behind the scenes of modeling castings and how to take it upon yourself to be not an airhead model.

Hey Girls,

Some thing they don't tell you about working as a model is that you really are your own manager ( even when you work with agencies), and when it comes to castings it can involve going with your gut, being perceptive and prepared, remember often modeling castings involve walking into a room full of strangers (editors, marketing professionals) to present yourself professionally.

So here is some insight from the behind the scenes of modeling castings and how to take it upon yourself to be not an airhead model.

Sometimes your agency gives you all the details of the casting, the who, the what, the when, when the shoot date is, the rate, the usage, the whole deal....but sometimes they don't fill you in with all the details.

Not that I like it, but simply the agency might not know, the client hasn't told them, but make sure you always ask the agency if possible before the casting the details, know what you are walking into, confirm the location of the casting (I have been emailed at the last minute with a different location from my agency or a typo), always research the brand the casting is for, the photographer, casting studio if possible before the casting.

(And if you are booked for the job make sure you know about about the usage of the images, the rate, confirm the time and day of the shoot.

Casting are often last minute and being available is often how you book work as a model, and you have that day to prepare or a day or so. 

But try not to walk into the casting acting like an airhead. So many times I have been at castings or go-sees and the other models there have no idea what the casting is for, it's like they are  just showing up and have no clue to what they are showing up for???

I don't know until I show up at the casting what the casting will involve, how long it will take can depend on how many girls have shown up or how many that are being seen...it could be you and just a few others or you and many others. Sometimes it could be fast 5 minutes or 30 mins or more of waiting.

If the casting is somewhere I am not familar with, example: Long Island City. I had a casting there for leg modeling and ended up in some warehouse area, I called my agency making sure this was the right place, and it was the right spot, it was the right studio, and I did book the job and it did pay well. But I was nervous for a minute there in the street beforehand like: Where the F am I? And you do always have to be careful, let people know where you are going, boyfriend, husband, family, friends and call your agency right away if it seems weird.

Always-if it isn't clear ASK!

And also there is the basic know-how of being a model and understanding what certain castings involve.
Ex: if the casting is for shoes...make sure your pedicure is fresh. Overtime it becomes common sense.
However, if the details of what to wear, how to do your make up, what to bring are not clear, ask!

I hope this is helpful.

In my book Short Stuff I included modeling tips for short chicks, which I think you'll like as well. :)

~Isobella

Are modeling agencies becoming desperate? Or are models acting dumb?

The casting details read:

GORGEOUS FEMALE HANDS

AGES 17-30

CAUCASIAN, ASIAN, OR HISPANIC

Come in with clean nails, no polish or jewelry

This morning I ran to get a manicure, I like to get it done fresh the day of a casting if possible. I had done a very, very, very light pink, one coat. Very clean. It looked basically clear. 

I was surprise when I arrived at the casting and would be sitting among a handful of giraffe models.

As I shut the door, one giraffe chick was handing the casting associate her comp card with her fashion-editorial images on it. The casting associated took once glance at the compcard and said, "We don't need your comp card unless it has an image of your hands on it."

The model looking dumbfounded...like "what should I do now?"

As a parts model, of course I had my parts modeling comp card with me and signed into the casting, filled in the casting sheet...measurements, all that and waited my turn.

Maybe 3 models in the room of the 8 of us were parts models with parts experience shown by the images I observed discreetly on their comp cards. 

Anyways, these giraffes were obviously fashion editorial models or print models from fashion agencies who looked all under the age of 21...I spied some of their ages when I was glancing at their casting sheets.

I also discreetly observed the hands of the other models there. This was a hand casting afterall. Might as well check out the competition.  There wasn't much. The others were not parts models, it was obvious by the sight of their hands. They seemed like they were at the wrong casting, these lanky, young griaffes probably being bossed around by their agents and told to show up at a casting for hands when their hands looked monsterous. Most of these giraffes had huge hands with colorful nail polish. Weird I thought. When I was told to have clear or no polish.

(btw, most hand models are not tall giraffes, so this is something a shorter girl could pursue because in hand modeling long fingernails and soft pretty looking hands and pretty clean nails are wanted. Usually short girls have these things, wink, wink)

One of the giraffe models names was called, but the moment she went over to the set the casting photographer looked at her hands and said to the giraffe: I can't shoot you like this. Do you have any nailpolish remover? The client wants to see hands without polish. You can go to the store and get some nail polish remover and come back.

Giraffe: But I just had my nails done yesterday?
(they were some vibrant bright color, pink, blue or yellow)

Casting photographer: I'm sorry but I can't shoot your hands like that. The shots will be close ups of the finger nails and if you have calcium deposits or something, the client wants to know and see your nails.

Giraffe: My nails look normal.

Her words for it wasn't enough proof.
Casting photographer:  We will be here till 5 is you want to get some nailpolish remover and come back later.

Another giraffe who also had colorful nails had to leave as well.  For not being prepared.

