This article offers information for models, actresses, actors, and lots of other talents out there (like belly dancers, fire performers, wrestlers, you name it!), although the focus is on modeling and the Internet. If you’ve read the Citynet Magazine article on the explosion in the modeling industry, then, you’re ready to begin!
Information
The first step in the process of promoting yourself is to be sure of what you want and expect. Make a list of your experience by area: Runway, casual, swimwear, bikini, lingerie, nude, non-nude, internet modeling, high fashion, athletics, sports, glamour, artistic, bondage, domination, artistic nude, erotic, and so on.
Then make a list of your interests for future modeling gigs. This list might include special skills and training such as acting, theatre and stage, film, TV, dancing, advertising, magazine, nude, non-nude.
Next, list photographers that you have worked with (if any), your vital stats including measurements, dress size, weight, height, hair color, hair length (short, medium, long), eye color, shoe size, age, and a biography. When you add pictures to this package you’ve assembled, you’ve got your portfolio and you’re ready to go!
Pictures
You need professional-looking pictures if you are going to get anywhere. If you’re new to the industry, you should consider TFP.
TFP means Time For Pictures/Prints/Photos. How this works: Get in touch with a photographer (you can try finding them on craigslist or message boards – read below for more info), and check out some of the work they have done. If you like it, contact them and tell them that you are interested in them taking professional-looking shots of you for copies (digital, scanned, and/or hard print copies). This benefits everyone because you get the pictures you need and the photographer gets the practice.
Many photographers will ask that you sign a contract (sometimes called a ‘release’) regarding who owns the rights to the pictures. Be aware of what you are signing and make sure you have permission to use the pictures as you want.
Some contracts may require that any or all of the money you earn from selling your pictures to a magazine for example, go to them, leaving you with nothing. Then again, the likelihood that these actual pictures get picked up by a magazine is low – but it is possible!
…Getting a website really shows how serious you are about your modeling career….
Get your own website
Getting a website really shows how serious you are about your modeling career. If you really want to be taken seriously as a model, get tons of fans, and so on, you should probably get a website.
The first step is to buy your domain name (yourname.com). Prices to buy your name for one year generally range from about $10-35 depending on the company you buy it from. If you want one for free, visit our low cost web hosting page.
You could try to make the site yourself but don’t assume that people can’t tell the difference. It is obvious when a website is made professionally versus being made by an amateur. It’s the same as with photography – people know. If you can, avoid free services such as geocities. They just look bad.
You could get a quality web site made for you for a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars, depending on what exactly you want to do with it. A basic site is one thing but the fancier the site gets (with banners, specialty items, stores, and so on) the more it will cost. Also, just because you have a website, it doesn’t mean anyone will find it. Try to get a website built with search engine optimization.
When you hire someone to make a website, you must understand that you are paying for a service. It takes a lot of the web developer’s time to design and build the site, not to mention the graphic design and constant adjustment of photos. After the site is built, you will likely have to pay for updates every once in a while. On the other hand, there are ways to make your site pay for itself and make you a few extra bucks.
You also have to pay a monthly fee for what’s called “hosting”. “Hosting” means that a company kind of holds your website in cyberspace. The prices vary, generally ranging from $10-$25/month. Visit our lowcost hosting page to get the best hosting deal on the Internet.
Online listings and webpages
If you don’t have a website, some websites such as CitynetMagazine Bikini & Glamour Models will make a free webpage for you. A webpage is a one-page version of a website and can be a good start but is not as useful. Once the webpage is done, you get added to the free listings / directory.
The largest site on the internet to get promoted is OneModelPlace.com. I recommend putting an ad up here and be sure to include your website address right from start since they feature people for the first 1,000 hits to the webpage they give you and then you just fall into their database of thousands of models.
Place an online ad
You should also consider placing ads on classified listings around the ‘net. Just say that you’re a model looking for work (paid or unpaid) and experience. Be sure to include a link to your website or webpage and to some sites that you may be featured on around the ‘net so they can check you out. Playboy model Sazzy Lee Varga has taken advantage of online listings. Aside from being in Citynet Magazine, she’s all over the ‘net!
Online picture ratings and picture contests / competitions
The CitynetMagazine.com Rate Pictures page lists many websites that allow people to rate your picture. The trick is to take some of your best pictures and write your website address on them. Then upload them to these sites. When people see how great you look and see your webpage or website, they’ll go visit.
Also, many websites have contests where they put your picture up against a few others and then visitors vote on who is the hottest.
Message boards
I would argue that guys from message boards of all sorts would click on a link that advertised a young hot model. Find message boards and place an ad! A great place to start is bbrent which lists boards from around the world.
Fan Clubs
If you look really hot (with or without digital enhancement), I recommend that you create a fan club such as with yahoo. That way, word of you grows. Check out what yahoo currently offers in terms of model, actress, and other fan clubs! They call them yahoo groups.
Scouts on the lookout
Even if you have done all of this, there is no guarantee that modeling agencies will find you and/or be interested in you. Since so many people send their portfolios by snail mail, they don’t necessarily need to look online to find more models. But, you never know. Besides, building an online presence with lots of visitors to your website and members in your fan club can help get some attention to yourself which may give you some bragging rights when fighting for paid jobs.
Watch out for scams
There are a LOT of scams out there. Be very careful about who you are dealing with. Paying an entry fee for a new magazine is a total scam. Why should YOU pay for their start-up costs?! Also, many ‘agencies’ claim to be legit and smooth talk you into paying them because they convince you that you are THE type of model the industry is looking for. They may also claim that the biggest agencies come to their website to scout for models. There are tons of scams that have been discussed in detail on other sites.
“Is that all?” – U2
Well, if I think of anything else and feel like adding to this page, I’ll let you know. I hope this article helps… good luck!
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