Short Models and Modeling Agencies and finding your chance when your small

Hey Girls,

In the NY Daily News I have spoke a couple times about how models of all sizes can get ahead. It comes down to having the right information and pursuing modeling in the right ways that benefit your own goals and being realistic.  In the article above (you can read it here), I mentioned how shorter girls are an untapped market for the advertising world. Especially since most girls in America stand 5'4" and under, and since advertising campaigns are becoming more humanistic I think we will see more models of all types and sizes in ads and campaigns. However, if a girl wants to pusue modeling she has to know herself, her assets, have her marketing materials together and be a good marketer.

It is tough, when you are starting to pursue modeling and curious about what to do, how to start, and what agencies to pursue, and I get the question often about if there are any modeling agencies that work with short models. The answer is, not really.  The best way for a shorter girl to pursue modeling is to notice her assets, what she has that is marketable, and what she has that makes her a great model? Then there are about 4 steps she needs to take.  Without a doubt and without question she needs professional photos, and needs to create photos that represent her assets and for a shorter girl these photos should show her personality, smile, energy and friendly appeal and should involve modeling a product, a handbag, a shoe, etc, the shots should look like you are a friend girl who can work natrually with commercial every day products, then she needs to make a comp card, then she needs to mail and target print modeling agencies her comp card.

It is work and it is time. 

On the side of this blog in "popular posts" there is a lot of information on how to go about these steps.

Here are a few on finding a modeling agency when you are short.

5 steps to get ahead as a shorter model:
http://www.petitemodelingtips.com/2010/02/five-steps-to-get-ahead-as-short-model.html

How to find a modeling agency when you are a petite model:
http://www.petitemodelingtips.com/2010/03/how-do-you-find-petite-modeling-agency.html

Aim high and strive, bring out your assets that have nothing to do with height and target agencies (print modeling agencies and talent agencies) that are not as obsessive over height and care more about your personality, and other assets, and remember finding your chance is about understanding what you can actually do within modeling, facing the truth, and using your assets to create goals that are full of possibility.

Try and thrive!

I hope you have a nice weekend, do something for your soul, and do something for yourself and do something for someone else,

Isobella

P.s: it might be tough, but I also suggest not being obsessive over fashion, because to get experience modeling for a brand or magazine it might mean adjusting your perception of what you can realistically do as a model.

Not sure if you have checked out my collection of short stories from on the job modeling experiences called Short Stuff: on the job with an x-small model, but there are also modeling tips in the back of the book and a section called Modeling Tips for Short Chicks, which I added from being inspired by my blog readers, you can find all my books here :)

prints for modeling portfolio & mailing modeling agencies question answered here

A girl on facebook recently asked me "where do you get prints for your portfolio printed. Also what are you thoughts on applying to agencies not in your area. I am from seattle but am considering sending my compcard to portland, should I even bother sending to print agencies located in La or new york? How does that work?"

My reply:
I use adorama.com often they are affordable and great for 9" X 11" portfolio prints. I use them ALL the time and in my memoir Almost 5’4” I mentioned discovering them.

As for agencies, I would only submit to agencies in cities that you are able to get to quickly. The reason: In modeling castings are last minute and often even THAT Day and you have to be available asap. It is better when starting to pursue modeling work to do so with an agency near where you live. Also I suggest with your comp card researching out to aspiring brands, aspiring companies, and here is more info on marketing yourself in a smaller city to get a portfolio, which can lead you to bigger jobs and bigger opportunities.

http://petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com/2008/10/improve-your-model-marketing-for-small.html

Modeling for me and many is a growth, is a process, it doesn’t happen over night. And in today’s world there is no discovery, it is about discovering yourself, it is about building your self and goals, and it takes time, effort, and dedication, along with being realistic and ambitious at the same time.

It is always better to do one amazing modeling job with a great brand (or aspiring brand, jewelry, handbag, hair salon, etc) that will lead to other opportunities than a bunch of corny, tasteless, amateur modeling jobs. So aim high as well. I hope this helps and the link I have enclosed,
Isobella

what modeling agencies are you with?

A girl on Facebook sent me a message that read:

So I was wondering what agencies are you with?

My reply:
Well I am always with myself. Seriously I think self promotion is the best thing towards a girls modelig pursuits and her own will to try. The status of "being with" an agency is so played out. An agency is a wonderful part of my modeling pursuits but I don't think "someone is going to make my dreams happen", I always knew that the will of myself was what mattered most.

I "work" and "have modeled with" with CESD, PARTS Models often. Over the years I have also worked with Flaunt Models, R&L, Abrams, FFT, and many others. A shorter girl typically doesn't get "signed with" an agency, the 'signing' happens only with fashion agencies. But shorter girls can work with print agencies without the contract and actually being "free" to promote myself the way I want has been a lot of work, but if I was tall, I'd have a 3 year contract with an agency and who knows if they could get me the work anyways. So the whole "who are you with thing" is , really to me, about being for and "with" yourself and knowing how to market what you've got!

Commercial print modeling photos for short models

Shorter girls, and anyone curious about modeling should consider commercial print modeling. Commercial print modeling does not have an age limit and you will not be thrown out when you get to a certain age (like fashion tends to do with taller models who have expiration dates when the model is not considered "new" or "exciting" anymore.) Commercial print modeling welcomes models of all ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities, men and women, children, teens, all ages. If you want to start modeling and fashion is slamming the door in your face, don't worry!
You can still get great modeling work in commercial print modeling. Did you know commercial print modeling is the largest area of modeling? Yup!

