Monetize Photography: Model Polaroids

1. Monetize Photography: Model Polaroids: Hi, everyone, and welcome in this class about monetizing photography and how to work with model agencies. My name is Ta Jacuba, and I'm a multi disciplinary artist. I work with photography, video, and performance. But beside this artistic practice, I'm also in the modeling industry. I was a creative director and casting director of one modeling agency in Ce Public. And then after that, I found my own model agency. I've been in this industry for more than eight years, and I can say I have a lot of experience both from the side of a photographer working with models and also as a casting director of the modeling agency. So in this class, we will focus on how to monetize your photography skills working for modeling agencies around the world. I created six lessons where we're going to take a closer look on the specific topics. Lesson one is going to be Why working for model agencies. Lesson two, what are model polaroids? Lesson three, how to shoot model polaroids, Lesson four, extra effort, making models comfortable. Lesson five, making the deal, and lesson six, conclusion where we're going to summarize everything, what we just learned. This class is a short form, so let's don't waste time and see you in the next lesson. 2. Why working for model agencies?: Welcome in the first lesson where we're going to talk about main benefits of working with model agencies. Model agencies are present in the major cities worldwide, offering chances for travel around the world and working in different cities. You can meet a lot of people there, a lot of contacts for networking, and also you can find new friends. Another benefit is accessibility of the job without needing a professional studio or education. Daylight, and a plain background is all what you need. So this job doesn't require a huge investment in the beginning. You don't need to have professional studio with professional lighting and stuff. It's enough that you're going to just find your space, whether it's inside or outside with good lighting and a background. Another benefit is financial prospects and growth opportunities. This job is a good starting point for creating experiences and skills for another future jobs in photography, and also it offers potential growth. For example, many photographers starting to work for modeling agencies just taking polaroids of models, but in the future, when they develop eye for a nice faces and new faces. Usually agency offer photographer to be also a scout for them. Which means you can just walk in the street and when you're going to find someone very interesting that will fit into the board of the agency. You can scout them, you can offer them to the agency and get the extra money for that. And the last main benefit is networking with talents and industry professionals. As I said, you're going to meet a lot of people, you're going to do a lot of networking, and you never know which contact is going to be the good one for you in the future. There is a huge opportunity to just meet one, the right person that will connect you with the big brand or big client. And suddenly next season, you're going to shoot a campaign for them. So these were the main benefits, and in the next lesson, we're going to talk about what are model polaroids. 3. What are model polaroids?: So what are actually model polaroids? The word polaroids come from the past because model polaroids used to be shooted on polaroids. The small polroids that you're going to take pictures, and it will go out and that's the final product. Why it was like that? Because model polaroids are meant to be and at all. You cannot mo. You cannot retuch their shape, and you shouldn't play so about light, contrast, and shadows. Modern equivalent word for polaroids is digits. So when you're going to meet a model agency and they're going to talk about digital polaroids, it's the same. What model polaroids includes? Well, the main thing is the portrait, front portrait with a good daylight. Another one is profile, and another one is strict water. That's the portray part. The body part is full body from the front, full body from the side, and half body with some natural nice pose. Take note that you should never show the model in their underwear. They should always use swimwear because underwear might feel very personal and intimate, and you don't want to model on the set to feel uncomfortable. So we talk about modern equivalent to polaroids, which is digitals. But also you can meet terms like Set card, com card, digital card, book, portfolio, all of these things. What are they? Polaroids, polars, digitals is the same thing. Com card and Set card is the coolsh from these polaroids. When you put the polaroids together, you're going to add measurements over the models and probably also contact for the agency. You just created a com card. When you're going to print this com card, it became Set card, and then you have book or portfolio. Which includes the best photos and work that model did. But this is another part that we are not interested right now because we are focusing on the model polaroids. Because part of your job can be also creating these set cards and com cards and sending into the agency. But it depends on what deal you're going to make with the agency. If it's just about photos, you are done. If it's also about the graphic design a little bit, you're going to design the set cards, you're going to put the polroids together, and you're going to send them the final product as such. Here are some examples of the model polaroids that I did myself with my models, and this is the com card we use at my agency. I hope this was useful, and in the next lesson, we're going to take a look on how to shoot the model plaids. 4. How to create model polaroids?: Hi. In this lesson, we're going to focus on practical steps of how to shoot model polaroids. First, we're going to start with the technical settings. As I said before, the daylight is the best. So make sure you set your white balance to the daylight. Make also sure that always you're going to focus on models eyes. We don't want to be focused on the nose, on the hair or ears. We always want focus on the eyes. What about equipments and settings you need? Well, the best machine you can took is digital camera, of course. But sometimes, Agency will ask you that they need just a quick update polaroids of some models. And for that, you can use iPhone because as I said, it's really quick. They need it usually in one or 2 hours, so you just need the model, shoot some pictures with the iPhone, send it to them, and it's enough. You don't have to do set cards, you don't have to do com cards, nothing. These quick photos are required from clients, for example, if they already saw a com card or set card of the model. And it's let's say one month old. They just want to be sure that model has the same hair, same color of hair, same skin situation, and stuff like that. And what about lighting? As I said many times, daylight is the best. If you don't have opportunity to shoot with daylight, you should use soft light with huge soft box. Definitely avoid direct sun. You don't want that because that type of light is very strong, and it doesn't look good on most of the faces. 