When you are looking for new people to work with, it is very important to present yourself in a way that will help you attract desirable collaborative teams, as opposed to those that are not worth your time.

Whether you are a model, clothing designer, photographer, or make-up artist, you can benefit by reading this article. If you want to be taken seriously as a creative professional, it is important to treat your craft/etc as a business. Even if you are not doing this full-time nor intend to, if you display that you are serious about your craft, other people will also take you more seriously.

So, what do you do to minimize collaboration requests from those you don’t want to work with and maximize the response from those that you desire to team up with?

1. Show only your best photos.When you are putting a portfolio together, use only the best photos that showcase your work. You do not have to put up 40 or more photos just because that’s what the limit might be. I believe that 10 great photos are far better than 40 or even 60 poorly done photos.

2. Fill out your Model Mayhem profile completely. When you are filling out your Model Mayhem profile, follow the steps outlined in this post. It is very important that you do not undermine the importance of having it filled out properly.

3. Do not post tacky images all over your “About Me” section. To make it easier on the people viewing your profile, do not splatter tacky images all over your “about me” section on Model Mayhem because most people just want to know the basics, such as whether or not you have tattoos and scars, what previous experience you have, as well as what you are interested in and would like to accomplish. If you have tearsheets, then yes, by all means, put them in your “about me” section because those are indicative of your experience.

4. Watch your spelling and grammar. Unless English is not your first language, there should be no excuses for improper spelling/grammar. Firefox has spellcheck and if you don’t use Firefox, then you can use Microsoft Word to make drafts of your messages, profile text, etc. Whenever people come across a profile that is all written in text speak or in capitals, some might deem you to be lazy and not serious because you didn’t even bother to check your spelling. Essentially, your “about me” on your profile is equivalent to a summary on a resume or a cover letter. If you wrote your resume or cover letter that way, would you get the job?

5. Don’t post drama. People don’t need to know about every bad experience you have had with other people. So if you want to work with serious professionals, then don’t bring drama because they have no time for BS.

6. Write a proper message when contacting people. When initiating contact with people that you want to work with, write a proper message, as opposed to “hey, wanna shoot sumtime?” or “u r so sexi, lets shoot”, or other messages of such nature. When you are sending someone a message, you should first introduce yourself. Then, tell the other person what you are looking to shoot/describe your concept, why you like their work, what you offer as compensation, and when/where you want to do the shoot.

7. Initiate contact. The best way to attract people worth working with is to somehow contact them first. If you are new, then won’t know that you exist unless you make them aware of your presence. You don’t just want to add them as a friend though, since a lot of people just accept all friend requests without even looking at people’s portfolios. So, if you want to add someone as a friend, especially if it is someone that you want to work with, tag or message them first.

8. Do not post huge “No TFP” signs on your profile if you are new. Just because more experienced people do it, does not mean that it is right for someone who is just starting out. Some people, when they come across a profile with such sign, they will simply click the “back” button and go to a different profile. You want your profile to be as welcoming as possible for people to contact you.

9. Ask for testimonials. If you end up working with a high caliber Model Mayhem member, then the best way to attract other people of that caliber that are worth working with is to ask him/her for a recommendation/testimonial to put on your website/profile. (It’s like if Donald Trump publicly states that you’re an amazing business person, chances are, other people in business will believe him and will want to work with you.)

10. Write in a welcoming way. Make your profile on Model Mayhem or any other social networking site as welcoming as possible. You should also make it easy to read and understand. Don’t write irrelevant, long-winded paragraphs describing every detail of your life, people will not care.

So, how do you attract people that you want to work with?

Aviva

Do you recall my collaboration with Eriko Y., Nightshade Beauty (Kat), and Shimon Karmel for Eriko’s entry into Contessa Awards 2010?

It did not win Contessa, but it did win Daily Deviation on DeviantArt, it has now been added to 600+ “favorites” lists by other DeviantArt members, and received over 10,000 views on Kat’s (NightshadeBeauty) portfolio on DeviantArt in a very short period of time.

I was thrilled to hear that this is Kat’s 2nd time winning Daily Deviation for her outstanding make-up and bodypaint work. She is an all-round artist, and is definitely one of my favorite make-up artists to work with. When it comes to art, Kat puts her passion into everything she does.

Almost a year ago, I took a marketing class as part of my program, and the subject of “differentiation” came up. Back then, of course, I only thought of it as a vocabulary word, but now I am able to think of the possible ways to apply this concept of “differentiation” to modeling.

So, you’re probably thinking…”what the heck is differentiation and why am I speaking about it on a fashion/lifestyle blog?” Differentiation is “the process of making a product/service different from other similar products/services to ensure a greater chance that your target market will choose you over your competitors”.

