ASK JOEY: Broaden Your Horizons!

Most of you fit into the commercial modeling category - take advantage of this. Broaden your horizons! Make sure you have a variety of photos in your portfolio.  Don't just stick to one type of look, otherwise you face the risk of categorizing yourself.  Definitely take advantage of the many opportunities commercial models can have.  Remember, you need all types of photos - business, fitness, boy/girl, family, etc.  The competition for commercial models is definitely more intense, but if you have the right look and attitude, you will land those jobs.  It won't hurt you to add more photos to your book!

SAM SNEED
I would love feedback or advice on how to really break into the industry and where on earth to start!

 

I really like your look. You should study acting.  You're too short for fashion but you have the perfect look for commercial and print.  I would definitely add more commercial photos to your portfolio and get an agent.  You can start by looking at our ModelWire Fashion Directory and reaching out to agencies in LA. Start scheduling meetings and going out on auditions!

TARAJONES
I am new to the industry and have recently signed with Wilhelmina of PA.  I am a yoga instructor, certified biology teacher with a background in writing.  I am older but find no shame in that! Sometimes I find it difficult as I have an ethnic and earthly disposition that doesn't always bode well for what my agency has in mind for people my age. I am British/Native American and African American. Many industrial go-sees tend to overlook my 'look' as I am not trendy, just simply earthly. Please take a look at my portfolio - don't worry about criticism!

 

You are a very special type of model - and the yoga posed photos type you even more. I like your pictures, especially the ones of you smiling.  I would get more of a variety of photos.  Try posing in different outfits, situations, etc. Otherwise, you will be defined to one type of category which is a tiny part of the advertising market or one that does not exist.  Broaden your horizons!  I bet it will open more doors for you!

NAIMA IMANI
Hello, I am new to ModelWire Network and I see that you are the man to see for portfolio advice. If and when you have the time, would you mind checking out my page and giving me some advice on what I could do to really bring attention to myself and if you think I have what it takes to be agency represented.

 

You have a good look - it's very commercial. You should be able to book jobs with ease once your portfolio gets some work done. Definitely use MWN to connect with photographers in your area and start testing! Update your portfolio and get some new photos in there. Once you have a solid portfolio you can present it to agencies and get represented.

RAVAN RICHARDS
I moved to Los Angeles a few months ago to pursue commercial modeling and I am very short (5'1") but I have a huge personality and I feel like I have a good look! I am looking for representation but a lot of agencies I look into have height requirements.  Would you mind taking a look at my port and letting me know what you think and what it's lacking.  

 

Well I'm glad you know what type of model you are. Most models have a different image of themselves, it's refreshing to hear from someone who knows they are a commercial model. You really need to work on your book.  As a commercial type, you need to have lots of different types of pictures - sporty, boy/girl, business, etc.  Lay off on the 'sexy' photos. Commercial models need to be able to do it all. You need to have a look that everyone can relate to.  Height doesn't matter in the commercial world - an agent will represent you if you have the right look.

LISA P
As a fellow Ford model I welcome any advice from you! Thank you in advance!

 

If you are at Ford, you're in a good place!  I love your look.  New York City is where all the work is - go out and get your share of it! Shake up your bookers and get out there!

In the meantime,

Have a successful day!

JOEY

Follow me @TheJoeyHunter

*Have a question for me? Ask away at ModelWire Network Profile!

MWN New Homepage Slides!

Have you check out our new homepage slides?! If you haven't, check out www.ModelWireNetwork.com and take a peek to see some shots from our shoot with MWN photographer and collaborator Allen Henson!  Thank you again to our models Nikia Phoenix, Kaet Lane, Rey and Connor Hill.  Additional thanks to Dawn Mattocks, Melissa Sandoval and Wilford Lenov. 

 

 

 

Trunk Club for Men

 

There's a new trunk club for men - they can now get a personal stylist who will pick out the perfect things for you to wear (things that actually look good and fit you well!).  Everything gets shipped to your front door and if you fall in love with something they've shipped to you, you can buy it and keep it!  This is great for men who want to constantly update their wardrobe but can't afford to do so.  Simply, sign up for the trunk club and always be fashion forward.  Let your personal stylist do all the work!

 

Meet our Featured Members of the Month!

We're excited to introduce to you our Featured Members of the Month!  Our numbers are rapidly growing and it's getting harder and harder to choose our featured members (this is a great thing, we promise!).  If you are interested in being featured, please feel free to email us at support@modelwirenetwork.com.  Also, keep those collaboration projects going - we are in the process of launching a new homepage featuring photos from another ModelWire Network Collaboration photo shoot!  We're excited to share them with you!

Model of the Month:  Erika Elizabeth

 

Check out Erika's MWN Profile!

Photographer of the Month:  Christopher Alvarez

 

Who is your favorite photographer of all time?

I can't really recall any one single favorite, but my heavy influences are Ellen Von Unwerth, Bettina Rheims, Peter Lindbergh, Helmut Newton, Nan Goldin and Gregory Crewdson.

