Modeling is one of those extremely competitive careers complete with its own fairytale-like model discovery stories. We’ve all heard about how Kate Moss was discovered at JFK airport or how Gisele Bundchen was found in a shopping mall. However, actually getting yourself signed to an agency and booking modeling gigs can be (and usually is) more similar to getting any Continue Reading
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Posts Tagged ‘Agencies’
Top 65 Modeling Agencies in the US and Tips for Models
19
Mar
US transportation agencies ban passenger aircraft from transporting lithium-ion batteries in cargo
01
Mar
 |
The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration have announced a new Interim Final Rule banning the transportation of lithium-ion batteries in passenger aircraft cargo. As well, the new rule requires lithium-ion batteries transported on cargo planes to have no more than a 30% charge.
The new rules were revealed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao on Wednesday. The regulation is intended to help protect passenger and cargo aircraft from potentially catastrophic fires that may result from faulty lithium-ion batteries, which are prone to catching on fire and exploding when they overheat. Below is an older video shared by the FAA showcasing what can happen when a lithium-ion battery fault.
Travelers flying in passenger aircraft retain the option of packing lithium-ion batteries in their carry-on luggage. This includes devices with non-removable batteries, such as phones and laptops, as well as standalone batteries, including power banks and spare cameras batteries.
The Interim Final Rule follows the FAA’s 2017 proposal for a global ban on lithium-ion batteries in checked airline luggage. The recommendation was made based on tests conducted by the FAA, which found that fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in a plane’s cargo hold could potentially result in ‘the loss of an aircraft.’
The full Interim Final Rule can be read here [PDF].
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
US intelligence agencies warn against purchasing Huawei smartphones
15
Feb
 |
Directors from six US intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and NSA, have told the Senate Intelligence Committee that they wouldn’t recommend Americans use Huawei services or products, according to CNBC.
FBI Director Chris Wray explained to the Committee:
We’re deeply concerned about the risks of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that don’t share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks. That provides the capacity to exert pressure or control over our telecommunications infrastructure. It provides the capacity to maliciously modify or steal information. And it provides the capacity to conduct undetected espionage.
This saga actually began in 2012, when the Chinese tech company was the subject of a national security investigation by US government officials who worried that its products may pose a cybersecurity risk. Huawei publicly dismissed the concerns, though the final investigative report alleged the Chinese company wasn’t fully cooperative with investigators. Australian government officials had expressed similar concerns at the time.
Huawei has consistently denied claims that its products and services may be compromised by the Chinese government. These concerns, however, have persisted to varying degrees over the years, and recently came to a head when AT&T abandoned plans to offer the Huawei Mate 10 phone in its stores.
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| The Huawei Mate 10 Pro went up for pre-order in the United States earlier this month. |
Sources speaking to Reuters last month claimed that US lawmakers pressured AT&T into cutting commercial ties with Huawei over national security concerns, and that included asking AT&T to stop offering Huawei phones through its Cricket subsidiary. Bloomberg reported similar issues related to Verizon’s abandoned plans to sell the Huawei Mate 10.
This intelligence report to the Senate Intelligence Committee is the latest, and possibly the worst, blow for Huawei, which has struggled to enter the US market. The Mate 10 Pro and its impressive camera only just went up for pre-order in the US, and already consumers are being warned against purchasing.
Chinese drone maker DJI recently faced similar issues following a leaked government memo and a report detailing what is claimed to have been a major security vulnerability.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Reaching Out To Modeling Agencies
25
Jan
Hey FashionPhotographyBlog.com readers!
A LOT of people have asked how to approach agencies to work with their models so, here’s a crash course in testing with agency models! First things first, you have to have the type of images an agent would like to see. Agencies like to see clean photographs:
– Images that aren’t too shadowy or weirdly lit
– Photographs with nice hair and makeup- keep it simple!
– No intense, crazy eye-shadow
– No big, teased hair
– NO NUDITY
The whole idea behind testing with an agency is that they want clean, beautiful images of their models to put in the models portfolio. This means images that show the model as they naturally look, not images that show the model with 15 pounds of makeup and Photoshop’ed past recognition. Make sure all your images aren’t of one or two people, have a variety to show the agency that no matter who they send you you’ll be able to take a damn good photo!
Have those clean portrait/fashion portrait images already? I suggest having a website you can link the agency to. If you don’t have a site yet, no worries. Attach around 5 images in your email to the agency so they can view your work and get a sense of your style. (Make sure you have 10-15 good images to show, in case you’re asked to provide more.)
Now you’re ready to reach out!
1. Call the agency you’re interested in working with and ask who you should speak to in regard to testing with their new faces. You’ll probably be given the email address to a booker (model agent) and asked to send over your portfolio.
2. Email the booker:
– Start with a nice introduction, explain who you are and that you’re looking to test with their new faces.
– Include your portfolio: Link the booker to your website or attach 5-6 photos.
3. Wait.
4. Got a response? Congrats! You’ll most likely be sent a package (a listing of available models in need of images for their book) and will have the opportunity to choose who to work with:
– Sometimes the booker will ask if you have a team (aka creative team – hair, makeup and wardrobe stylists) Be honest with them. Don’t lie and say you have a team if you don’t. It will show in the final images you produce. The agency wants to make sure they’re sending their girls out on shoots that will help their books, not waste their time.
– Sometimes you’ll be asked for a mood board. What is a mood board anyways? (Well get into that in another post) In short, a mood board is a compilation of images that show what it is you’re trying to accomplish. Inspiration for hair, makeup, wardrobe, overall outcome of the shoot.