As a model, there are millions of other girls competing with you for the very few modeling jobs that are available. If you are a freelance model, it is even harder, because you have to do your own marketing and networking.

The key question is: how do you differentiate yourself as a model from the millions of other models who want the same thing as you? The answer to that is: “it depends”.
Depends on what? Your strengths (look & talent) and the target market. Differentiation helps you position yourself in the market.

As a model, you are the product and the service. So, why YOU?

Here are some ways that you can differentiate yourself as a model:

1. You have a skill that can help you model better. For example, you have extensive years of dance, acting, and gymnastics experience that can help you pose for photos better. There are many photographers and clients who are looking for models that can pull of certain concepts which require such skills/experience, so if you can do that-then you’ve got something that sets you apart from your competitors.

2. You have access to networks of key people. This is important because when you are suggesting someone to hire you and you know several other talented people that can help the potential “client” execute their vision, they are more likely to choose you.

3. You perform the best in a certain modeling niche. If you are a great glamour model-stick to that. If you can do crazy contortionist poses-do that, and market yourself that way. Pick a few modeling genres that you are most suited for, and build a great portfolio which will prove to your potential clients why they should choose you and why they should rely on you. For example, Mosh, I believe, has done wonderful in this area.

4. Your “rates” are lower and you only compete on price. Some lower budget clients and many new photographers cannot afford to hire very experienced and published models who are represented by agencies and who have amazing talent, so you can certainly try to offer something in between the “TF model” and the “Top Notch Expensive Model” and get paid that way.

5. You can also do make-up, hair, or wardrobe styling, you’re a clothing designer, or you’re simply full of creative ideas. Some photographers like it when a model can come up with and execute a great concept for which she did all the work, and all the photographer had to do was take the photo. So, if those are the photographers who are within your target market, and you have those kinds of creative skills/abilities, then yes, you should definitely play that up! Your marketing messages would give potential clients the signal that you can do what a whole team can do, and that really does set you apart.

Ultimately, the key to differentiation is finding something you are best at, understanding the degree of demand for it, being unique in your value proposition, and sending those messages out to your target market.

So, how do you differentiate yourself?

Whether you are a model, photographer, clothing designer, make-up artist, or another creative professional who is looking for people to collaborate on a shoot with, there are a few things that you should look for, which will help make your collaboration produce the results that you want.

Considering that collaboration usually does not involve exchanging cash (since everyone is supposed to get something that benefits their portfolio), who you choose to work with is crucial and will ultimately determine if the time you spent on a shoot was actually worth it for you in the end.

Remember, also, that when you are collaborating, EVERYONE involved has to benefit somehow. Collaboration is a team effort, so the whole team needs to get something out of it. This is not a “take, take and take” relationship-it is a “give and take” relationship.

So, here are a few things that should help you find good people to work with and produce the results that you will all benefit from:

1. If you’re looking for people online, check out how the person filled out their profile (on Model Mayhem). If their profile shows that they “don’t care about anything at all” or is filled with “negative and defensive talk”, chances are they will not be good for you to work with.

2. Look at their portfolio. Their portfolio is very important. Is it approximately of equal to slightly better caliber than yours? If the answer is “yes”, then they are worth approaching for collaborations. Also, are they good at the style of shots that you are looking for? If the person whose portfolio you’re viewing is a very good nude model and you want to shoot lifestyle/commercial images and she does not have those in her portfolio, then it is best to find someone else to work with.

3. After the initial contact, check to see how well they respond to your messages. Are they prompt, or do they take a week to get back to you? Are they direct when it comes to their goals for the collaboration and what they want out of it?

4. Do the person’s/people’s goals align with yours? This is very important so that there is no “but I thought we were going to shoot to submit to Vogue vs. I just wanted to test the lights”…you know what I mean?

5. The previous point (#4) brings me to this one…Are your potential collaborative team members realistic in their expectations? It’s one thing to have goals, but it’s another to have unrealistic fantasies that can be counterproductive and disappointing. Believe me, I’m all for dreaming, but there is a line between a dream and a goal (though they are not mutually exclusive by any means).

6. Is the person saying negative things about other people? The reason why this is important is because I don’t think that you should work with someone who puts down others. I mean, if they put down others, what if they do the same to you when you’re not around and when you do something that they don’t “like”? It’s best to avoid negative people like that all together.

7. Do they have drama? If they have too much drama that they are constantly complaining about, then they are not going to be fun to work with.

8. Check references. Find out if the potential members of your creative teams are flakes or not. You are putting a lot of energy into making a good shoot happen, so make sure that other people are on the same page with you when it comes to flaking.

