Want to be a Model?

Okay, I have had a lot of people ask me how MacKenzie was signed to Tabb Models.

I will start from the beginning, and give some tips on what to do and what NOT to do.

It all started when I was hired to work at a little family owned boutique called Fourth and White Oak. It was a brand spankin' new store when I was hired... I think it had been open for 2 days! Anyway, I had also made a business connection with a photographer who was also pretty new at the time. I thought it would be really cool if we did a photo shoot to show off the clothes and my bosses agreed. Long story short, we rounded up some of our friends, slapped some makeup on 'em and my photographer friend Brandon Burton showed up to shoot them. MacKenzie was one of our models and she loved it. She told me she wanted to model all the time, and I agreed to get her signed.

As my makeup career grew, so did my connections. This is where my advice comes in and you can take it or leave it. This is what worked for us.

1. I was very picky about who MacKenzie could shoot with. I have a certain "no shoot" list that are basically No-No's. Choose to be picky!

2. MacKenzie was 13 when this process began. She was 15 when we signed the contract. Be patient! If this is your passion, then don't give up. We had interviewed with another agency in the OKC area and they turned her down. If she had been 2 inches taller, they would've signed her right then and there. But it turned out okay because we love her agency now!

3. We tend to shoot with a certain type of photographer. Classy. Elegant. NOT creepy. If they seem creepy, they probably are. NEVER GO BY YOURSELF TO A SHOOT. This is so important! Especially in this business, you may meet up with a complete stranger in an area foreign to you. Bring mom, boyfriend, best friend, sister, anyone. If the photographer acts put out by this, then he/she may not be the best person to shoot with. Most male photographers want a witness at the shoot... It protects them, too!

4. Now, when looking to shoot with a photographer, look at their pictures. Have you found cheesy, weird or just plain bad photos in their portfolio? Then don't shoot with them. You don't want that crap in your portfolio!

5. You will need to have nice head shots and body shots taken. Natural, "no-makeup" look, body hugging clothing... People want to see those pictures and think, "Wow, she looks beautiful with no makeup!" You may need to hire a makeup artist for this. If you aren't good at your makeup, then find someone who is good.

6. Okay, to address the skeezy photos I see around Facebook all the time. Do you want to do porn? Do you want to be in Playboy? Does your dream involve nude modeling? No? THEN STOP TAKING NUDIE, SUGGESTIVE PHOTOS. That is all you will ever be contacted about!!! Even if being a Victoria's Secret model is your dream, don't do those kind of photos! Do you see Pam Anderson modeling for VS? No, you don't. (I mean, I get that she totally doesn't have that body type, but you get what I mean.)
Example: Karlie Kloss is a supermodel who did tons of classier shoots. She was in Teen Vogue for goodness' sake. She did her share of edgier stuff, but kept away from non-classy shoots. Now she models for Victoria's Secret. Just sayin'. If you want, take some boudoir pictures. But keep them classy. You know the difference when you see them.

7. Be persistent. This is the best advice I can give. It sounds cheesy, but just don't give up if this is truly what you want.

8. Don't harass the agency you are contacting though... That's just weird.

Again, this is just my advice based on my experience in this business; you can take it or leave it!
You can e-mail me with any questions you may have.

morgan.makeupartist@yahoo.com

Good luck!
Morgan

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