She's Got the Look Models

Being a model is a lot like having a baby. If you have never had one, you will never fully understand what it's like. Others who've experienced what you desire (a successful modeling career) will tell you their story or experience of what they think is valuable, but it's something that you must experience in order to fully understand where I'm coming from. As exciting and rewarding as the modeling industry is for me, I realize it's not for everyone... and it may not be for you.

The ball is in your court and you must decide if you want to enter into the wonderful world of fashion and beauty. It's not always as glamorous as it seems and there are moments of rejection and disappointment from time to time -- but with any career you will experience the same emotions.

Let's get back to the photographs. Photo printing, developing and processing is another ongoing fee throughout your career. It's all about the photos! How well do you photograph? Modeling is all about a moment in time when you capture the essence of the creative director's dream and the client's marketing plan in an advertisement that is intended to gain notoriety and monetary gain for the client/company. As models we are paid unbelievable amounts of money to "own the moment" and sell the product for the client. In case you were not aware of it already, you are a saleswoman. Modeling is about selling. You are hired to model because the client felt that your look best displayed their vision for success to their company. They want you to be visible because your image will entice others to purchase their product.

I did say it was all about the photographs, didn't I? It's not a coincidence that models are paid anywhere from $200 per hour to over thousands of dollars a day for their photographed image. Once the photos are complete you then need to work with your agent to determine which photos best represent your "look." Your photographs become your signature and are used to market you so that you have a competitive, diverse portfolio to ultimately get you the high-paying modeling jobs that you so badly want and deserve.

There are times when you will see photographs of yourself that you do not like, but the agent loves them and decides those are the photos that will work to sell you to a specific client. Your agent has the authority and final word as to what photos will be used to represent you -- and you must grin and bare it, especially if you don't think it's one of your most flattering. Your attitude that will determine your success in the end. Trust your agent and build rapport to work together as a team so everyone can ultimately benefit. The goal is simple: A confident model makes the client happy, which makes the agent work hard to get you more work.

As a model you are an independent contractor, not an employee. Therefore you will not get medical, dental or other benefits from your agent. There are unions that you can join such as SAG (Screen Actors Guild) or AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) to get benefits if you need them.

Some days you will work hard going from casting to casting and not earn a penny, and other days you will get paid so much money from a client for modeling on a job that you will feel undeserving -- or possibly think it's a joke that you just earned that kind of money. Whether it's a pay day or a beat-the-pavement day, you must pay your dues like supermodels Beverly Johnson and Kim Alexis did when they first came into the industry over 20 years ago.

It takes countless hours of your time traveling to and from "go-sees" to more model castings. You will spend lots of money on gas for your car and rack up the mileage on airline travel and hotel expenses, but at the end of the year you can deduct a lot of your expenses and claim them on your income tax returns as write-offs. A good CPA (Certified Public Accountant) that is knowledgeable about the modeling industry is a must-have.

The beauty of the business is that you don't have to take your work home with you. You work hard the days you work, and when you leave the client your work is over and you get to play equally as hard.

Lastly, you will need to be properly nourished and get a good night's rest. Keep your mind engaged in forward thoughts and refocus when necessary to keep the positive energy flowing. Some days the routine is "on-again, off-again" from one train to the next and from one client to the next. Your mental attitude can get bruised; therefore, your intuition and ability to discern things is crucial to your well-being. Learn to give mental space to things that are beneficial and learn to let go of things that can destroy your positive thoughts and cause you to act irrationally.

One requirement of being a professional model is the ability to show up and do your job, no matter what. This means that there is no room for a broken heart or drama. If you are having personal problems you will have to learn to drop them at the door before you enter the job, be professional and don't complain to the client. You can then pick it up once you're off the set and headed home.

Check out the entire Season 1 of She's Got the Look in the She's Got the Look show area.  Discuss modeling with aspiring and established models on the She's Got the Look board. 

The casting calls for the new season of She's Got the Look bring much anticipation and excitement. As you will soon witness, it's a model search contest like no other. Some lucky woman will receive a check for $100,000 and begin a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models in New York City! Buckle your seatbelt and enjoy the journey.

But be warned: Becoming a supermodel takes time, money and effort on your part. If you have never modeled before, you may not be aware of all the demands that are placed on you. It can take years to build a successful modeling career, but thanks to the creators of She's Got the Look and Sean Patterson, celeb judge and president of Wilhelmina Models, you have the chance to gain the advantage in launching your career.

What most models breaking into the industry do not know is that in the beginning stages of a modeling career, it's an investment of your time talent and resources. You will spend more money than you make if you have not been given a check like the one TV Land PRIME's contest offers. Building a portfolio is one of the first things you will start to create once your contract is finalized. A strong book is essential to your career's success and the more diverse the photos are, the better. In doing so, you will incur a lot of expenses that range from photography fees, wardrobe, travel, postage and printing costs.

Yes, you must pay for these expenses yourself, not your agent. The agent will usually advance you money to cover the out-of-pocket expenses until you get your first paycheck from them. Advancement in pay usually goes on a running account at your agency and as you book work, the agent will get your check from the client and pay themselves first. The agent deducts their fee for getting you the work, which is on an average 15 to 20 percent of the total jobs' profit.

Secondly, the agent will reimburse him or herself the money they have advanced to you and third, you will get what is left -- if any, depending upon how much you were loaned or advanced in the beginning. Don't be alarmed if you feel cheated when you see your very first wages and begin to question if working in this industry is worth it. This is all part of the process.

There are other hidden costs that all add up in the beginning of your career. Agents now charge fees for your marketing materials, which consist of video portfolios to website maintenance and promotional Zed Cards. Sometimes clients need Polaroid photos or want your book sent to them immediately. When trying to determine which model to hire for a specific job, sometimes a client can be very demanding. They may request to see you again in person on a "call back." If the client asks to see your book again and they are in another city or state you will have to send it express delivery, which can be costly. You must stop whatever you are doing and give the client what they need in order for you to be considered or booked for the job, and this requires flexibility in your schedule.

It's the client's money that pays us, not the agent's money. You do not get paid until the job is complete and the client sends your earnings to your agent. This usually happens within a 30- to 60-day time period. It's a model's job to make money for the agent and that's why model search contests are popular. Agents are always looking for the next great supermodel to bring on board to keep the clients happy and to increase the income flow for their business. Agents are extremely particular about who they sign. A beautiful face is an asset, but a complete package of having a beautiful mind, body and spirit is priceless in this industry.