What inspires you?

Emotion, light, story, conflict, sex, beauty, truth.

What do you look for when selecting a model to work with?

 I am drawn to people who are natural, who I have chemistry with and who need a little direction.  It's not always about poses and perfection, it's about honesty and drama.  I like a person who brings themselves into the shoot, not just a blank canvas.

What kind of camera/equipment do you use?

Canon 5D Mark II, mostly natural light.  I use my 85mm prime a lot as well as my 70-200mm.

What genre does your work focus on?

I shoot mostly editorial, beauty and raw sensual.

Makeup Artist of the Month:  Alayna Rakes

 

What inspires you?

I believe it is important to surround ourselves with positive and inspiring people. I am friendly with many talented and knowledgeable artists of different mediums (music, fabric, woodworking, graphic design, etc) that inspire me and it drives me to work harder. I know it's clique, but we must be open to inspiration from any source. Not just photos of pretty makeup in magazines, but artwork, color combinations in nature, textures, cultures and subcultures from around the world, fantasy, styles throughout history, atmosphere, emotion... I keep a folder of things that strike me and I look through it often. 

What do you look for when selecting a model to work with?

Eyebrows! With every other feature it depends on the look we're going for. It probably sounds silly but it's true! For one shoot we might need a commercial model with light hair and another requires sharp features and olive skin, but the eyebrows must never be overplucked. Any aspiring models should start growing them in 

 What product can you not live without?

I absolutely love Benefit's Bathina for print work. It gives the skin a healthy glow and help make legs look longer! This stuff is magic in photos. Body makeup might not be the first thing makeup artists think of, but it's our responsibility to make sure ALL of the skin looks great. The first time I used it was on a shoot with my sister (she's a pop singer), and even our mom commented on how her legs looked really nice in the photos! 

 What is your favorite project you have worked on?

I sing opera, and was in a production of Mozart's The Magic Flute in 2012. I was playing the First Spirit, but also responsible for the makeup of all of the leads! It was very hectic, but I loved the process of designing the look for each character, and then actually being on stage with them. During non-singing moments I definitely caught myself examining their makeup rather than staying in character! 

What genre does your work focus on?

Most of my work is commercial, but like most makeup artists I jump on any beauty opportunities that I can. Those are what really get recognized and where we can show off! I definitely strive to do more classic beauty work. 

Hair Stylist of the Month:  Daria Wright

 

Why hair styling?

Hair is sensual and powerful.  I get to create all sorts of "mane" statements through my hair styling.

What is your favorite project you have worked on?

The Tyra Show - it was crazy fun.  Awesome crew and a cool supermodel boss!

What is your personal style?

Eclectic chic.  Jeans and heels with statement accessories.

What genre does your work focus on?

Beauty advertising/commercial are my favorites.

What product can you not live without?

  Smoothing Serum.

Wardrobe Stylist of the Month:  Couture Zen (Melynda)

 

What inspires you?

I am driven by classic American style meeting minds with artful and poppy.  I would say I am inspired by Audrey and Katherine Hepburn (very heavily so) but also by films from the late 70s and early 80s.  Women were so feminine then, and they were portrayed as poised, strong, and elegant to balance out that femininity.  I love the idea of having something very classic/feminine and throwing a wild card in with something very funky, very new wave/punk rock (-an original 1950s dress with a T-shirt thrown on over and some chunky shoes, for instance.)

What do you look for when selecting a model to work with? 

Variation of poses, fluid facial movements and feminine gestures. I am actually hugely against the stark poses and weird fetal position type looks some of these girls have in their portfolios, mouth agape and dead stares. I love using models to tell a story of something soft and accessible.

What is your favorite project you have worked on?

So far, my favorite project has been my first photo shoot I ever did for a client. I was 22 and in charge of two separate teams of photographers with 2 locations in one building (shooting editorial and studio simultaneously). I negotiated all the contracts, wrote all the location terms and model contracts, dealt with a micro-budget, created the hair and makeup concept for the day, and I dictated all the frame-ups. I had 3 assistants and a team of interns from FIDM. I had never dreamed before that day I was even capable of something like that. It was chaos! Somehow, though, we (my team and I) managed to pull it off. It was incredible.

What is your personal style?

My personal style comes from an obsession with fashion history and a desire to seamlessly cross over eras.  For instance, I went to Christmas dinner wearing an original 1940s seafoam green, full-length knit skirt with a T-shirt which has a coordinating (seafoam and gold lame) alligator graphic curling fully around the chest/neckline and threw a black leather motorcycle jacket over it.  Ever since I was a child, I have had a “different” eye for quirky things, and my style has remained more or less innately as stated, but I am more refined now and can afford better quality pieces. --I would call my style Classic American Couture meets Art School Nerd. 

What genre does your work focus on?

I would say my work focuses primarily on editorial storytelling.