In need of advice, etc.: Modeling

[Muzz]

Yeegads I hope this is in the correct forum. If not, I apologize.

Recently I've taken an interest in modeling since my confidence has had a sudden burst upward. I don't want to do just any regular modeling, though, I want to do modeling for fetish gear, corsets, costumes, etc. I don't want to do nude, and I don't want to do pornography.

Any help is appreciated.

Another bit of information: I'm more likely than not moving to Alabama this summer, so any agencies or online stores that are available in Alabama would be great. If you need pictures or something to judge my worth, I'm more than happy to supply. Just PLEASE please help me, this sounds like fun and I could use the money to help me with an expensive college dream.

[ForrestBlack]

To be completely honest, and this is just my opinion, non-nude fetish costume modeling should probably be done for fun. I'm not saying that someone would never make any money from doing it, but money should be like tenth on your motivation list for that sort of activity. This is compounded by being in Alabama. Now, I think it's totally cool to have beautiful pictures taken and experimenting with fashion and artistic expression can be a great thing, and genuinely awesome art can be made which you can share and look at proudly for the rest of your life. However, I think it is important to recognise the difference between putting in work to create something great and treating something you enjoy as kind of a job. It has to do with goals. If your goal is to be involved in creating great images and showing off exciting fashions and looking awesome, that is a goal that can be achieved successfully, but if you measure it as a career or second career or simply as a paycheck, well, it is easy to get caught up looking for the wrong results. This is not any sort of judgement regarding your abilities, it's just my feelings about personal motivations and how one should measure their progress towards reaching their goals.

[Jax]

I dont know many people whod pay for you to model costumes, corsets or fetish gear, unless you were acutally doing fetish photos. These are more a fun job than actual paying jobs. Once you get into the industry youll be suprised at how LITTLE you will make. Unless you have a great agency, and even then it rare, you will defineately not make a living with this type of work.

[Evilbink]

Well I don't think moving towards something you enjoy is a bad idea, but trying to turn it into a money making venture isn't the smart thing to do. It's a tough enough industry I'm sure, and unless you much more "open" about it, it dosen't seem like you would make much of a paycheck out of it. And in the end you would just end up being jaded on something you once loved for fun.

[ForrestBlack]

I think part of the problem is that everyone calls it an 'industry' when really it's more like have some friends shoot nice pictures of you that might run in a zine or a club flier if you are lucky. That's not an 'industry' at all. Again, I'm not saying you couldn't pick up a job from time to time, maybe get some free clothes or a few bucks to show off someone's clothing in their catalog or newspaper ads or whatever, but most people do that stuff because it would be fun and cool.

Now, it is possible to pick up some decent money and make a name for yourself if you are into working on some portion of the adult/nude/erotic side, but if you don't want to do that, then no amount of money should be enough to change your mind. I do think it's important to know that girls like Dita, Masuimi, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Page, etc. all made their names doing adult model work and/or dancing though, much of it fairly explicit for the times.

This is by no means intended to change your mind about what you want to do, just give you a better idea of some of the realities so that if you do get to be in a cool zine or someone's catalog or club flier or newspaper ad and you don't get to quit your day job, that you shouldn't look at that as a failure. You should look at the work you created hopefully with pride and feel it was a success for being fun and cool.

[Muzz]

Hmmm. Thanks for all the advice. It's one dream to actually model, but it's seconded to my dream to become a Veterinarian. I'm just so tight on money that I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill my dream. I'm so depressed and borderline on just going nude, but I won't because of my boyfriend.

I just don't know what to do, and I'm desperate to make quick money so that I can work hard through college.

Ugh. I feel sick now. At least I know now what not to expect. I suppose I'll put these plans on hold. It's fun to do modeling for friends, but I was hoping for some cash to fund my way through college.

I just don't know what I'm going to do.

[ForrestBlack]

Hmmm. Thanks for all the advice. It's one dream to actually model, but it's seconded to my dream to become a Veterinarian. I'm just so tight on money that I'm afraid I won't be able to fulfill my dream. I'm so depressed and borderline on just going nude, but I won't because of my boyfriend.

