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This article is from 5th issue of OTS E-Magazine Pages 23-27
Copyright: Photographer Marc Binder OTS #10519
Model "To-Do" List
Happy 2010 you Beautiful People!! Dixie here, it’s finally here – a new year! The holidays were wonderful at my house and now I’m ready to see where 2010 will take me. I have some big plans, how about you? You may not have a list written out, but everyone has something in their life they’d like to add in, throw out, move up, move down, or just get done! I’d like to share with you a few things on the top of my model to-do list along with a couple I think should be on yours. Better get crackin’ - we’ve only got 12 months!
PHOTOGRAPHER - Michael Bates - OTS ID: 8508, Model Dixie Frasier OTS 8603
- Weed it out – Before planning all of those 2010 shoots, you need to weed out your portfolio from years past. This is especially true for those of us with young children. While it is okay to have photos in your own files to send in when a project calls for it, your main portfolio is to show your most recent work (what you look like NOW). Photos of your 5-year-old child at 1 year of age isn’t going to get them booked for anything; ask yourself if you are keeping them there for sentimental reasons. As you get older, your look changes less and your work has a lot more staying power. However, you should still look through and see if there is any older work that isn’t up to par with your most recent photos. It’s all about growth!
 
Photographer Ray Keeling Photography OTS 19459
2. Fill in the gaps – Now that you have cleaned up your portfolio, it’s time to look through, take stock, and see what you may be missing. Swimwear, fitness, headshots, beauty shots, glamour, casual, and editorial; …these are all styles that may be reflected in a well-rounded portfolio. Depending on your model-type (commercial, fashion, fitness) you will need to add in others; for example a commercial model may set up a mock product shoot and a high-fashion model will need more haute-couture and editorial photos. Once you determine what you’re missing, look for photographers that specialize in that look. You’ll find most photographers tend to excel in certain areas.
- Headshots – You might think this would fit into the area above, but a good headshot is crucial enough to earn it’s own spot on my list. There are many portfolios with pages of photos and not a decent headshot among them. I don’t just mean a photo of your head, but a truly great classic headshot. Find a photographer who specializes in this; yours needs to stand out in a stack of 200 others. If you want to get serious about modeling or acting, and move past the ‘hobby’ stage, this is a necessity. Here’s just a quick few words on how to do your part in getting the best photo – MUA, solid-colored shirt, MUA, little to no accessories, MUA. Oops, did I repeat myself? Unless you have experience doing your own makeup for camera, please hire someone. You will be surprised to find that your foundation can ‘disappear’ in camera. If you want a list of recommended headshot photographers or MUA’s in Texas, shoot me an email.
- Get the goods – Okay, you may have a spectacular portfolio online. It does you no good, however, when meeting person-to-person or sending in hardcopy submissions. A hardcopy portfolio, comp cards, 8½x11 headshots, mini-comp cards – these are essential for networking, which is itself one of the most important tools for anyone in the industry. There are several sites online that make it very easy to set up your comp cards and have them shipped to you. They are fairly inexpensive, especially when you consider what they can do for you and your career. As for headshots, your photographer will often have different packages for you to choose from that will include anywhere from 20 copies to 100 or more.
- Take it to the next level – This may be a horribly overused boardroom cliché, but in the right context it can mean so much! My challenge to myself and to all of you in 2010 is to kick it up a few notches. As a mom and a 9 to 5 worker, modeling has been primarily a hobby for both my daughter and myself. While I don’t think I’ll suddenly find the time to fly to LA, my goal is to go on more auditions and go-sees, along with attending more industry events (networking!). Already a career model/actor? Why not take that road trip to LA or NY? Submit to a more exclusive agency, audition for higher-profile jobs or branch out into a different part of the industry you’ve been interested in. You don’t know what you can do until you try!
PHOTOGRAPHER - Terry Turner Photography - OTS ID: 21708
- Work on YOU – I have to add in one last item. Every year we all make resolutions to lose weight. Don’t! Instead, make it your mission to take better care of your body, mind and soul. Try new foods, volunteer for something you care about, challenge yourself in a new hobby or community class. We’ve all heard these before, but this year, take them and make them your own. Find something you enjoy and the rest will follow.
Photographer Chris Ford - Smokey Creek Images OTS ID: 20132
There is so much I want to do; I could keep adding to this list almost indefinitely, but a never-ending list never gets done! So I will leave it here and hope that I inspired you to fill in your own notepad. As always, if you have any questions or would like more specific information on any of these topics (references, resources, clarifications, etc.) feel free to drop me a line. Here’s to an incredible New Year! It’s all what you make of it!
Much love! Diva Dixie * Diva_dixie@yahoo.com
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