[BetteT]

There are some interesting insights about underage models travelling in this thread: So ... Your Child is A Model ... Now What? Model Mom Support Thread

And another one, written by ModelMom about the experience she had with her own daughter, Aly: One Model's Story

[Lorenzopierre87]

Hello everyone! I'm a newbie who has been reading through this looooong and VERY resourceful thread. I thought I would shoot out a question or two!

Last week I went to NY to attend a week of open calls...unfortunately the weather became very crappy towards the middle of the week and things didn't go as planned. I was only able to make 6 open calls and out of those 6 two of them might have some promise (BOSS/Adam). My questions are...

Usually how long does it take for an agent to make a decision about someone?

What settings should you digital camera have to get the best quality shots?

If an agency looks through your photos and decides to have you put contact info/measurements on the back of the one that they would like to keep...does that mean there is potential there?

LAST but not least (hope I'm not driving anyone crazy already lol :-))

Is it rude to ask an agent for advice and why you were rejected?

thanx in advance!

[BetteT]

Welcome to the Fashion Spot!

1. Usually, right away. If they talk to you and take polaroids, they have an interest. After they do that but you leave without any instructions for followup, then they may have decided that you don't have the right look on film, so they lost interest.

2. It's not settings on your camera that matter. Try this: photograph yourself in soft indirect light either near a window or outside in open shade. Do not stand in sunlight ... it's too harsh and the shadows are too dark. No flash either ... not flattering. Make sure that you have a light colored and plain background ... the focus must be on you.

3. Probably. But you should already have that info on the back of all pics you bring in.

4. No, it's not rude to ask ... it's good information for you to know. If you are pleasant when you ask, they will usually give you some idea. That is the advantage of going to open calls ... you get feedback. If you just send in pictures, you will never know what they think.

[Lorenzopierre87]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetteT Welcome to the Fashion Spot! 1. Usually, right away. If they talk to you and take polaroids, they have an interest. After they do that but you leave without any instructions for followup, then they may have decided that you don't have the right look on film, so they lost interest. 2. It's not settings on your camera that matter. Try this: photograph yourself in soft indirect light either near a window or outside in open shade. Do not stand in sunlight ... it's too harsh and the shadows are too dark. No flash either ... not flattering. Make sure that you have a light colored and plain background ... the focus must be on you. 3. Probably. But you should already have that info on the back of all pics you bring in. 4. No, it's not rude to ask ... it's good information for you to know. If you are pleasant when you ask, they will usually give you some idea. That is the advantage of going to open calls ... you get feedback. If you just send in pictures, you will never know what they think.

Thanx a lot for the advice/responses! I went to and the agent looked at my photos for a second and said i'll pass and walked away. Now being my first time I felt a little discouraged about asking and questions...I didn't get a have a nice day or anything! lol I know that rejection is apart of the journey...just didn't expect the rejection to come across kinda rude...but from now on I will definitely ask. Thanx again!

[fritmayo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetteT 4. No, it's not rude to ask ... it's good information for you to know. If you are pleasant when you ask, they will usually give you some idea. That is the advantage of going to open calls ... you get feedback. If you just send in pictures, you will never know what they think.

I must say that personaly, it anoys me a lot
Because there is usually 2 cases, some girls try modeling even if well...they are obviously very very far from any chance
in this case you wonder why it is not just obvious for herself that she can not be model. But of course to tell her, that she is just a very ugly thing 15 kilos overweight, u can't...so what to say her? or ur honnest and it is very rude, or you have to lie to be fakely nice, so in this case...she should better not to ask (to me at least...).

The other case is somehow even more complicated, the girl is actualy pretty, i mean in a way that probably all her friends tell her she is pretty and in a way she is pretty enough for guys to look at her.
but...she does not have that little thing in addition which can turn a pretty girl into a model. To put words on that little thing is difficult, as it can not really defined (if not agency job would be easy...) so an answer dont help much i think.

So, me, I m VERY anoyed when a girl ask, and i must say that actualy, nowadays, i give the same answer to everybody who ask

[cologne_rocks]

haha and her parents would probably attend the agency in ordner to threaten this agent with doing a complaint against him/her because of saying "you are neither pretty nor have the measurements!", this happened at a small agency with high potential in Holland some days ago. I personally think it's right to be brutally honest and to be "plain in your face", but being like this makes just further problems i guess.... I think most agents say just:" Thanks for your application, you are petty but do not match our established clientele." Pretty boring, but better for time and nerves, though

[BetteT]

Yeah ... I understand that it's something an agent hears time and again. And many do have a canned answer because it gets old in a hurry ... something like what cologne says.

I would say if someone just turns away and doesn't express any interest at all ... then it probably would not be a good person to ask. You have to judge thier tolerance by how interested they are in you.

But ... if someone shows some interest, but then nothing happens ... that might just be the right person to ask why they changed their mind ... since you already have a dialog going with them.

Looking at it from the models' viewpoint: if they aren't going to rep you anyway ... what difference does it make if they don't want to hear the question? It wont impact your career if they think "Oh no ... here's that question, again!". Information is important and you will never get any answers if you don't ask. Keep that in mind.

Every now and then an agent will take just a moment to give you a little gem and tells you the truth ... which can be very hard to hear. But you need to hear it ... so you know how to proceed. It can help you decide if you are really model material or not. If you are almost there, but need to take care of something, like your skin, wouldn't if be helpful if you knew?

Also, this sort of information might help you understand your market (the types of clients who would even use you) and maybe you are just at the wrong agency. Maybe you are a bit more "commercial" and not suited to fashion ... but do have the right "type" to model in commercial agencies. Or maybe they will tell you have a great look for fashion, but they have another model with your type, so the timing is just bad. So you know that you can check back with them every 3 to 6 months just in case their book changes. Or ... if they all just keep saying the same thing, time after time "You are not what we are looking for" ... they you can eventually understand that you don't have a stong modeling look.

Good or bad ... you need to learn about your potential ... if any.

[P Louie V]

I have a concern, can braces hinder your chances of getting work and/or getting signed to an agency? I just got back from the dentist and i was informed that i might need some for my bottom teeth (Ugh, due to my wisdom teeth) and i'm worried that i wont be able to get an agency with them in .

[cologne_rocks]

that bad for a female model, but extremely worse for a male model, i think male model + branches does not work.

[P Louie V]

^^...., ohh ok. I thought it would be pretty bad too but wasnt too sure

[retailqueen]

what about invisible braces?

[P Louie V]

^^Yeah, im wondering that too. will Invisible braces be the same?

[BetteT]

It depends on how "invisible" they are. If they are the kind that are behind your teeth and if you aren't doing commercial work where you will be expected to smile all the time and where some shots might capture the back side of your teeth ... then it might be possible.

If they are the clear kind, but are still on the front of your teeth ... then no, probably not until they come off.

But if your teeth are crooked and it shows, then you wouldn't be able to work anyway. So get them ... and see what happens.

[PENG.]

is it true that there cant be any scarring on models bodies, such as cuts, stretch marks, or markings caused by any other reasons? im just curious

[fotogenic models]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PENG. is it true that there cant be any scarring on models bodies, such as cuts, stretch marks, or markings caused by any other reasons? im just curious

completely false lol
jordan dunn has visible stretch marks on her bum and that doesnt stop her from doing swimwear. its not a big deal