I just don't know what to do, and I'm desperate to make quick money so that I can work hard through college.

Ugh. I feel sick now. At least I know now what not to expect. I suppose I'll put these plans on hold. It's fun to do modeling for friends, but I was hoping for some cash to fund my way through college.

I just don't know what I'm going to do.

I did a lot of temp work to pay for school, by the time I was done, a lot of people already wanted to hire me since they had already seen me work. It wasn't super glamorous, but it payed well enough.

[bre.star]

you should post a picture of yourself

[Evilbink]

PRESERVERANCE.. jusy keep on keeping on, and good thing will happen. Also.. post a pic ya silly thing.

[Ellis]

Well shit, I wont pay you anything, but come up to NH and Im sure I could get someone to take some pictures.

[Muzz]

Ok, I don't have any clear pictures -yet- because I have a crappy camera:



These were actually for another message board I go to where we have avatars by our text that we can dress up as we post, and posts earn us 'gold'. At any rate, I dressed up as my avatar 'cause I had the material. Both obviously put into paint, heh.



Me just wearing my favorite outfit.


Me on an everyday basis


Amateur work


VERY blury, but I was showing off my new tummy that I went through a year of tedious aerobics to earn. I gots no flab, woo!


My all time favorite picture. I caught the light just right on my face.

That's all the pretty good ones I have. Other ones are just me being a goofnut or dressing up and painting my face. I want to get some clearer ones, but that'll have to wait :/ I have nothing good to even start a portfolio, lol.

[Tequila Zaire]

You're a cute gal, so if you really want to do some modeling...just do what others have said...enjoy it for the fun it can be first and foremost. Experiment, explore, and see what you like.

Find a photographer you are comfortable with and see what you can do with him or her...if you want to do stuff yourself...invest in a good entry level camera if you're new to them...digital camera's are pretty cheap these days. Just got one myself for refrence work.

Nice tummy by the way...

Also with that last pic our resident stalkers now have you on their radar...they are harmless though...they tend to just hang around talking about stalking and not actually doing it. Lazy bastards.

[TheDeathKnight]

I'd have to agree that it's pretty hard to make a good amount of money doing fetish modeling, unless you are doing nude or sexual content of some kind. There are indeed girls who put themselves through school by stripping or nude modeling, etc... But there are just too many girls who are wannabe models, who will be happy to pose for free. Every girl with a good body, and some cool outfits wants to pose for photos. If you want to make money at it, you have to think to yourself... How is this photographer going to make money off your photos? If they are nude photos, they can sell them for magazines, internet use, etc, so they will be able to pay you for your time. But if you pose in a corset, where is that photographer going to sell that picture? Where is the market? There is indeed a market for fine art fetish photography, but that market is small, and competitive. There are a lot of really unique, exotic, and interesting girls as competition.

[OliX]

You are looking just fine.... with lot's of pushing and just a litlle bit of talent you could achieve what you want.... anyway it's risky so I recomend you to keep going with school like a backup plan for your life... good luck

*you should not do nude as long as you can (will), that's just my opinion, not advice

....they tend to just hang around talking about stalking and not actually doing it. Lazy bastards.

T.Z. I don't know why.... but I've decided to stalk you from now on

[Evilbink]

Goody..another redhead. And I'm not a lazy stalker. It's just there are so many to stalk I'm spread pretty thin these days. busy busy busy..

[nyar]

that first pic is great!!-
you should make it your avatar.

[karamae]

Modeling is a lot of fun.
Never feel competitive and just enjoy it!

[Ellis]

Very nice, good job on the exercise and all that, its a commendable thing to do. Im glad oure coming into yourself in a way, or at least letting your self esteem improve to some extent...
Basically, you should try to put together a portfolio or something, or at least get some professional photographer to take some pictures. Youve got alot to work with, and if youre willing to adapt, and to work with people, you could do what you want with little to no problem... except yeah, its REALLY hard to make a living doing modeling of that nature, at least at this point in time.

