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I have a friend who wants to get into modelling but they don't really know how to 'make a break' into the industry, which agencies to look into etc etc. Does anyone around the traps here (in Sydney) know of how to get into this OR some modelling agencies which could be a good start? Thanks in advance. Oh, and for all you jokers out there, no...I it's not me...I would break the lenses, besides I prefer being on THIS side of the camera

Get some body and facial shots done

then send portfolio to:

http://www.chicmanagement.com.au/chicmodels/index.php?sex=f&group=1

wendellt wrote:Get some body and facial shots done

then send portfolio to:

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Talk to Wendellt, he's running that site part time!

This is a great start - thanx Wendel and Birdy.

If she is a good sort Geoff and prepared to go naked I will do a few test shots for her. PS Tell her to watch out for the sharks

Glen wrote:If she is a good sort Geoff and prepared to go naked I will do a few test shots for her. PS Tell her to watch out for the sharks

I'll tell her to steer clear of the 'photog' that prefers nudes in Neutral Bay

Glen wrote:If she is a good sort Geoff and prepared to go naked I will do a few test shots for her. PS Tell her to watch out for the sharks

Glen! Can I join?

Birddy, two of us will make it look more convincing

To hell with it just book us all in for this 1. we wont say NO

Glen wrote:Birddy, two of us will make it look more convincing

Just thinking about this makes me want to skip lunch today

Modeling is a sick job most female models have a low self image.

most male models have a grossly inflated self image.

there are a lot of sharks out there too!

Tell her to take care. Probably talk to other models and get the gossip.

Thanx Dug will do

Geoff,

It is nigh on impossible to impart useful advice without knowing more about what you friend looks like, what her aspirations are and what her experience is.

There is modelling and there is modelling. On the one hand there is the fashion world, on the pother is the wporld of general advertsing and casting. All have different needs and all set different selection criteria.

My advice for a 'fashion' or 'beauty' style model would be to get a couple of good clear portraits and body shots done and take them to Vivien's, Chadwicks, Camerons, or somebody else of that calibre. They will be brutally honest and either say YAY or NAY. If it is a NAY (as it well may be given the number of aspirants) then it is up to your friend to decide whether or not she runs the gauntlet of the also-ran agencies and the possibility of being ripped off.

For the more general type advertising modelling there are other types of agents which can look at her from a different perspective.

I guess the simplest advice is NOT to go anywhere near any agency advertising for new faces. Well, that's the second simplest advice: the best is to advise her to take a hold of her senses and get over it.

I worked with a multitude of models over a great many years and happily walked away in time because the thought of suffering one more exposure to them proved too daunting. Why they want to do this is anybody's guess, but they do and so there are those gathering to take advantage of them. It is a minefield.

The comment from another photographer that best matched my own attitude was made by the great English fashion shooter Bob Carlos Clark who likened models to ladybirds. We love little ladyboirds and sing songs to them about the welfare of their off-spring and their burning home .... but essentially they are woodmites in a polka-dot frock. I'm sure you see the analogy.

Cheers,

but essentially they are woodmites in a polka-dot frock.

Glen wrote:Birddy, two of us will make it look more convincing

Make that 3

sirhc55 wrote:

Glen wrote:Birddy, two of us will make it look more convincing

Make that 3

I have big lens and she'll love it!!!! as I discussed last night on another thread with Wendellt

I will join too.
------
Rgds
Poon

The more the merrier Poon, maybe we say you are from a big magazine in HK

Glen,
Good idea, or I bring one good model from Hk and you pay for her.
----
Regards
Poon

Sounds a good idea, you mentioned models are very cheap there

Geoff,

Seems like your friend would have any problems putting a portfolio of shoots together.

Hey birdy what about a special mini meet.

Barry

barry wrote:Geoff,

Seems like your friend would have any problems putting a portfolio of shoots together.

Hey birdy what about a special mini meet.

Barry

I have to work on her self-esteem, I don't think she'd be up for a whole heap of us gawking/shooting her

Geoff wrote:

barry wrote:Geoff,

Seems like your friend would have any problems putting a portfolio of shoots together.

Hey birdy what about a special mini meet.

Barry

I have to work on her self-esteem, I don't think she'd be up for a whole heap of us gawking/shooting her

Geoff
MAke sure you don't rush her into anything, if she has low self esteem then she will only gain the worst aspects modelling industry has to offer
the best models are confident and carry themselves well, and then move on to something else like business just look at australia's own Sara O hare
she is a spokeswoman for breast cancer marrie lachlan murdoch and has her own fashion range.

wendellt wrote:

Geoff wrote:

barry wrote:Geoff,

Seems like your friend would have any problems putting a portfolio of shoots together.

Hey birdy what about a special mini meet.

Barry

I have to work on her self-esteem, I don't think she'd be up for a whole heap of us gawking/shooting her

Geoff
she is a spokeswoman for breast cancer marrie lachlan murdoch and has her own fashion range.

Wendellt,

If she is not married Lachlan Murdoch then she'll be a hooker!
It's just a politic! if you're rich then you'll be famous and become spokesman or woman of many organizations. If you're broke, then you'll be a bump on the street. That's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geoff wrote:.......I have to work on her self-esteem, I don't think she'd be up for a whole heap of us gawking/shooting her

Geoff, I am no expert in this field by any means, but I would have thought that if she really wanted to get into modelling, self-esteem would need to be high (or at least, she should be able to fake it), and having people gawking at and/or shooting her would be the objective.

If this is an issue, perhaps modelling might not be the optimum thing to do.

MMMMM ??? this sounds familiar. I have heard this story before. Be cautious there are a lot of nasty people in the field.

I remember hearing a "WORLD FAMOUS" photographer at a conference once he walked in looked at the 2 models ready to be photographed and loudly said "Take them away they are DOGS! I cannot work with them, bring me some good looking models"

A stunned silence followed as the models went to leave, I thought about it for a few seconds stood up and told him it was a photographers job to make the model look good not the models job to make the photographer look good. There was nothing I could learn form him, so I walked out followed by about 1/4 of the photographers there. 3/4 of them just sat there .

Models work hard and have feelings if they like you they will work hard for you, If you are an A$$hole you will see it in the photos.

Remember the little things thermos of coffee or Milo on a cold shoot water on a hot one, umbrella for sun and rain, warm wrap, sweets to get energy levels up.


You will be amazed how effective this can be. Ask for their input on the shoot as well they should have a lot of experience too.


Cheers doug

aaah, thems were the days:

Treat 'em mean, 'n' keep 'em keen!!

Cheers,

wendellt wrote: just look at australia's own Sara O hare
she is a spokeswoman for breast cancer marrie lachlan murdoch and has her own fashion range.

Must we?

Yawn!

Some people make it to the top by hard work and initiative. Others get there by no work and relatives.

Murdoch, Packer .... who gives a damn?

Let them learn to live real lives ....

tell your friend to check out the forums at ozmodel, http://www.ozmodel.com.au - there are quite a few models there and she'd probably get the best info from there.

I do modelling portfolios and do a bit of commercial shooting for fashion labels, believe me it's a hard life out there for a model. I know many beautiful girls who give their all to be a model but there is SO MUCH competition out there, and always a girl who is willing to stoop a bit lower to get noticed. Your friend will need a very thick skin in addition to good looks to get anywhere.

The other thing she'll need to understand is that like a few industries, she needs to build relationships with people rather than just rely on good looks. It's very much a "in the right place at the right time" sort of industry as well from what I've gathered.

cheers

Gav

Nice work Gary, I thought I had seen you around OzModel.

Mark

http://www.hudcomm.com