Blue Indigo Studios Model Agency for fashion, glamour, catalogue, art, beauty, film, promotion and specialist models

Naturally, if you are graced with classical good looks and a terrific figure you have a head start, but even if you lack those attributes there is still a vast range of modelling opportunities available.

As well as the usual tall size 10 to 12s, photographers and companies also want petite glamour and catalogue models who are under 5' 3" or plus-size 14 upwards or even over 50s too.

Reality check : for female fashion models, as a rule of thumb you need to be a minimum height of 5' 8" (173 cm), size 8 and under 25 years of age. For the guys, at least 6' (183cm) tall, chest 40" (101cm) and regular suit size.

You should have clear skin, good hands, nails and teeth plus healthy hair and regular features.

Apart from the high profile world of Glamour and the Catwalk, there are many other categories of commercial modelling that includes press ads, TV commercials, brochures and catalogues. You may be the 'girl using the exercise bike' or the 'guy getting dressed in a gym changing room for a deodorant ad'. Catalogues, especially fashion, tend to feature models with more normal day-to-day figures. Specialist modelling areas include hair, skin, hands and feet. Or perhaps you have what it takes to be an artist's model?

FLEXIBILITY, HARD WORK and above all else RELIABILITY are the keys to modelling but you should also be alert, bright, good natured and display commonsense. If you are not prepared to give 100% then modelling is not for you. You may have to work long and unsociable hours and be willing to travel to shoots and castings although travelling expenses are normally paid. But of course, there won't be many complaints for a photo shoot in Mauritius for a week! Work can be sporadic so this often suits students and mothers but being self-employed also means you are your own boss with nobody telling you what to do.

Pay can vary enormously from £25 through to £100 per hour for general photographic work to £800 to £1000 per day for catalogue work. TV commercial work normally offers about £250 a day with the possibility of royalties.

So how do you get started? The first thing to point out is there are many rogue 'agencies' ready to prey on your enthusiasm and inexperience. The first essential is for you to have a portfolio compiled as this is primarily how you advertise and sell yourself. You may wish to have a portfolio done privately by a photographer whose style you think suits you. 'Time for Prints' where the photographer gives you a set of photographs from the session with no payment either way. This is an option but the results can be variable.

For glamour models your portfolio should contain at least 6 photos:- a portrait (i.e. face), 4 full length (left and right profile, front and back shots) plus a three-quarter length photo. These should be nude shots (a G-string can be worn) with the breasts not supported by hands or ribbons, etc. The idea is to show the potential client quality photographs of your basic features rather than the artistry and creativity of the photographer who took them.

For fashion models your portfolio should contain clothed photos of portraits, side , full and three-quarter shots plus a sitting pose. These photos are designed to show how well you wear clothes and again not the artistry and creativity of the photographer.

REMEMBER, THE RIGHT PICTURES WILL GET YOU WORK AND WORK MEANS MONEY............

Blue Indigo Studios has a network of photographers across the UK who provide a Portfolio Service at very reasonable prices.

In all cases, your portfolio must be kept CURRENT as prospective clients need to know how you look now rather than a few years ago. You may well need some training in which case The Association of Model Agencies (AMA, 020-7584-6466) can provide a list of suitable training schools.

Safety Precautions

Your safety and well being is obviously paramount. For photographers using Blue Indigo Studios for the first time, we perform various background checks to ascertain their credibility. Here are some general safety tips:

Personal identity. Never reveal your address or land line telephone number, especially over the internet. It is often advisable to have a separate working name rather than using your real one. When registering your very own website, try to avoid specifying your home address as this information is publicly available.
Get to know the photographer. It's not always possible to call in for an informal chat before the shoot but try to see samples of the photographer's work and ask for references from other models they've worked with.
Shoot Location. By far the best option is to use a studio preferably one local to yourself. Most studio owners will quite happily discuss studio policy over a coffee and most will ask if you want to be listed with them which could mean further work.

But if a studio shoot is not possible and you're unsure of the photographer then take a friend along with you ( a genuine photographer should not mind ) or at least inform a friend or relative stating exactly where you're going and how long you expect to be. Tell them to call your mobile at a set time. It is also recommended that you obtain the photographer's proof of identity and something that links them to their home residence such as a utility bill.
Type of Shoot. Ensure you and the photographer are in clear agreement to the shoot's contents and fee. Some photographers may want you to go further but pay the same. Avoid this situation by ensuring the photographer knows your limits and exactly what is expected before the shoot commences.
Don't part with money for a test shoot. Most photographers will do you TFP (Time for Prints) which means you pose for them and they supply photographs (Digital or Prints) for giving them your time. This is a good way for a newcomer to build up their portfolio at no cost.
Avoid confrontation but be firm and polite.

Common sense and awareness of your surroundings are the key words. Do not become paranoid but remember, although very rare, there are unscrupulous photographers who will try take advantage of you.

Happy and successful modelling.

Model Release Forms (MRF) and Proof of I.D.

If a photographer wishes to gain financially from the photos he has taken of you and/or wants to publicly display them, then both of you must sign a MRF with each person keeping a signed copy. This form is a legal contract stating the usage of the photographs and protects (a) the photographer from being sued by you for mis-use, and (b) yourself from being exploited. For signing a MRF you may receive an additional payment or possibly a percentage from the proceeds of the sale of the photos (this would be stated explicitly in the MRF). However, for most shoots, especially those with professionals the MRF is usually built into your fee.

IMPORTANT note concerning I.D.: For any photo shoot to commence, TWO forms of i.d. are a legal requirement, with at least one being photographic. Examples include passport, driving licence, birth certificate or any official document with your name and birthday. Obviously the name and birthday must match up on all documents provided.

If minors (i.e. under 18s) are photographed, by law a parent or legal guardian must be present at the shoot.

Enrolment

Should you enrol with Blue Indigo Studios, we can serve you by:-

Actively promoting you in your specialist areas and handling booking arrangements. Any amounts charged by us will be added on top of your fee. I.e. the photographer pays this amount and it will not deducted from your rate
Apart from taking bookings, we allow our Members (photographers, T.V. Production companies, etc) to email models direct regarding assignments. However, as they will use the website's emailing system they will be unaware of your personal email address. When you reply, you can email direct revealing your email address or if you prefer, use the website's anonymous email system to preserve your email identity. Full instructions will prefix each email received from a Member.

The following points should be noted:

This web site is for modelling and promotional assignments only.
There is no contract between us which enables you to continue working on freelance projects as before. Additionally, any shoots we arrange you have the right to refuse.