They had waited at least 20 minutes because she was there before I was, and I waited about that long.

For nothing. She couldn't even do the casting shots, all because of her nailpolish being hot pink or blue or whatever color they were...besides being clear which was what was requested.

Usually for a hand modeling casting a client will want to see your nail-bed, your fingers natural, no rings or jewelry marks, and even the casting director told these-giraffe models that the client should have told the agency these details beforehand, and it makes me wonder: Is this a fault of the agency? The model? Who?

Are modeling agencies becoming desperate to book their models work, it seems so when they send models to castings who aren't prepared for what the casting involves.

Are the models not paying attention to what the casting involves? Perhaps, so.

The point is: Get your shit together. It's amazing how many girls would love to work with high fashion agencies but yet how these high fashion agencies send their clueless models to castings where they don't even know what the client is looking for?? WTF!

Know what the casting involves beforehand, girl. Had these girls known that it involved clear polish maybe they wouldn't have wasted their time and been kicked out of the casting.

Dear Agencies: make sure your models know what the casting involves and how they should look when attending the casting.

Dear Models, if you agency isn't filling you in with these details, ASK!

And, if the castings you go on have anything to do with hands don't show up with rockstar colored polish unless it is for a rockstar themed project.

~Isobella

P.s: for more of my on the job experiences and stories check out my book Short Stuff: on the job with an x-small model which is in print and also an ebook!

Casting Confessions: When you're petite you gotta know how to breath in front of the camera

Hey Girls,

When you're petite you gotta know how to breath in front of the camera, your posture and inhaling slightly can give you inches-- I did this at a casting for legs and body today.

It was for a magazine and my agency told me it was for legs, feet and butt. So of course I had to be well shaved and have a nice pedicure. Also it's good to get into a habit of taking care of your skin daily as a model, and when you have a casting for legs or feet always consider to have a nice manicure as well when you attend the casting.  Hands, legs and feet often go together in magazine editorials and ads and even though a casting might not bluntly say "hands" you never know, it is better to be prepared, than not.

The casting was in the office of the magazine and when I showed up I was the only one there, I signed-in and sat in the waiting area, and soon another model showed up, a taller girl. (of course) I added some lotion to my hands and touched up my face. You always want to try to look awake, pretty and fresh at a casting. Do light makeup, don't over kill it. In my bag I had brought a bathingsuit/bikini because at a body parts casting for legs, butt or body, often the photo editor or casting director will want to see your body, full leg, and you can change at the casting in the bathroom or wear the bikini under your clothing.

When the photo editor arrived he suggested that I change in a side room into my bikini.  I brought a pair of sandals with a little heel  which I put on, but the photo editor said to take off my heels since the job will involve bare feet. I took the sandals off and was prepared to stand tall despite my petite size, and I stood in front of a white wall and posed showing my body from the front, the profile view, and back, about 5-10 shots were taken. I lifted my hair up with my hands so my back could also be seen better. (Usually I bring a hairtie to castings or a clip.)  Then I suggested a few extra shots, posing my legs a different way, sitting, stretchnig them out, sitting and bending them in a pretty way, etc, and the photo editor liked those.   It's a good idea to know how to pose already, know your body, know the best ways to pose it to make it look the best you can. Remember to arch your back slightly even when sitting, and while standing. Also always watch your posture, shoulders back, head up, and inhale slowly while the photos are being taken. Your body will appear longer and more proportioned and pretty. So now I am on hold for the job. Being on hold means the client is interested but you are not 100% booked yet, it means your agency told you to "hold" the date of the job, and to not plan anything else that day, because there is a good chance you will be picked for the job, and the agency wants to confirm you are available.  So, not counting chickens before they hatch but we'll see :)  Also, just because you are not giraffe tall doesn't mean you can use your legs to model, if you got it, work it, strive for it, use what you've got, prepare for your success by creating photos that best market your assets, and aim high and try, ~Isobella

Modeling Casting: shoe modeling casting, thinking ahead for magazine castings

Easy Spirit catalog shot from my portfolio.

Hey Girls,


Today I had a casting  for shoe modeling for a magazine editorial. (remember shoe models are typically a size 6 shoe and most girls this height are shorter) The casting involved showing my feet, legs and thighs while wearing a pair of shoes. Based on my own experiences, what I learn and observe I wanted to share some modeling casting tips.

Remember if the modeling casting is for a magazine to think ahead. Remember that magazines cast for photo-shoots that will appear weeks and months ahead, so if the casting is right now, it will most likely appear in the Spring issues. Also print ads can shoot months ahead sometimes, a Spring campaign will shoot in Winter, so just be aware of these things if possible.  It can help you be better prepared for the casting. If the casting is for shoes and it's the middle of winter, the shoes you will be trying on, wearing, will most likely be sandals, Spring and summer time shoes. In the Spring time you can expect that the shoes will be more fall-ish.

