I am becoming more and more in love with BEAUTY work and headshots. I love great quality makeup achieved by professional Makeup Artists and even Hair Stylists, coupled with a fantastic Photographer that understands Beauty Lighting!

For Beauty Shots and headshots, concentration is more on the hair, makeup, and facial expression, but I adore when people work their hands into play, especially models who pose their hands properly!

If you are wondering how to pose your hands properly, without making them look awkward or manly, instead of flat hands, or completely spread fingers, resort to what I've always called "The Waterfall" in which you curl your fingers in slightly, at staggered lengths...pinky curled in the tightest, then ring finger slight less curled in, middle finger even less curled in and finally the pointer finger sticking out the most. Here are some examples where strong hair, makeup, expression and "The Waterfall" come into play!!

Photographer: Fred Prose
MUA/Hair: Kristine Frank

Photographer: Fred Prose
MUA/Hair: Kristine Frank

Photographer: Fred Prose
MUA/Hair: Kristine Frank

Photographer: MLP Studios(Michael Luna)
Makeup: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: MLP Studios(Michael Luna)
Makeup: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: Bobbie Osborne
MUA: Libby Nachtrieb

Photographer: Dave Kelley (Studio Seventy3)
MUA: Kerri Metcalf
Hair Stylist: Vanessa Ripoyla

Photographer: Ed Wilson
MUA/Hair: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: James Robertson
MUA/Hair: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: James Robertson
Hair/MUA: Myself (Teresa Myers)

Photographer: Kelly Ealy
Mua: Natasha Newhouse

Modeling Freelance 101

There are many ways to begin your journey as a freelance model. I'm not saying my way is the only way, because everyone does things differently, but I would like to share how this anyway!

 As a beginning model, you will immediately want to start building a portfolio. Having a portfolio will help you book work, as well as show potential clients and even agencies what you can do! Everyone has to start somewhere! You can either build a portfolio by hiring one or more professional photographers for outstanding images, or you can find some photographers that will work with you on a TRADE basis, or TFP/TFCD (Time For Print, or Time For CD of Images). It becomes easier and easier to book shoots, once you have a rock solid portfolio.

A good way to find photographers, MUA's and Hairstylists, along with many other types of artists, is through social netoworking sites such as Model Mayhem, OneModelPlace, or even Facebook. Do a search for photographers in your area that will work on a trade basis, and ask them to set up a shoot, they will either say yes, decline, or send their rates. Sometimes it gets things moving faster if you start off by hiring a quality photographer, that will put fantastic starting images in your portfolio for you to showcase, and book more work from,

Generally in freelance modeling, unless there is a team involved, you will be providing your own wardrobe, hair, and makeup. This is also a plus for any photographer that wants to book you. The more you can offer or bring to a shoot the better. I find that my BEST wardrobe actually has come from thrift stores such as Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange, ETSY, and other places. Being a freelance model and having to provide your own warrdrobe can get pricey, so second hand shops are a great way to avoid emptying your wallet, not to mention you may find some vintage or unique treasures!

Being a freelance model has it's benefits and it's downfalls. You will likely book higher paying work from local agencies, but often you will find you can book more of your own work! Some models are both freelance and signed with an agency, if you can find an agency that doesn't mind not having exclusivity.