5. Extra effort!: In this lesson, we're going to talk about extra effort you can do to get the best model polaroids. I don't have any specific technique that I'm using. But overall, I always try to first sit down and talk with the model, how they are, how they feel that day, what is happening in their life recently, so I can feel a bit what's the mood and if the model is having good or bad day. Other thing you can do is to help models to guide them with poses and postures. As a new photographer, you probably will start with new faces, which means people that are just scouted and they don't have much experiences with posing, modeling and feeling comfortable on the set in front of the camera. So you are the first person actually that's going to prepare them for future jobs and photoshoots. So make sure you are positive, you are smiley, you are nice to them. You don't ask inappropriate questions. And the main important thing is you don't comment on models. Look. You might wonder that There are models. They should be comfortable in front of a camera, and they should be confident. Well, the reality is a little bit different. The modeling industry is pretty tough, a lot of people suffering. And unfortunately, in this time, a lot of modeling agencies still pushing models to lose weight, to look a certain way. Everyone is watching you constantly. Everyone is touching you, because of styling, because of makeups and stuff. So this job is really not comfortable at all, and it's not easy. So you as a photographer of model polaroids, make sure that you don't comment on people's bodies or looks. You just chat with them as a friend, make them feel comfortable, help them with the poses. You can say, this pose doesn't work? Maybe let's try this and that. You can also teach the model a little bit about how to be aware of light sources. For example, when the light is coming from the left side, Of course, model doesn't consider this information. So they're going to show you, for example, the side of the face that they feel comfortable with more, but the light is coming from another side. So you can ask models. Can you turn on and follow the light source? And if it's uncomfortable for you, I will change the light source. It's okay. But always have this conversation and make sure that they are comfortable and you are comfortable about the result you're getting. You can also prepare a small moodboard for each shooting and you can show the model before that, and so they can see the poses that you wanted from them. But overall, plaid should be natural, really easy poses, nothing extra, nothing superfaion, just to show the model, how they look, and how is the shape of their bodies. If you want to compliment the model, There are appropriate ways how to do that. One of them is positive reinforcement. Which means you're going to use nonsexual complement to boost their confidence. So, for example, you're not going to say your *** is amazing. Your boots are so nice. Blah, blah, blah. But you're going to focus, as I said, on the nonsexual parts. For example, your eyes are so beautiful, your hair texture is so amazing. You have very cute smile. We understand that. Okay. If there is some awkward situation and the model is starting to laugh, you can always use this moment and catch some moments of model natural smiling and laughing. Later, you can decide the model, whether you use it or not. That's it. See you in the next lesson. 6. Making the deal!: In this class, we're going to talk about how to make a deal with the model agency. The first important thing is contract. Don't work without contract. Sure also in the contract, there is a specification for working hours, number of the final photos for each model and payment terms. Legitimate agencies will not let you work for free for them. They will always pay you. Another details what to include in the contract is when and how they're going to send you money to which account and which day of the month. If you're going to be paid monthly or weekly and things like that. As I said before, they can come new opportunities for you as scouting for the agency or shooting special editorials. So make sure the contract is always updated with write terms and conditions that you are fine with. Also, talk about exclusivity with your agency. Whether you're going to be exclusive only for them or the contract will let you to work also for other agencies or scout for other agencies. I recommend you to do exclusivity with one agency because it's better to develop relationship with them, and the exclusivity will give you more space to negotiate on your terms. And that's it. See you in the final lesson. 7. Conclusion.: Welcome in the final lesson, which is conclusion. Let's have a quick recap of what we just learned. In the first lesson, we talk about biggest benefits of working with model agencies, such as opportunities for global work, accessibility of the job without needing a professional studio or education, financial prospects and growth opportunities, and networking with talents and industry professionals. In the second lesson, we were talking about what are model polaroids and their modern equivalent as digitals. Third lesson taught us how to shoot model polaroids, including technical settings, camera, and equipment, and lighting. Lesson four was about extra effort and how to make models comfortable, how to help them with posing guidance and what are appropriate ways to complement models. In the Lesson five, we were talking about making the deal and write contract between you and the model agency. The last thing I want to talk about is quality assurance. Always ensure that the models look the best as they can. Sure they have the model face with right eye contact to the camera. They are fully present in the moment and aware that you are making pictures of them and make also sure that the pose always complements models body shape and the proportions are always real and looking good. You're not going to shoot the model's whole body lying down on the floor with the camera because that would create such long legs that are unnatural. You also not going to shoot the whole body from the position of the head because the legs would appear so much shorter. So congratulation, you just finished this class. If you have some questions, you can always schedule a one to one session on the Super peer with me or comment in the discussion below, and I will always be happy to answer your questions. Don't forget to follow me here on skill share so you don't miss any of my future class, and you can also follow me on my Instagram. Thank you so much. And the last advice I have for you is to just don't be afraid. Everyone started somewhere. But it's important to make the first move.