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 101 Tips & Tricks

Pointing Your Toes: If you are posing for full length images barefoot, you will want to be sure your toes are pointed for all poses. It creates a seamless, and feminine line for your legs, making them appear longer. Flat feet look masculine and aren't pleasing to the eye in a photograph!

High Heels: Wearing heels tightens the leg and butt muscles as well as elongate the legs. You can also make a fashion statement of course with High Heels as they are the perfect accessory and completion to any wardrobe as there are SO many styles and colors!

Remove Hair Ties From Wrist: I'm guilty of it myself on a rare occasion, but no one wants to see a hair tie on your wrist in images. It doesn't look like an accessory, it looks like a hair tie, especially the ones with the metal pieces. They also create wrist lines. 

Stretch Your Neck: By stretching your neck, you elongate it as well. You don't want to lose your neck in images, as it makes it appear as your head is sitting on your shoulders. 

Practice Posing: Practice makes perfect! Become more comfortable posing by sitting or standing while posing in front of a full length mirror. This gives you an idea of the poses you like, what looks good, as well as help you learn great angles for your body and face! You can even try mimicking poses from magazine photographs! The more you do this, the more comfortable and versatile you will be on camera!

C-Curve and S-Curves: These are 2 different categories of feminine posing, that are meant to accentuate the curves on the body in images (as well as real life). The S-Curve is simply posing your body from head to toe forming a slight curve that resembles an S. The C-Curve is the same; forming the shape of a C with your body, typically by arching your back. Examples of both below!

Example of an S-Curve
Model: Teresa Myers
Photographer: Kelvin Leung
MUA/Hair: Cindy Wong

Another Example of The S-Curve
Photographer: David Dwyer

An Exaggerated Example of a C-Curve
Photographer: Wiz Of Oz Photography

Here is One interpretation of a C-Curve
Photographer, Hair, MUA: Briana Robertson
Designer Dress: Natalie

This could be a combination of both S-Curve and C-curve!
Photographer: Michael Luna

Artistic Modeling

Image by Harlequin's Photography

There are MANY different modeling genres to choose from, or be extremely versatile and try to excel in as many as you can. Some examples of modeling genres are Fashion, Glamour, Beauty, Artistic, Alternative, Nude among many more! 

Image by Wiz of Oz Photography

Image by Ted Scanon

I find I get to be my most creative in artistic shoots. One of the great things about artistic shoots, is that the images are not concentrated on your face, or makeup, or clothes, so MANY types of models, tiny or plus size, tall or short can model for artistic imagery! 

Artistic modeling calls for the model to know his or her body well, enabling him or her to have an arsenal of poses, that accentuate lines, curves and angles. 

When Can You Start Charging?

From my personal experience you can start charging when people are ready to pay. Essentially before you start charging, you will need to take many factors into consideration. You will of course want to make sure you have a versatile and strong portfolio with images that best display your look and style, as well as what you can bring to the table. You will likely need to put fourth an insane amount of hard work to get to the point where you are giving out rates.

Image by: Wiz Of Oz Photography
www.wizofozphotography.com

Another thing to consider, is when being offered a shoot by a photographer, after you have already built a substantial portfolio and have had the experience, these are some things you will want to take into consideration before sending your rates to the photographer in question: Is his work equal quality or better quality to your portfolio? If so, you may NOT want to offer him/her your rates, as they can benefit your portfolio and get you exposure. If the photographer has an empty, outdated, or not great quality images, I feel it is acceptable to send your rates. 

Photographer: Paul Parks of Blatant Pixels

Rates should vary on experience and market. Do some research to see what other models in similar genres are charging, and meet in the middle. 

Getting paid right away is best accomplished NOT by being a freelance model, but by signing with a commercial agency, or model 18+ work. 

Another great way to receive payment(non monatary) is to suggest that you will shoot for tear sheets or web tears. Being published is what it's all about, whether it's for a company, product, service, the more published you are the more offers to be published you will see. 

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.