MODEL FAQ's

I often get asked about the modeling profession, with many of the questions coming from aspiring new models. They are often unclear about how they can make money in this business. Being a model is more than wearing the latest fashion down a runway. The following is a brief description of the primary sectors of modeling, with a little insight as to what is required to fill the positions of these various types of modeling offer.

What type of model are you, or would you like to become?

There are essentially five (5) different areas models can gravitate toward. Your body type and personality often dictate which is best issued for you. Other categories exist, but this represents the broadest areas models should initially focus on. 

1. Commercial Modeling (Television, Catalogs and Print-Ads):
Commercial models promote products and services through ads in the electronic media (i.e., Television, Internet,) as well as through Print Advertising. You can appear in commercials/ads, on product packaging, in magazines, on billboards, just about anywhere that’s visible to the consumer. Additionally you can help promote products and/or services ranging from computer equipment to medicines, apparel, shoes and cosmetics. This is the largest modeling category.

Basic Requirements for Commercial Modeling:
Oddly enough, many successful commercial models look like normal, everyday people. However, they possess a unique ability to express an emotion, and the ability to duplicate that look repeatedly. If this type of modeling interest you, start practicing your best looks and poses in front of a mirror. A great many successful models do 10-20 minutes of "mirror work" every day. Practice evoking different types of emotions through your expressions, initially it will be challenging, and will eventually come easily.

The ability to show different expressions, and hold that expression so that the photographer can take multiple shots at different camera exposure settings, and the ability to create that expression again "at will" are all very useful qualities. These qualities and talents can be developed... so don’t despair! Good commercial models are usually photogenic, but exceptions abound. A unique or "different" look is good but often not required. Personality, likeability (that the advertisers' audience or target market can relate to), being internally happy (i.e., liking yourself - because it does show through in your images) and being able to work long hours while at the same time enjoying the process are other attributes that successful commercial models seem to possess.

The majority of pictures on magazine covers or on the pages within are touched up and air-brushed on the computer for hours (digital editing) to create the right look. If you have reasonably good features, a great photographer can make you look like a superstar! Remember, the glamorous superstars don't always look that way in real life. The real "magic" is in the camera, makeup and digital editing. 

2. Promotional Modeling (Tradeshows, Retail, Car Shows, etc.):
Promotional models are usually on their feet, working at Tradeshows and Conventions, handing out Product Samples in Retail Stores, helping promote products or services at Car Shows, Boat Shows, etc. What differentiates Promotional Modeling from Commercial Modeling is the fact that for Promotional Modeling you be there in person, you yourself (not your photo or video) are doing the promoting. It may not appear as glamorous as Commercial Modeling, but it can provide good income opportunities, and the jobs are usually easier to get.

Basic Requirements for Promotional Modeling:
Promotional Modeling is about personality, interpersonal skills, being able to establish a quick rapport, and staying focused on the task at hand. You may meet a lot of different people, albeit each very briefly. If you thrive on meeting people and enjoy the hustle and bustle of a tradeshow environment, Promotional Modeling is usually easier to break into than Commercial Modeling - although exceptions are always there. Even though the job is not primarily about being photographed, you'll still want to look and act your best.

3. Fashion Modeling (includes Runway, Fashion Shows, etc.):
Fashion models help launch new apparel, accessory and/or shoe designs. They working the runway in fashion shows. Large fashion shows usually get great media coverage, and a good fashion model can get print exposure in fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, etc. Similarly, if a fashion show is being covered by the broadcast media, there is a chance that you may appear on Television too.

Basic Requirements for Fashion Modeling:
Up until a few years ago, a height of at least 5 feet 9 inches was considered a minimum requirement for Fashion Modeling. However, that is changing. Now, there are Fashion/Runway shows for pretty much all body types. If you feel good about your body, can walk confidently, and look reasonably good, chances are that you can find some opportunities in Fashion Modeling.

4. Internet Modeling (web-sites, live webcam, etc.):
Internet modeling, whether it is for static content on web-sites, live webcam or streaming video is a fast growing segment of modeling. Generally, you have to be over 18 years of age. This segment of modeling, although often linked to the Adult Industry, can be quite lucrative. For some models that like a stay at home life style this can be a desirable choice. Marilyn Monroe was the first cover girl for Playboy Magazine… she, along with many other famous models who appeared in front of the camera with little or no clothing, had her career jump started by that magazine appearance. Jump ahead to the present and your appearance on a web-site might put your career on a fast track. The possibilities are endless.