So even though it's cold, like it was today the layers you wear to the casting would come off,-- ankles and legs were needed to be seen today. How did I know? I know that magazines shoot weeks ahead and fashion is preparing a season ahead weeks and months before.
At the casting your photo will be taken, and the focus of the shot is based on the actual modeling job.

I am not 100% always prepared, sometimes you just don't know what the casting will involve, but I try to be in-the-know as much as I can.
So let's say the casting is for a spring or summer time shoe, then you should bring shorts or a skirt because ads and editorials for spring and summer shoes often involve legs of course. So remember shoes also means legs, and to bring proper clothing to best show your assets for the shots during the casting (Usually you can change at the casting/ in the bathroom).

My feet in pink in Woman's World magazine.

Sometimes your agency will tell you what to wear or to bring but sometimes they won't (you can always ask your agency for more detail on the type of shoe, but sometimes the agency might not even be sure).

Also if a casting is for shoes, remember to also always have a nice manicure, shoes/feet and hands most often go together at castings and for modeling jobs. For a shoe ad, or editorial, do you notice how often the models hands are also seen, and here are some tips for shoe modeling and parts modeling. 

The more prepared you are the better your chances, good luck,

~Isobella

Psst. In my book Short Stuff, I talk about castings and on the job experiences as a petite model and it also shares modeling tips for short chicks.

Casting Confessions: beauty casting

A recent experience from a casting for a beauty company.

"Hey how'ya doing?" I said to the man behind the desk, he says "hi" and asks for me name. I tell him and he scans his sheet and finds my name, then he tells me to sign-in, and take off any jewelry and to pull my hair back into a ponytail and that I shouldn't have any eye-shadow on. I wave my head around my face making a gesture like a magician and say, " Ok cool, I just have on some powder and mascara." He tells me, and also the room, that outside there is makeup remover pads.


I take a seat and take off my heavy winter coat and hat and gloves. I take off some of my lip-gloss with a tissue, and wait my turn.

There are a bunch of models already waiting, I notice one Hispanic girl has a lot of makeup on, the rest are pretty Asians, with their hair pulled back, some lip-gloss and glowing skin. I go to the bathroom and take off some powder on my cheeks and under my eyes with a makeup remover pad.

The door of the casting room flings open and another model scurries out and the casting director aka the Lady who is running the casting asks for our attention. She stands in front of us like a college professor sharing an important detail for a test, she wants to tell us what will go on in the casting room so we can prepare, know what’s up and basically be as a fast as possible.

She scans the room and tells a couple girls who have too much makeup on to take it off more. (Side- thought: models who are no teenage fashion models, often have a difficult time taking off their makeup, seeing their raw face without anything at all) The casting director lady tells us that we will be applying eye-shadow; the eye-shadow case doesn’t have a mirror so we will be pretending to be facing a mirror but facing the camera and putting on the eye shadow. I smile, and nod, basic enough. (In my mind I am imagining putting on eye-shadow without looking in a mirror and carefully finding my eye lid and the shape below my eye-brow.) She shares that our hands are important for this (maybe it’s the reason there are not any tall models here? Because hands, like hand models, are important for this one?) I have nice hands and got a manicure that morning so I am all set there, the lady goes on to tell us about the facial expressions we will be doing. She wants a smile with teeth, without teeth, and a look of surprise and a growl face, like a cat with claws. Ok that’s cool.

The next model goes into the casting room and in a few minutes another goes and another.

While I waited my turn I go check my face and since I got my bangs recently cut I make sure they look pretty. While I look at myself in the mirror, I hear the guy at the desk call my name, telling me I am next, on bat, I go back to the mirror real quick and a girl comes up to me and asks if I am Isobella Jade, I say yes, and during the next couple of minutes she told me how she read my book Almost 5’4” and graphic novel Model Life and told me she was so glad to have met me and shared with me about her modeling pursuits. Then my name is called again, it's my turn, and I go into the casting room. I slate my name, smile with teeth, smile without, give a growl, give a profile and put on the eye- shadow. Thanks for coming. I collected my stuff and head out and into to the cold.  No matter if I get the job or not, that moment when that girl came up to me and told me that my efforts and hustle and bustle and not giving up meant something to her made my day.

~Isobella Jade

P.s: I've been asked previously "what happens at a model casting" and here is another casting confession here and here.  At a model casting you only have a few minutes to present yourself and prove you are best for the job. If you enjoy interviews and public speaking, as a model this can be an asset for model castings.  Also being perceptive and able to understand the concept of a campaign, what the client and casting director is looking for, being able to do it in one shot is best, of course you will be nervous I mean shit what if I dropped the eye-shadow applicator, that would not have been good, but castings are mostly quick and easy, smile, thank you, next! Your agent sent you because something in you has a shot for booking the job but sometimes involve complex moments and being confident and being positive is best. Also it is a good idea to bring a hair-tie with you, often for beauty jobs you need to pull your hair back out of your face.