[Muzz]

Hm. Thanks again for the compliments and advice. I won't do nude for one reason- my boyfriend. Otherwise I'd be out there earning myself a college education my way and put the rest into savings.

I think I may do it for fun while I can, and if I get 'noticed', then that's good as well. Either way, I suppose I'll have to go the difficult road: Two jobs while being a full time student as a biology major, woo! D:

[tommygunn666]

sometime boyfriend and girlfriend hold people back so they dont see the life they have with out them

[toxic love doll]

First thing first, forget about money for the moment. More important to just do it for enjoyment, to be sure that you really do enjoy it. After that, you would need to develop a good relationship with at least a couple of good photographers; you model for free, and you get a free portfolio! Even if you never make any money doing it, you would have something wonderful to remember it by.

I'm more concerned as to why you can not go nude because of your boyfriend... He should be willing to support what you want to do. In my case, it was my boyfriend who first tried to convince me to go nude.

[Tequila Zaire]

sometime boyfriend and girlfriend hold people back so they dont see the life they have with out them

Hell if that ain't true...

[Amelia G]

sometime boyfriend and girlfriend hold people back so they dont see the life they have with out them

Seriously. Anyone here see Wayne's World?

[tommygunn666]

Seriously. Anyone here see Wayne's World?

what part of the movie when she make it big
tommygunn666

[skully]

if your boyfriend is the only reason why you won't do nude then that is definately something to think about. if his reason is personal(he is afraid of losing you or jealous of another guy/person seeing you naked) then talk to him... invite him to any shoots with you... this can create a problem if he effects your work...but it shouldn't be a problem with the photographer (especially if you are still building a relationship with them)

one of my model friends brought her brother to the shoots for the first 2-3 times with a new photographer and loved the sessions the very first time she shoot without anyone there he grabbed her ass and was much more sleezy in his general demeanore of course she never worked with him again but it is something to think about. that is also why you need to think about modeling as something you should like to do and not as a paycheck.
there are plenty of people here that can give you more detailed/better advice but this is just some stuff to chew on.

[incog]

If you want to make money naked, I recommend stripping. The only girls I know who make big bucks off their looks for more than a year or two are all strippers.

[SindelChaos]

I guess my comment was deleted because I entered my email address. I really wish private messaging would get hooked back up soon.

Anyway, I have lots of advice to offer, but half of the sites I list will probably bleeped out due to some filter.

1)You really need to read up on the business and what is legitamite and what is a scam. A lot of alternative models don't get paid for their work. They do it as a hobby and for art's sake. You need to know what to expect out of a photographer and how model release forms and copyrights work.

ALWAYS bring a chaperone to the first few shoots with a photographer. NEVER do anything outside your morals and if the photographer touches you, says anything, or tries to push you to do something you don't want, LEAVE.

2)You really need to get decent photos taken by doing a TFP/TFCD (time for print/time for cd) or test shoot. You don't get paid and you don't pay them. I don't think anyone is going to look twice at your photos and consider you for work. Not because of your look, but because of the quality of the photos.

3)Working up a wardrobe with props is a plus. Photographers love a model that has creative ideas and props/clothing to carry out those ideas. Photographers are more worried about buying photography tools, to worry about coming up with the model's tools as well.

4) Look up modeling sites on the net to expose yourself and let photographers in your area know you are out there and interested in building on your portfolio. I have an abundance of sites I could give you, but like I said above, the site has filters and they may * them out. Use Google, you'll come up with results.

[Amelia G]

I guess my comment was deleted because I entered my email address. I really wish private messaging would get hooked back up soon.

Anyway, I have lots of advice to offer, but half of the sites I list will probably bleeped out due to some filter.
1)You really need to read up on the business and what is legitamite and what is a scam. A lot of alternative models don't get paid for their work. They do it as a hobby and for art's sake. You need to know what to expect out of a photographer and how model release forms and copyrights work.

4) Look up modeling sites on the net to expose yourself and let photographers in your area know you are out there and interested in building on your portfolio. I have an abundance of sites I could give you, but like I said above, the site has filters and they may * them out. Use Google, you'll come up with results.