5. Modeling for Photographers and Content/Stock-Photo Providers:
Photographers hire models all the time, either to build their own portfolios or to create content for Stock-Photo purposes. The Photo Shoot can be either a paid shoot (where the model gets paid either on an hourly basis or a flat fee) or TFP (trade Time For Prints), or TFCD (trade Time for CD-ROM images). In the TFP or TFCD arrangement no money changes hands. It is a trade - the photographer invests his/her time, expertise and equipment, and the model invests his/her time. They create photos together that both parties can use to further their own professional goals, respectively. Stock Photo Agencies sometimes commission a photographer to take certain pictures that can then be sold to different companies for use in advertising and marketing materials.

Note: Great and new ways of using models still await discovery. Use your imagination and perhaps you will become wealthy beyond your dreams. Dare to Be Great!

Are You America’s Next #1 Model?
Take the First Step. 
Book a Photo Shoot with Jack Watson.

I will provide you with:

1. Posing Assistance and Makeup Tips.



2. Safe, Supportive and Professional Enviornment.



3. High-Quality Equipment.



4. Experienced, Courteous World-class Professional Photographer!



5. I’ll bring out your natural beauty by using unique lighting and editing techniques and proper camera angles. For example, I can make you look taller/shorter, thinner/heavier, make your nose/forehead/eyes look smaller/larger and digitally remove skin flaws and imperfections. 
You'll be quite pleased with the results!



6. Females Only (Up to Age 65+ Years): Female Photography is my main focus (all ages), and I do it exceptionally well! 
I don't do weddings, graduation or event photography. I routinely shoot over 1,000 pictures a day, and take strikingly beautiful pictures of beautiful women. 
Ask yourself. Would you rather have a specialist Photographer take your pictures (someone who specializes in female photography) or someone else who mixes model photography sessions with Photo Shoots of beer cans, factories and industrial equipment? Yes, I occasionally shoot those things…but only when I’m on vacation!

7. FREE Photo Shoot: 
The Photo-session is always Free (in Daytona Beach, Florida). There is no session-fee, no studio-fee and no sitting-fee. I charge only for the CD-images, Prints and/or my Time and Expertise for Air-brushing and Digital Touch-up. If you’re a professional model I do on occasion offer TFP or TFCD services. Please call or email if interested in TFP/TFCD.

A Little Wisdom Regarding Photo Shoots And What To Do With The End Product!

A. Less is More: When submitting pictures for Auditions or to an Agency, "less is usually more"! Prospective clients or agents would rather see Five (5) of your Best pictures instead of 50 mediocre ones. Too many pictures are confusing (that is why Comp-cards have only 5 images). Keep it simple!

B. Be Objective: A common mistake that models make is to select their own five best images. It is best to have your experienced Photographer pick out your best five images because they would see them objectively, like a prospective client or agency would (remember, I am a clients too, because I also hire models for paid photo-shoots). I know what to look for in a picture! Unbiased professional objectivity is often more important than one's own perception of their own picture.

C. No one is 100% Perfect (not even movie superstars): Those beautiful glamorous photos that you see on magazine covers have usually been digitally air-brushed… heavily I might add, and often touched-up for hours on the computer! Airbrushing can remove wrinkles, moles, birthmarks, stretch-marks, scars, etc., and help present you in the best light. You get only one chance to make a good first impression. Use my advanced air-brushing and digital editing techniques to your advantage.

D. The Best Cameras (and photographers) are still Imperfect: Even high-end Professional Grade Digital Cameras like I use costing thousands of Dollars each do not always take perfect pictures. And I also occasionally capture a bad image. These images may be soft (needing sharpening), too dark (needing to have brightness/contrast/levels/curves adjusted) or are not the most flattering color (needing color-balancing, color-correction and special digital filter effects on the computer). I can show you both "Before" and "After" versions of your best pictures. The difference is like night and day. Let me help you put your best foot forward through my advanced digital editing. I am a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and attend seminars frequently to keep up on the latest tricks of the trade.