5. No response? That’s okay. Just be persistent, keep shooting and try again. Never take “No” for an answer! There have been plenty of times that I’ve been turned down but I kept shooting and eventually was given a break. I’m currently testing with agencies that had previously not responded to my emails. Believe in yourself and someone will come along who believes in you too!
– Alana
Did you find Alana’s post useful? Please leave your comments below in the comment section. We would like to know what you thought about this post. If you enjoyed this article, do stay tuned as Alana has another post just around the corner on FashionPhotograhyBlog.com. If you want to know more about shooting with models from agencies, check our upcoming post on Tips For Working With Agency Models.
IMAGE SOURCE:
Feature image & images 1: courtesy of Alana Tyler Slutsky.
Approaching the Modeling Agencies
26
Aug
Getting your Foot in the Door Isn’t that Scary!
One of my blog readers, Troy Copes, wrote to me recently and suggested I write a post about how to approach modeling agencies. In truth, I have gotten a fair amount of emails asking the same question. So I thought I’d try to answer the question and post some of my early work from my first portfolio, the very same portfolio that I used to get my own foot in the door of the modeling agencies. Keep in mind, I first approached modeling agencies back in the late ’80′s and early ’90′s. Also keep in mind that this is just from my personal experience. I can only write about what I have experienced myself. And it’s been a few years since I first started out…….but hopefully you’ll find some useful information in the post!
Starting Out
I remember it was a pretty daunting experience to approach an agency like Ford or Wilhelmina. You’re at the point where you NEED good models for your book and while you’re not exactly booking big money jobs, your portfolio is at a place where pro models are the next step in furthering your work and your career. I am not sure why agencies can be intimidating and trust me, I’m trying to remember my early fears of them and why I was so shy. Maybe it’s from the stand point of the agency having something you need and you know that you don’t have a lot of money to offer or jobs on the table to make it worth their while to send good models your way. But you have to start somewhere so making those initial calls HAS to be done. First of all, remember, not everyone out there is going to fall all over themselves to help you. And not everyone out there is going to think your work is utterly amazing. There will be some agencies that really like you and your work and will want to help you, while others may not show that much interest. That’s okay. Obviously, stick with the agencies that show interest in having you test with some of their new faces and start to develop relationships with those bookers.
Contacting the Agency
Before you approach any agency you have to have a website to refer the bookers to. You would call the agency and ask to speak to the booker in charge of new faces. After introducing yourself, ask him or her if you can get their email so you can send them your website. In the email to them, keep it short and sweet. Don’t send them paragraphs of personal information about your life and your vision. They don’t care. All they care about is if your work is good enough for them to take a chance with you by sending you some of their girls that need to test for their books. So in your email, introduce yourself, give them the link to your site, offer to come in and show them your print portfolio, thank them for their time and consideration and wish them a good day. That’s all you need to do in the beginning. If they’re interested in working with you, they’ll email you back or call you. It’s that simple, really.
Fogettah Bout’ It!
In the early days, I clicked immediately with some bookers and was able to really start testing with some very good, professional models right away. And then again, there were some agencies that just simply weren’t that interested in working with me. Even today, I click with some bookers and approach them first when I have a job or even if I feel like testing. And then I send out the casting call to the others. Some bookers I’ve met and I’ve known for 20 years. Some bookers I’ve never met in person but we have a strong on-line relationship. I make an effort to go out and meet the bookers at some point because I think it’s still important to introduce myself to people in the industry. It’s not a daunting experience for me anymore but I’ve developed a thicker skin at this point and I know deep down that some people are going to love my work and some people aren’t going to “get it”. That’s okay nowadays. But when I was younger and more insecure, it was really intimidating. All I can say is that after time you will become aware of this fact and it will get easier to approach the agencies.
To Print or Not to Print?
I still think it’s important to have a print portfolio. I was recently in New York and took my print book to all the agencies when I went to introduce myself. I recently bought an iPad ( I know….I’m such an apple groupie ) and I will probably start carrying that around with me on appointments from now on. But I will continue to keep my print book updated and carry that with me as well on most appointments. The one thing I think the iPad will be great for is presentations for clients and editors. I’m not sure about Fed Ex’ing an iPad to a potential client yet. I’ve been reading about it on other blogs but I don’t feel comfortable with the idea at this point. But it’s definitely something I will use in meetings when discussing upcoming projects.
If at First You Don’t Succeed…
Most fears are conquered by just facing them down. I have found through experience that overplaying a scenario that intimidates me in my mind over and over again is far worse in my head than the actual situation ends up turning out. Find the best local modeling agencies in your area and then start calling them one by one. You can always ask the receptionist for the email of the booker you wish to contact, sometimes they will give it to you. Or you can ask the receptionist what the agency’s protocol is for potential photographers that want to test. Some agencies have an open call day where you go in during certain times to show your book. It just can’t hurt to ask. And you’re not the first photographer who has called asking to test their models. One thing that goes without saying, and again, this is just my humble opinion but I wouldn’t try to get my foot in the door of an agency you wish to test with by asking to do paid tests. A paid test is where the model pays the photographer for pictures for her book. Start out by offering to test for free and after time, when you’ve built a good relationship with the agency, THEN you can start asking for payment. Again, all of this is just my own opinion and advice. Other photographers might tell you differently!
(All Images © Melissa Rodwell Photography 2010)
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