Here are examples of photos you should try to create for commercial print. Energy, natural makeup, happy, not so fashion forward clothing, just you being you.




You can still wear a cute pair of jeans and hold a handbag or something, but it has to look like an ad for a happy girl, upbeat, friendly, not moody, with a confident appeal.

I love fashion but I know as a shorter model I had to think about "what does the agency want to see" " what type of products and ads could I realistically be apart of"-if I want to work with agencies, and get opportunities, to build my portfolio I had to caiter my photos towards the direction of commercial print.

I do not suggest sending any photography with heavy makeup,that are high fashion styled, or overly sexy, nor anything with bad lighting to print agencies. I would also observe the photos commercial print agency models on the agency website have. Observe ads of lifestyle products to get inspired, notice lifestyle ads to get the vibe of you are going for already in your mind ahead of time, before shooting, model and photographer should have the understanding of what the model needs to get in the door. Plan it out, have examples ready, be prepared, before you shoot.

I would look at beauty, skincare, ads for cell phones, haircare, technology, furniture, tampons! Everything commercial print targeted. That is how a short girl can start to work with agencies.

Remember make a compcard, and send your compcard in the postal mail to the commercial print agencies. Sending your compcard in the mail is the way to get a modeling agency for a short girl.

Isobella

Short Model Support: Modeling Agencies 101

Short Model Support: Modeling Agencies 101

On this segment of Model Talk, Isobella shares insight on how a shorter girl can approach a modeling agency. Also as one of the tiniest models in NYC, she announces her self as America’s Next Top Model’s Short Model Judge for cycle 13 this fall, sharing commentary on the show this fall.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2009/08/19/Short-Model-Support-Modeling-Agencies-101

This segment was live on 8/19/09 at 11:30am, you can listen to the archive of this show and any other shows anytime here.

Petite Black Models acceptance and marketing

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: ______________
Date: Jan 20, 2009 2:24 PM


Hi, Isobella! I just added you as a friend, and after reading your blogs on modeling, I am inspired to keep pursuing dreams that many think are impossible feats. I have been interested in modeling, but I'm 5'1." I've searched aggressively for companies that would see potential in me, but all I've found are those scuzzy websites that promote petite women as these slutty objects. I really dislike that, and like you, I don't see that as modeling. I have this vision of myself doing meaningful, artistic work, yet it's hard to make that happen when there isn't a large market for petite models. (I live in Houston, by the way.) Despite all that, I believe I'll find the golden opportunity to represent for petite black women, as well as have a poetry book (it'll be my second book) that will defy people's low expectations for poetry and sell, and have success as a recording artist. I really appreciate people like you for representing and standing strong! Take care.



Jan 20, 2009 5:14 PM Subject:
RE: You inspire me!
Body:
Thank you ____,

The power of yes is what I live by. If you want something you have to be willing to make it happen. And you have to expect that it is hard work. The short cut doesn't work in life. It takes will, ambition and the smarts to know how to market yourself in proper ways. I am the shortest model in NYC by far, but yet I have found ways to get great agents by promoting what I do have. Great skin, a proportioned body a diverse look and energy! Even though I am short my legs have been seen on Victoria's Secret. com modeling shoes and also i recently posed for the Easy Spirit shoes ad campaign for spring 09 out in Feb. So with the right mindset, the right marketing, the right professional modeling marketing tools-compcard, headshot, and the right ambition you can make even something that seems distance right in your hand.

Too many girls give up. Settle, accept the 5 second of being "a hot thing," i am so over the hot thing. I don't see the point in the ego boost and I don't get it from a guy commenting on me. Basically if men are the only ones calling you a model then you are not one. And if you have never modeled a product, you are not a model. Ask yourself," What have I modeled?" If the answer is just you then obviously you do not know what it means to work in the modeling business. The business is not on the internet, it is not glamour modeling, it is working with brands, and magazines, and good quality photographer's-people who know the craft of photography not just soem jack ass with a camera at his side to lure in ladies.

As a shorter model I have had to do alot hands on. My own mailings, and alot of them to agencies, production companies, ad agencies, and really build my own portfolio. I have had to chase the work I wanted and be careful about what I do and say yes to. Always thinking of the aftermath or "how will this effect my other goals?"

Alot of girls look for petite modeling agencies or acceptance...when you say black petite models, you should be saying print models, and actually in the current Bazaar magazine out now, Feb issue, there is a black leg and shoe model in it modeling bags and shoes. You should pick it up. SO you might want to consider ALL types of modeling you can do, beauty-close up shots, commercial print-energy shots, personality is needed, and parts modeling.


And remember modeling is many things, from tampon commercials, to hair care, models are all types so start noticing where short girls are used, in print for jewelry, haircare, skincare, and commercial products. Someone has to model that cleaning product, that car, that beer, that handbag and shoe. Notice what you do have. My first modeling job with an agency was shoe modeling. I was a size 6 shoe and that's what is needed to shoe model for showrooms in NYC. I first worked with Lifestride, Hotkiss, Naturalizer, and so many others then I started getting print work, modeled for Marshalls shoes, and it all comes from work. There is no easy road and to model and work with brands and magazines you have to accept what you are not, and grow to what you want to be and still can be.

It's all about what you chase and how you do it, and the work you put in. So many girls just pop their photo online and show their ass 2 times a month on a paid modeling site and the rest of the time you know where they are??? Really no where.

Congrats on your poetry.

Goodluck!
Isobella Jade