house.

 

I didnt post about episode 3 sorry guys! I’ve been neglecting this too much. Sadly a lot of things have happened…none good actually. Quick rant about my life then we can move forward with ANTM 5000.

1. I adopted a kitten and it died the next day at the vet

2. I lost my job yay

3. I got 3 tickets, for speeding, unsafe lane change, and braking hard or whatever

4. I don’t know where my dad is.

5. My electricity is about to be shut off.

Okay!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

WTF was fatima doing?!? And Laurens walk…like why is she still in the competition? I felt like those girls took away NOTHING from Ms.Jays lesson, they looked like they were walking to friggin mcdonalds or something. I agreed with Jaslene, half of them looked like they didn’t want to be there. And the meat outfits? Tyra are you running out of ideas?Just stick with the ol’ naked and shoot. Then the ultra conservative girl will get eliminated because posing naked isn’t part of her belief system…even though it isn’t spread eagle and it’s shot by a great photog. Whatev.

This epi pissed me off. but ENJOY!

Sweet…the show has gotten off to a good start. But what is up with Tyra always wanting girls with problems? I downloaded the application and I swear they won’t choose me JUST because I’m normal. Anyway, here are the episode links:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

SPOILERS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****

KIM….WTF IS YOUR PROBLEM!? You know what high fashion is about, and you don’t want to be a part of that? Why the hell did you try out!?! Leaving other girls crying who wanted this opportunity so bad. Ugh
Claire….I love you. But I’m a little confused. When I filled out the application, they specifically say you could not have been on TV or in any campaigns for the past 5 years, how did this get by passed:

I mean I really don’t care, maybe someone can offer an explaination.
I love Fatima, I think she rocks.

Everybody’s pictures sucked and why can’t these girls walk!!!

Antm is back on…which means I get to use my favorite animated GIF:

 

Moving on, for those of you that missed the first episode, it is on youtube at these links: (and trust me…commentary will follow)

part one: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Dmlx2sYVtE&feature=related

part two: http://youtube.com/watch?v=HMgT4erMAJw&feature=related

part three: http://youtube.com/watch?v=D24n97TcXQ4&feature=related

part four: http://youtube.com/watch?v=k-ZgjIdml90&feature=related

part five: http://youtube.com/watch?v=V6GMCSKKyzo&feature=related

Wtf are Aimee and  Lauren doing? Who doesn’t know how to walk in heels?! Didn’t girls prance around playing dress up?

I like Allison, even though she’s 18 she seems so mature for her age. And Claire reminds me of Julia Stiles…like from 10 things I hate about you. She has that look to her, not to mention she’s a total tree hugger which is cool. But the breastfeeding thing creeps me out. First off, I’ve never had kids but I didn’t think you could really leave them when they’re still feeding…unless she’s one of those moms who has a 3 y/o and still making them feed. Secondly, WHY would you want those mom boobs when you’re trying to be a model!? The look is slender and nothing more than a B cup, not to mention what if you leaked on the clothes?

My favs so far are fatima (you go girl for saying black girls can be smart and beautiful…not acting all ghetto), dominique has some potential, but those eyebrows have GOT to go. Katarzyna is absolutely STUNNING. I have a feeling she will go far, but she might end up doing the same face in her pictures.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~spolier if you haven’t watched~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

TOP 14:

Atayla (Don’t even remember her…)

Amis (cute…quirky)

Aimee

Anya

Whitney (plus size never wins)

Martiva (Ugly…and she doesn’t have what it takes)

Allison

Stacy Ann (Looks like winner Danielle, I don’t see her going far)

Claire

Lauren

Dominique (FIERCE)

Katarzyna

Fatima

Kimberly (Bulldog/Brooke Miller from antm 7 who missed her high school graduation..boohoo)