Models facing the mirror, naturally posing is a process and an asset

Last night on my iPhone I was checking my Facebook messages, and I replied to a girl who wrote me this:
Hello hope you are well. I think I told you in the past that I was curious about modeling and had started pushing that curiousity. Well anyhow I got on with an agency in Seattle recently and this last weekend did a photoshoot with a photographer in Seattle in order to get some professional shots. What I learned is that I have a lot to learn about modeling, I felt so intimidated doing the photoshoot cause I really didn't know what I was doing. I've never taken a modeling class before but have taken acting on the camera, I'm looking to do consumer print type of work. I never realized how important hands were in modeling and relaxing and I kept looking to my photographer for "what do I do next". If you have time, what would your best advice be about someone who was just starting at age 31, lol, and who has no idea how to model but is good at learning? I'm the kind of person who when she sets her mind to something can do anything. Thankyou for your time.

My reply might inspire you:

Hi Hun, I got your message and liked it because it is touches on the very thing it takes to model or pursue anything that is a challenge. I am about to go to bed, it's 12:30 am in NYC but I wanted to tell you to hang in there. Learning -in modeling happens from 2 things. Observing yourself an trying again. You are right about the hands and a hand can ruin a shot. I think I will write a post on this topic on my blog as well because really what your curious about is based on Knowing yourself- and the cameras perspective. The mirror is the best thing to get infront of right now And practice, not forcing the posing but noticing what happens when you move your body how it changes. Where do ur hands go? How does your expression change your body? And you are right modeling is tough and work and involves the whole self to be aware. I think it takes some creativity to model well, and I don't mean makeup and hair I am talking about knowing the concept and goal of the shoot and projecting that for the camera. I think it is a mix of knowing the camera is there enough to model for it but also forget about it enough to be yourself and be aware to keep it natural. Not needing direction and being able to put your energy into the shoot is best ...it is what makes a good model actually. Here is a little test. Face the mirror. Grab a handbag and model it in 15 different ways within 5 minutes without stopping but doing it in a fluid way. I am serious. Usually on a job the actual modeling is fast! The prep is what takes the longest -lighting, makeup, etc. Sometimes the shots for a job are crafted and planned and you are told what to do but other times not and the models personality and modeling skill gets the job done. It is a team effort but knowing how to model a product naturally and knowing yourself and proportions is a smart asset and skill to master as an aspiring model that you are. Age has nothing to do with it :)I hope this helps a bit for now, ~isobella
Ps: look at lifestyle magazines from More to O to redbook to Marie Claire and glamour magazine, get inspired by the shots of women smiling and engaging with products in the ads :) observe and grow and try

Model beauty tricks, nail polish savior!

I'm off to get some of my favorite heels fixed at my fav shoe repair, and here is a shoe trick: buy nail polish in the colors of your heels, I have red, brown, black, silver, that way if you scuff up your shoe's heel just paint a little bit of polish on the scrape or scuff and it will hold you over until you can get to the shoe repair. I always carry nail polish in my purse. (just bought an awesome brown from Revlon)

Also when you go to the salon to get your nails done, bring your own polish with you, you can touch up any chips and mani/pedi lasts longer (and bring your own nail file and buffer too, be safe/cleaner!). Don't feel awkward telling the lady to please use your own awesome file and polish. They will. Just ask. I always do it.


:)

~isobella jade

Enjoy each plateau of your success

Before I go to bed I like to think of something that sums up the day or a thought on something I have felt before.


"Push away the fear of failure, carry on with your belief. Each high and low has meaning. Enjoy each plateau of your success."~isobella jade

I think it can be applied to life, any pursuit, writers, models, those wit...h a dream or wonder of their own potential.

New Video: My Short Model Motto

In this video I share my short model motto of celebrating the unique in us and imperfection, in modeling and life. To watch turn down my podcast radio show on right side of this blog or copy and paste into your browser this link.

Enjoy!

Quick Petite Model Pose Tip

When you're short watch your upper arms, even the thinnest arm can look less flattering if angled the wrong way sometimes. Remember the tiniest bit of space between your arm and torso can create length and a more proportioned photo.

Pose tip: stand facing the mirror, notice your arms while you are straight on to the mirror, it is the same perspective as being straight on to camera. Then turn your body slowly and watch what happens to your arms, now practice holding a product. Grab a cell phone, a handbag, or pretend to put on a lipstick like a product ad, watch your arms. Even though you are modeling a product a model has to be aware of her whole self.

Hold onto the soul, root and meaning of what it is you want to do. Don't measure your success against anyone's doubt.

Hold onto the soul, root and meaning of what it is you want to do. Don't measure your success against anyone's doubt. If you want to do something do it. Do it with an eager heart and truth, don't forget why you want to do it in the first place and make sure there is a reason.

start modeling as a short model

Daily girls ask me about "how to start modeling" and it is often followed with a "I feel like I am too short!"

Well, the best way to START anything is to learn as much as you can about it. Learn where you fit within the pursuit, become realistic about the pursuit and to craft your own career by taking a chance on yourself.