Sindel, if a site name is starred out, there is a good reason for it and the supportive and decent thing would be for you not to support whatever site name was starred out. There are very very few site names which will star out when typed, so you would have to have a VERY short list in order to have half of them starred out.

If you have something useful and informative and interesting to say, there is no reason you have to say it in a private message.

Please do not abuse either the technicality or the spirit of the FAQ. If you have useful advice, then please share it with everyone here. If you wish to use this board to connect with people off-board to abuse the policies here, that is really still a violation of the spirit of those policies. As Blue Blood has already received a stalking complaint about you, I think it would be safer for both Blue Blood and for you if you did not attempt to get personal data about other board members for a while.

Blue Blood has a very free community. On any other site, if at least two well-loved models had felt you needed banning, you would probably have been banned and certainly would not have received personal correspondance from the people in charge trying to make sure everyone was comfortable.

Please be considerate when others are being considerate of you.

This is not a job board. Craigslist is a very well-developed site if you are looking to hire or find work.

[Tequila Zaire]

Craigslist is a very well-developed site if you are looking to hire or find work.

Totally...like this

[BrightStar]

These were actually for another message board I go to where we have avatars by our text that we can dress up as we post, and posts earn us 'gold'. At any rate, I dressed up as my avatar 'cause I had the material. Both obviously put into paint, heh.


Would that happen to be GaiaOnline ? **

[SindelChaos]

There are very very few site names which will star out when typed, so you would have to have a VERY short list in order to have half of them starred out.

I was unaware of that. I only knew that sometimes some words/sites were filtered out. I didn't exactly know for what reasons.

If you have something useful and informative and interesting to say, there is no reason you have to say it in a private message.

What exactly is the point of private messaging then? I have NEVER considered bothering any one at any time on this message board intentionally. I am here to offer advice and make friends. I have nothng more to offer here.

Since she was the one who wanted the advice, I figured it would be easier to just send her a private message with the list of recommended sites, so she could click on each link and visit them without having to go back to the board and scroll through all the comments. Since, private messaging is down, I thought I would go ahead and leave my public/business email, so if she had any trouble finding links, she could email me and I would give her the links to the sites that she hadn't found yet. I, now, realize how wrong that is because it seems you think I'm some sort of stalker.

As Blue Blood has already received a stalking complaint about you, I think it would be safer for both Blue Blood and for you if you did not attempt to get personal data about other board members for a while.Blue Blood has a very free community. On any other site, if at least two well-loved models had felt you needed banning, you would probably have been banned and certainly would not have received personal correspondance from the people in charge trying to make sure everyone was comfortable.

Please be considerate when others are being considerate of you

Of the two models who have complained to you, one didn't like my opinion and I apologized many times because maybe my wording was a bit odd, but she wouldn't let it die.

The other basically slandered me on a board for no other reason than to cause drama and or bring attention to herself. If you heard the full story and seen the proof, maybe you would have blown off her complaint. I offered to leave here before the second complaint was made because I didn't want to cause any drama on the boards. I believe I even privately apologized to you about it. I have never attempted to get "personal" data from anyone on this site. They have willfully given it to me by sending a private message, email, and or a package in the mail. I have never given out my own personal information unless I was comfortable with the person or persons having it.

This is not a job board. Craigslist is a very well-developed site if you are looking to hire or find work.

I am well aware that this isn't a job board. I'm not looking for work and I am not looking to hire anyone for anything. I'm not an agent, manager, or webmaster. She asked a simple question and I was willing to offer advice.

[Amelia G]

Sindel, I do not feel it is too much to ask that you have enough respect for the community in general, and the people who posted in this thread specifically, to share the advice you have to offer in the thread where it was requested.

Muzz felt that the topic was interesting enough for a thread on the public board and other board members felt her thread was interesting enough to participate in it. If the links you would like to share violate community policy, then you may not use these boards to spam those links in public or in private.

