July 22, 2010

Modeling Taking A Wrong Turn In Young Society?




The pictures you see above are current celebrities who do these kind of photo shoots for money, endorsements, or just to help promote a magazine. Overall, in the modeling/entertainment industry it is said "SEX SELLS"!. The more sex you sell the more money you will get. That's not the point i'm trying to get across with this post. My concern is these same very photo shots are seen today in our youth; mostly teenage females to young female adults in their 20's. These young woman are the ladies who call themselves MODELS. To be precise these "MODELS" are unprofessional ASPIRING MODELS without a legit modeling contract. Ask in your mind, What Is A Model?. Well according to Wikipedia:

"model (from Middle French modèle),[1] sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed for the purpose of displaying and promoting fashion clothing or other products and for advertising or promotional purposes or who poses for works of art."


Now, our young ASPIRING MODELS get confused with the term Model for Modeling. Here's Wikipedia's definition of the term Modeling:



"Modeling is distinguished from other types of public performance, such as an acting, dancing or mime artist, although the boundary is not well defined. Appearing in a movie or a play is not considered modeling. However, models may be considered to express emotion in their photographs or video.
Types of modeling include fashion, glamor, fitness, bikini, fine art, and body-part models. Models are features in a variety of media formats including booksmagazinesmoviesnewspapers, and TV. The models themselves can be a featured part of a movie (LookerTattoo), reality television show (America's Next Top ModelThe Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency), or music video (Freedom! '90", "Wicked Game", "Daughters")."



When you ask a young female why she wants to model?, most of the time the answer you'll hear is "I love Fashion, & Clothes". Mostly when you hear this answer the female automatically thinks just because she can throw on a cute pair of jeans with a top matching it together, she automatically fits the criteria for a model. Not all ladies think like that, but from my experiences and observations that's my assumption I withhold. But, when you hear these models say they love clothes and fashion, you think well why are you doing photo shoots almost bare naked, with a hired photographer, in a public area where the photo shoot is held? Also to add, you do not have a modeling contract at all. 


Then, when you ask, the model then tells you "It's to build up my Portfolio." If you dont know what a Portfolio is then I am here to inform you. A Portfolio like a Resume' you give to different Modeling Companies, Agencies, Go-See's, & etc. to get you booked for a modeling gig. It is not just like any regular Resume', Portfolio's is a folder or trapper keeper full of different photos that you've taken with professional photographers that show your different areas of modeling. A professional Portfolio should include a black and white head shot, black and white full body shot, a head shot, non provocative bikini shot, high fashion wardrobe shot, prop shot, and anything professionally done to get the attention of the designer, or agents eye on why they feel they should book you for their gig. 


I'm pretty sure a non contract aspiring model shouldn't have a lot of unprofessional provocative pictures in their portfolios. The point i'm trying to get across is young ladies are looking up to these celebrities who take such provocative pictures and think it's okay to hire any photographer and just pick any location to shoot at. It's not sending out a good message to yourself and for your career. The modeling industry is a competitive world and also people will take advantage of how you put yourself out there and treat you like trash. What ever happened to the young female models who take pictures fully clothed in fashionable clothing? I'm saying in my society there's not a lot of models who feel that's very important. Sexy shots aren't going to get you anywhere but in big trouble and judged upon. I'm not bashing any of these models, but i'm saying have some respect for yourself. Modeling is a form of art meaning your body is announced ART, treat it like it's worth your dignity. Don't treat it to show people how sexy you look, what poses are shots you can look good in. 


At the end of the day, you have to remember modeling isn't about how YOU look in the clothes or bikini, it's about selling a brand. At a photo shoot, do you know who's most important? The clothes are more important than you. So take notice and start changing the way you view modeling. I'm not an expert in the modeling world, I just feel the term modeling/model is being thrown out there like a penny on the ground. Any and everyone calls themselves a model now just because they have photo-shopped pictures or have tons of pictures in their portfolio, or participated in a community fashion show. It's not bad, your putting yourself out there, but at the same time you want to put yourself out there for a cause and a reason. I tell some of these young models to look at supermodels such as Iman, Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford & Chanel Iman and you see if they ever done provocative modeling shoots before they got signed with a modeling company/agency. Put that strive they had becoming a model into your everyday life. 


I personally love some sexy photos, as long as they are tastefully done. Remember you are not a model until you've signed below the dotted line with a legit modeling company. The celebrities you see doing these shoots are getting paid to do those kinds of provocative shoots, you on the other hand aren't. Until then you are an aspiring model and you should treat each photo shoot as if it is your first. Let's start seeing some positivity in our young society of female aspiring models. The more clothes & originality you put on, the more gigs you will book!

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