The more you research and know the better. The more you know about what you CAN do, where opportunity can be found the better. The more time you waste worrying about what you aren't --basically time is wasted.

The best thing to have to start modeling is a beautiful smiling headshot.
Among all other photos THIS ONE is the most important.

The reason: A shorter girl is more likely to work with a commercial print modeling agency. And for commercial print modeling a smile is better than any pout, or overly done makeup or styling or hair, the natural you is what sells in print modeling. Advertising is becoming more about hiring models that look real, and have a relatable look to the customer, consumer, reader, buyer.

The more you KNOW about the photos you need to approach a print modeling agency the better your chance. Getting an opportunity to work with an agency, (have an agency work with you), involves not just having your photo taken or making a comp card to send, but it involves creating marketable photos, so that your comp card is marketable. The agency receives your comp card in the mail and the agency says "this girl has something going on, she is real, she looks like a girl who could model anything, and has a lot of personality seen in her photos."

The comp card is your best marketing tool. Today I was asked on a Facebook message from an aspiring model: What is a comp card.

It is the best marketing tool for an aspiring model.

We live in this Internet-age, but the comp card is no excuse needed item by an aspiring model. You use it to get the agency, to get the job and to work as a model. No questions. You need it. Here is insight on creating a comp card and being more in the know about what print modeling is, and how to become a print model:

http://petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com/2009/07/print-modeling-has-become-many-things.html

http://petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com/2009/08/commercial-print-modeling-photos-for.html

http://petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com/2009/09/do-you-have-model-compcard-you-should.html

http://petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com/2009/09/getting-print-modeling-agency.html

I believe in risk takers, underdogs

I believe in risk takers, creators, having an opinion, sharing a story, underdogs & change. ~isobella

Living on hope, hustle and heart

Living on hope, hustle and heart isn't always easy. But it is really the only way I know how to live~ my thoughts on what it is like to wake up for yourself and goals each day, isobella

Being built from scratch

I think often about the importance of trying, in not just modeling but in doing anything that is not easy.

Wanting something means striving for something.

It can be built from scratch. I do believe this. But it will involve a lot of scratching your own confidence, a lot of research, time, self investment, and a realistically ambitious mindset, I hold onto the bigger picture, the bigger reason I want to do something, the purpose, and what it means, why...asking yourself WHY can help you stay focused.

Also ask yourself if you are willing to seek and strive even though you might not get it all handed to you and even though it will not be easy.

No beauty, no perfection can promise success.

The work you put in, the time, the focus. That is how to survive on a dream.

Possibility inspires me.

A challenge fires me up, the fact that it is not easy, and that someone might doubt me gives me is not enough reason not to try.

Isobella

Casting day in the life: SMILE SMILE BIGGER

I can hear the girl ahead of me being asked to smile, smile bigger, smile more, you are having a great day, smile like you are loving the day, the casting director is shooting the girls and is putting in sometimes more energy than them.

Other girls waiting stare at the girl on set ahead of them, observing them to see what that girl is doing so that it's their turn they can do it better.

Like an infection, once one girl starts doing her makeup, looking at herself in the mirror on the wall, other girls start. The rattle of purses, the dabs of foundation, the smack of the lips, and the suction of mascara wand going in and out of the tube, the hairspray and clicking of all the heels, could make you gag.

I talk often about if you are an aspiring model and the assets you need. Here's one. Knowing how to smile naturally is important if you want to work as a model especially for commercial print, giving a natural real smile not forced and alive, with life in your eyes is something any aspiring model needs :)

When it's my turn I greet the casting director with a smile, and by then she has shot 36 other girls. I put my bag and coat down and prepare to smile. I do. She asks me to take off my hat. I hate it when I wear a certain cute newsboy hat on purpose to fit the look of the casting's vibe, and then I am asked to take it off and there isn't time to brush my hair properly. I looked like a raggamuffin, wtf! SMILE!

I smile again for her a bit bigger, she asked for one with no smile. I try not to smile, but I have been so focused on smiling that it is tough now to just not. She asks me to grab my bag, I do. She asks if I have a cell phone I do. I pretend I am talking to my best friends and smile and laugh, I can even hear myself laughing a little because when I "really laugh" my smile comes out more real. She says "ok, that's it ," and I leave.

I try not to dwell on castings, honestly it will kill you if you do. Just move on. Carry on, hustle on. Next!

striving on

There will be rejection, there will be no's, and you can cry about it for a few seconds, release some stress but then clean up your face and keep on keepin on because if you put the right energy and attitude into it, you will get a yes if you continue on, do what you need to do, put the work in, and strive on. Day by d...ay, this is what I have told myself, and continue to tell my self with each new goal in mind. - isobella jade

Model pose tips: look longer, leaner,taller in photos

When you are in-front of the camera, there are a few easy tricks you can do to look longer, leaner, taller and more proportioned.

It starts with creating some space between your limbs.