What do you think? Have you used any of the above? Were they helpful to you? What other things do you look for when searching for people to collaborate with?

🙂 Aviva

When you are signing up for Model Mayhem, you will be asked to fill out your “About Me” section with a minimum of 100 words. Yes, photos are an important component of starting your profile, but it is equally as important to write something about you that will encourage your profile viewers to want to work with you, as opposed to click away from your profile the moment they read the first line.

The “About Me” section, your stats/details, and your avatar photo are the first things that a person sees when they go to your profile on Model Mayhem. This is exactly why it would be best for you if you fill it out completely and accurately.

When I was first starting out on Model Mayhem, I made some mistakes in how I filled out my “About Me”, and now I want to save you from doing the same, which is the only reason I wrote this article.

1. For your “About Me” section, you can write what type of modeling you are interested in, themes you are interested in shooting, who you would like to work with, if you have any past modeling experience, your general availability, and if you have any scars/birthmarks/stretchmarks/piercings/tattoos. You may also indicate if you are interested in nude modeling or not, as there will be people who will ask you to pose nude.

It’s OK to write “I am not interested in nude shoots” but do not write “I DON’T DO NUDE, DON’T ASK, I HAVE SELF-RESPECT”. Writing such a statement (especially in capitals) can prevent others from wanting to work with you because you are offending a large majority of MM’s membership who shoot nude (and who make a living doing it). Everyone has their own views on nudity, but you don’t need to make overtly harsh statements one way or the other.

What you also don’t want to write is that you are going to be a rich and famous supermodel, how you’ll be a star, how you will replace Kate Moss, and how you will revolutionize the modeling industry. Having dreams is great, but it’s also good to be realistic when it comes to your chances of actually doing such things.

It’s also not a good idea to have a bunch of negative statements in your profile about stuff that you won’t do.  Having a long list of demands, such as “all photos on a CD immediately after the shoot” “no signing of releases”, can also backfire on you and prevent good people from wanting to work with you (especially when you are new and have those demands).

You also don’t want to lie about your past modeling experience in your profile, nor do you want to say that you posed for Vogue, Maxim, or Playboy (and other such large publications) because people can easily tell if you are lying. First off, if you had posed for such magazines, you would have tear sheets or other evidence to back it up.

Additionally, don’t go on and on about your favorite food, favorite colour, or what you do in your spare time. When people are looking for models, they don’t care that your favorite colour is green, nor that you like to eat your pancakes with maple syrup in the morning, nor that you like long walks in the park. Basically, if it is not relevant to your performance/aspirations as a model or how you are at shoots: don’t write it in your “About Me” on Model Mayhem.

2. When you fill out your stats/details, fill it out completely. It will ask for your weight, height, measurements, and other sizing information. This is very important because if you say that your measurements are 34 24 34 and you show up 38 28 39, people will notice. Also, if you say you’re 5’8″ but you show up to be 5’5″, it will get found out, the same way that if you say you’re 120 lbs and you show up to be 150.
The point of this is: be honest. Whether you are 110 lbs or 210 lbs, there will be photographers for you on Model Mayhem who prefer one over the other. Therefore, lying about your measurements will not necessarily get you more shoots. If you do lie, then make sure that it’s not by more than 1 inch either way, and I realize that MM does not allow for half sizes.

3. Pick an Avatar photo that makes the viewer want to open your portfolio. It should be one of the best photos that you have that show off your talent/look.

If you are thinking of starting a Model Mayhem account, I hope that you found this article helpful.

Cheers and best of luck!

Aviva

P.S. Do you think there should be something to add to this?

If you have just started modeling, especially if you joined a networking site for models, you will get several offers from people who you may not want to work with before you get offers from people that you do want to work with.

The people that you would want to work with are probably those that you should approach yourself, because chances are they get so many messages from people wanting to work with them that they do not have the time to send you a message, or even look at your profile.

However, if you get a message from someone that you don’t want to work with, or whose concept/idea/proposal does not appeal to you, don’t be afraid to tell them that you are not interested. If that person is mature, he/she will take it with a grain of salt and won’t contact you again with the same proposal.

If he/she chooses to have a hissy fit about your response, and starts telling you about the “world of opportunities” that you have missed by choosing not to work with him/her, or starts writing you nasty messages in response to your rejection of their offer, then the best thing to do is to block the person and stop all future communication. By nipping this in the bud right then and there, you are saving yourself a world of weirdness/trouble. If that person reacts that way to a simple “Thank you for your offer but I am not interested”, think of how they would react to your future communications where you happen to disagree on something.

The person who sent you the proposal to work together should understand that rejection is part of life.