E. Do NOT pay an Agency for Photography or Prints: I am not an agent. I am only a photographer. Technically and legally, Modeling Agencies, Talent Agencies and/or Placement Agencies should NOT be asking you to pay them anything for a Photo Shoot, Comp-Cards, etc. They are supposed to make their money on the commissions from your earnings (up to 20%) but only after they find work for you. However, some of the less scrupulous ones try to get around the law and get you to pay for Photography, Prints, Comp-cards, etc., and often camouflage it as a "Test Shoot" with an "independent" photographer, who may simply be a friend or relative or someone who gives the agency a "cut". Don't be a victim, and don't fall prey to that "Test-Shoot" trap. A legitimate agency should be able to find you work for free, and will initially work off your regular 4" x 6" prints. 

Here are the top 3 reasons for NOT having your Photo Shoot and/or Comp-cards done through an Agency:

i. It may be illegal: Agencies are not allowed to charge for Photography, Comp-cards, etc. They may call it by another name (such as a "Test Shoot"), but that may just be a thinly veiled attempt to disguised or circumvent the law. Make sure you are deal with a legitimate agency that is genuinely interested in representing you and finding paid work for you, not just interested in selling you a Photo Shoot or Comp-cards package. Yes, Comp-cards are good to have, and will help you showcase yourself, but you don't want to get them through your agency for the reasons explained below.

ii. It may limit your opportunities: Agencies will usually print their own agency-name and agency-logo on your Comp-card, which makes other agencies less inclined to use your Comp-card (after all, they don't want to promote their own competition). Thus, you get locked in, and may limit your opportunities. A better option is to let me do your Photo Shoot then give you the pictures on disk. You may then use those pictures to print your own generic Comp-cards very inexpensively (you can find good Comp-card printing companies on the Internet, such as One Model Place.) Then, present those generic Comp-cards to up to Ten (10) or more agencies instead of getting locked into using just one agency (the agencies can each put their own Company-sticker/Label on the Comp-cards, which is fine). The agency may also try to sell you minimums of 500-1,000 Comp-cards, whereas with an independent printing company, you may print as few as 50-100 and SAVE MONEY!

iii. It will cost you more: To add insult to injury, many so-called Agencies not only charge for the PhotoShoot and Comp-Cards initially but then turn around and charge you more if you want additional prints made to submit to other agencies. That is because they don't let you have the original images on disk (with which you could have gone to your neighborhood drugstore and made your own prints very inexpensively). Rather, they charge you up to $20 or more for each print. Beware of "Photo-Mills" disguised as Modeling Agencies. Let me do your Professional Photo Shoot and give you the images on disk, so that you may print your own unlimited Comp-cards and Pictures and save money.

Any legitimate Modeling Agency should be able to work with the images that I shoots for you. The images will be of A+ Quality, second to none! If the agency still tries to find fault, makes excuses, or tries to hit you up for payment for a Test Shoot or Comp-cards, just move on, and refuse to be a victim!

Boudoir Photography 
(Glamour, Sensual, Artistic Nudes)

I often get asked if I'll do a Classy, Tasteful, Boudoir or Glamour (sensual or artistic nude) Photo Shoot. The answer is, yes, as long as you are female, over 18 years of age, and can present at least one form of valid Government-issued Picture-identification as proof of age (Driver's License, Passport, etc), and one other form of ID. I will entertain legitimate requests for sensual Glamour/Boudoir/Artistic Nude Photo Shoots because, 

a). It is a popular and valid art form…

b). I do not wish to limit any model's earning potential if a Glamour/Boudoir shoot will help them further their career… 

c). It can help my clients preserve their memories, re-kindle the passion in their relationships and bring them happiness for years to come (discreet Personal photos are not posted on any of my web-sites). You can also Purchase a Gift Certificate for your loved one as an Anniversary Present, Birthday Present, a gift for Valentine's Day or the Holidays, etc…

Preserve your memories and/or rekindle the passion in your relationship by giving your loved one beautiful pictures of yourself. Purchase a Gift Certificate now (even if it is a "gift" from you to yourself). You will be glad you did! After you place you call me for purchase of the Gift Certificate, I will contact you by phone or e-mail within 24-48 business hours to set up your Photo Shoot at your convenience. If you have any questions before that, please use the CONTACT LINK on this web site to e-mail me. Thank you!