YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES

You tell yourself, I don't need pictures to promote myself and maybe you’re right, if all you aspire to be is a prom queen. But on the off chance you want to grow up to be a model, you need pictures. There is no way anyone can tell how you are going to photograph. Some really beautiful people don't photograph worth a hill of beans. That's not to say that with work, they can't get better.

When I say you need pictures, I do not mean school pictures, family photographs and definitely not pictures of you and your best friend. We do not want agents or photographers to have to try and figure out which person is you. You need professional pictures that play up your good points and hide your bad ones and you do have bad ones. - You need pictures the show your versatility. If you are a one look person, then your modeling assignments will be few and far between. Your pictures should show different moods and facial expressions and remember there is nothing less sexy than someone who is trying to look sexy. It has to be natural. Change your hair style, wear it up and down and all messed up.

The types of pictures you get are important and there are very definite shots you should have in your portfolio. You need good head shots. The head shot is the most important picture you will have. It shows your face and sometimes your shoulders. You use it to send or give. Send it when you send your picture to agents or other people who are making decisions on who to use on a photo shoot or any other type of modeling. You give your pictures out at cattlecalls. Not a very pretty sounding word but a cattlecall is what happens when you go to a mass interview for models or actors. They herd you in a few at a time take your picture and tell you they will be in touch. You ask, how will they remember you from the several hundred other people there? That's easy on the back of your head shot you put your name, phone number, weight, height, measurements, dress size, shoe size, hair color, eye color and bra size if you are a girl.

The next pictures you want in your portfolio are full length shots. Those are head to toe shot. They need to see that you are a real person. For god sakes, do not become a stick woman in these shots. This is a chance for you to shine. Show some personality in these shots. Draw from the photographers experience on what works and what doesn’t. In the full length shot you will need bathing suit shots both two piece and one piece suits. You can't hide any body imperfections so make sure your body is ready for it. Get yourself in good shape. You need a toned body and remember you photograph heavier than you really are.

Some action shot are always a must in any portfolio. So learn to move. If you just stand there, it is boring for you, the photographer, and anyone who may see the pictures in the future. Learn to dance around for the camera always keeping your eye on the camera unless the photographer tells you to look in a specific direction. Play the part, be a little girl, a seductress, a tomboy. To steal a line from the Marine Corp, be all that you can be.

If you feel the need to look sexy, remember, it is a hard emotion to get across. What you think is sexy is seldom anything, but silly. The sexiest poses are generally the most natural ones. They are soft and vulnerable. It comes from the eyes and the heart, not the body.

You need pictures to promote yourself. The people who make the decisions will forget you five minutes after they see the next person, if they do not have a picture to help jog their memory.