Notice how in this photo there is space between the arm closest to the camera and my body. Space creates length. It makes me look taller and longer by naturally creating some space between my arms and torso. Also notice that my shoulders are at a slight angle which causes my front arm to also be at a slight side angle. It makes my upper arm appear leaner. Even a slight angle like this can make a girl of any size look longer and leaner and more proportioned in a photo. The leg closest to the camera is a bit forward, this creates length as well, it looks like there is movement involved, like the camera just caught me as I was coming down the stairs. Yes I am wearing a mini skirt, but notice how the focus of the shot is on my smile, and it looks like I am off to enjoy the sunny day. I probably was afterward! :)

This insight is for girls of all walks of life and a little space between the arms and body, even for this shot of me in Vegas, makes me appear longer and leaner even in a sweater.


I always make sure to create space between my arms and body. ALWAYS for group shots, I cropped myself here so you can see that:


P.s: When sitting sit at the edge of the seat, you could position your legs slightly asymmetrical to create length.

The Model Photo perspective podcast segment

This week's segment of Model Talk is about how aspiring models can take better photos, and how knowing themselves and how to work with their proportions, and finding their best angles to bring forward in their photos, can help to create a better, more marketable photo. This segment will be based on real questions I received from aspiring models and I will share insight on some of my own photo-shoot experiences that went well because despite being petite, I knew how to work with what I've got!


Show details:
4/28/2010 9:00 PM
Show Name: The Model photo perspective: Taking a better photo
Length: 15 min

Tune in here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2010/04/29/the-model-photo-perspective-taking-a-better-photo

you are the engine of where you go

"No matter where you come from, or the doubt that might try to drown your vision or goals, you are the engine of where you go, what you accomplish, and who you become and the person you are. Don’t neglect your own potential. "
:) -isobella jade

Feeling too short to model? Think again

Not only tall giraffes are in ad campaigns modeling products. If you notice more than fashion magazines and more than fashion ad campaigns you will notice models are not all supermodel tall.

Modeling and the advertising world go hand in hand, what the product or brand needs the ad campaign has to express, and the thing more brands are needing is "the natural girl", and what they are looking for is not narrow minded towards just one type of model anymore.

Girls ask me often, how can I get into modeling?

It starts with understanding where you fit within the word model. Because being a model has more than one meaning, (modeling is about modeling FOR something) and people of all ages are models. Maybe it is not talked about enough, and I hope this blog has enlightened you, because the better you are at marketing what you do have with professional photos, a comp card and portfolio, to the right agencies-- the better.

If what you picture is only a fashion model when you think of the word model, you are missing out on alot.

The more you rely on yourself, and understand that your self is what will get you opportunities, and not someone to discover you, the better.

The shorter girl who is not 5'9" or 5'10 has a more hands on journey based on what you put into it.

You have to mail the print agencies
You have to make the comp card
You have to get the portfolio
You have to be prepared ahead of time, before you get in front of the camera and know ahead what type of photo you DO need to really get opportunities.

It is work. It is time. Effort. And endurance is a major part of modeling and making yourself a model.

The more effort and time you put into your pursuits, and crafting the right photos, and investing in what you need to have to prepare you for working as a model, the better.

Isobella

my thought

Even if you are a little afraid, jump in. Open minded and striving people, curious for the unknown capture more. :)

Keeping the confidence, keeping the belief in yourself

A girl on Facebook sent me a message that read: I want to know how to you keep going how do you keep up ur confidence? What do you ?

My reply:

It is hard. It is not easy. I go through like 1000 emotions a day and creating a dream and striving for what you want, involves ALOT of work, a positive attitude, and involves setting goals. Every day I set goals for my self to accomplish, also I set weekly goals, things I can aim for! I do this for not just modeling pursuits but for my publishing and whole brand and business as a whole. I also mix it up, I will pursue one angle for a few hours and then pursue another project. I am always active. I need to keep my self going so I set goals. I also read biographies of women and people who have strived on their own, been an underdog, I like reading about the journey of how people strive. Not to follow them, or even consider them a hero but just to be reminded that hard work pays off and that striving is worth it and I love stories of women and people who strive for what they want. I watch movies about inspirational people; I fill my life with things that inspire me. :)
More than your height, a positive spirit and confidence is important when chasing anything.

Isobella

working as a shorter finding opportunities comes down to you finding them

3 more days to win a signed copy of my graphic novel "MODEL LIFE: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior."

Here's how: Submit a photo of yourself modeling a handbag to petitepride@yahoo.com
2 winners will be featured on this blog next week.

Deadline April 11th!

The"industry" part of "modeling industry" involves designers, brands, magazine editors and those that hire and book models for their marketing, editorial, promotion and advertising needs, and although there is not a million petite modeling agencies out there, there are commercial print modeling agencies that work with all sizes. It is all about having marketable photos, having your model marketing material & finding the right agencies. They are out there.

You are not hopeless if you are shorter. Instead of saying "I'm too short" why not focus on creating marketable photos that fit the commercial print world and try! It will NOT be easy, but it is possible if you do the work. :)

Research is a major asset of a model. :)

Isobella

Model Quote on striving for your success

"have a plan & make yourself available for your success, don't think it will just happen, usually it doesn't unless your own involvement is at hand." ~isobella jade