Lastly, I did not call you a stalker. I stated that, as you know, Blue Blood has received stalker complaints about you. Whether or not you are a stalker in the truest sense is irrelevant. Clearly some of your more unusually personal attentions make some people uncomfortable and it would probably be a good idea for you to evaluate why people might get that impression of you before pushing for naturally public interactions to become more private. I am not saying who is right and who is wrong or that I know the whole story on why Blue Blood received stalker complaints about you, but it would be irresponsible for Blue Blood not to be concerned when you specifically try to make private contact about a topic which could just as easily be discussed in public.

[SindelChaos]

onemodelplace.com
************.com
xtreme-beauty.com
alternativemodels.net
modelmayhem.com
musecube.com
net-model.com
retrokitten.com


These are the only one's I can think of off the top of my head, good luck in the rest of your search, Muzz.

[ForrestBlack]

Now see, I'm probably going to step on toes here, but I've worked with pretty much every publication that runs non-nude spooky fetish model photography that either exists today or has existed in at least the last ten years, and I honestly don't think those agencies really do all that much good for the kind of job Muzz was looking for. I know pretty much all the folks that shoot that sort of thing successfully, and the instances of agency bookings are very few and very far between. I've shot covers and features for most of the publications for that sort of work and I've never booked through any of those services. Sure, a number of them have stolen my photography so they could pretend to be booking work for people I've already shot, but that's not quite the same thing as me actually using their service now is it? Dita actually had to take legal action to keep them from pretending they were managing her career when they certainly were not. But, a bunch of those 'agencies' give brownie points or cash for referrals, so every time someone brings up that they might be interested in modeling, all of a sudden all those sites get thrown at them, despite a lack of any history of actually being good for anything.

If you are in Los Angeles or New York, there are a few options that might actually be able to book an exceptional person as an extra in rock video crowd scenes and stuff like that, and a living could potentially be made that way.

[SindelChaos]

Those places aren't agencies. They are basically directories, online portfolio sites, and/or communities where models can meet photographers, make up artists, designers and many more. I have worked with some very talented people through there. I have seen many websites posting wanting models for clothing lines and such. Some of those gigs are paying and some are not. Most of the places I have listed are specifically for the alternative scene.

I do agree that if you cannot travel often or don't live in a major city, it is impossible to make a living off doing such things. I think she may find a few photographers to start off with on some of those sites.

If ANY of those sites give brownie points and or cash referrals, I'm sure as hell not making anything off of them.

[Muzz]

Well, there's things that come with a relationship. Respect is one of them. I respect him not to go off being naked for other people, and I respect his wishes for me not to go off and be naked for other people. Also, we're in a M/s relationship, so that's a whole new level of respect and obedience between eachother. I know there are others ways I could make money, I just thought I'd look at all of my options. When comparing being nude as opposed to being with my love, I think I'd be most unhappy without him, nude or clothed, so that's my final take on that matter. I can't always have it my way, and neither can he. I'm just fine with that ^^

As for the links, I'll take a peek at them. Perhaps someday I'll try the business, but as I see the adult life becoming a little more hectic, modeling is becoming less appealing because of the time it takes up and the lack of time I have.

Thanks tons for the time and advice!

[One Eyed Cat]

Whatever you want to do, for fuck's sake, just do it. You cannot rely on any "agency". Do what Jen does, bang on their doors until they let you in.

OEC

[TheDeathKnight]

Or just do it for fun...

It can be fun, even if it is not a way to make money.
If it's something you have really wanted to do, they you should do it.
I know a group of fetish models, and photographers, who get together
once every few weeks, and do an exchange of modelling for prints.
They all bring tons of props, backdrops, etc, and shoot all kinds of
stuff, some nude, some not, and then the photographers get models,
and the models get really cool photographs. And everyone has fun...

You should definately explore modelling, even if you do not do it
for a living... It's fun to dress up and take pictures!

[Sceptic_Messiah]

I never got this much help when i asked that was years ago when the boards were quite new though.....errrm i think someone said take acting lessons is a good one!

[skully]

If you are in Los Angeles or New York, there are a few options that might actually be able to book an exceptional person as an extra in rock video crowd scenes and stuff like that, and a living could potentially be made that way.

i'm in new york and come fall school semester i will be out of a regular job... care to share ?