Wilmington, NC modeling agency tips and moving to a small town model tips

A girl recently wrote me on Facebook concerned about moving to a smaller city, her message read "Hey girl! So, I'm completely in shock right now..only because I may have to move the Wilmington, NC in the next 5 months :(

Do you know of any agencies out there. I tried looking, but definitely feel like I just hit a wall out there."

My reply: ( I moved to Miami for 6 months and did modeling and while the experience went well, I could have gotten a lot more out of it while I was there, but by the time I had settled in town I was preparing to leave, so do research ahead of time.)

Prepare ahead of time with researching agencies, but don't submit too too early, submit a few weeks before you arrive mentioning you will be in town soon, then when you are in town if you have not heard back from any agencies yet, be prepared to submit again mentioning that you are now in town and available for print work.

Beyond looking for agencies you should look for aspiring brands, professional photographers with a photography business, aspiring accessory designers, mom and pop hair salons and aspiring brands. The small business section of the newspaper online of the town you are moving to could help you find growing brands who might need a model. Go with your gut but also use your research skills.

Smaller cities can actually get an ambitious girl some good work. Here are some tips on that: http://petitemodelingtips.blogspot.com/2008/10/improve-your-model-marketing-for-small.html

I would also research Talent agencies, there seems to be some in that area. Google Wilmington, NC + talent agencies. Do you have a headshot? A comp card already? If so you could mail it a couple months before you arrive. But not too early, people don't like it if they want to work with you and you are not in town. As always beware of scams, and don't pay an agency for photos or anything like that, also I ONLY suggest submitting by postal mail. Get that comp card and send it out. :)
http://www.fincannoncasting.com
http://www.martinanddonalds.com/main.php
http://www.caiofnc.com/representation.php
http://www.stwtalent.com/aboutus.html
http://www.marilynsagency.com/representation.php ironically had a petite division..mm

Isobella

This week on Model Talk Radio catch special guest Derek of Derek Loves Shopping at 4pm EST:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2010/04/21/derek-loves-shopping-style-expert-and-modern-phila

Modeling in Syracuse or a small town like this one is hard

If you are living in a small town, or smaller city like Syracuse, NY or the surrounding areas modeling can seem impossible.

While visiting my family here I am reminded of the first chapter of Almost 5'4" when I wrote about how I googled the word model during a boring summer in Syracuse, NY- it makes me think about present day and how the internet has made a major impression on young girls and females of all ages and how internet sites might seem to be the only option for a girl who wants to model. However I strongly suggest NOT using it to promote yourself as a model mainly because although the internet might seem "where all the action is to network with a photographer" I believe (even through my own modeling mistakes you will find in my memoir) that the internet is the wrong place to start your modeling pursuits. In a small town it might seem like the only option. No modeling agencies. Not many photographers that do photography professionally but here are some suggestions:

1. Go to a local college or research to see if there is a photography department at a near by college.
2. Google Headshot or portrait photographer + your city
3. Go to a local photo lab and ask if they can suggest a professional photographer that shoots headshots.
4. Go to a craft show and mingle with aspiring accessory designers jewelry, handbags, scarves and see if they might need a model for their catalog, etc.
5. Stop by a local mom and pop hair salon or store, boutique and ask if they ever use models for their advertising or window display ads?

If you want to seriously call yourself a model you have to do legit modeling work and to do so in a smaller town you have to be inventive sometimes, and not just stare at yourself and comments on a social site.

Skip modeling contests on the internet, skip internet modeling sites, because if you really want to model the REAL modeling work doesn't happen by showing your photos on a computer screen.

Almost 5'4" can be found BN stores on RT 31 and Dewitt or here on my website.