Hi!! I am a Model!!!....

Hi!! I am a Model!!!....Well this is the most commonly heard statement when u meet a good
looking face with a  sculpted body!!! And to be honest who wouldn't like all the attention models get when they walk on the runway and flashes go berserk or when they receive the second glance from a common man. It gives one a different kind of an adrenalin rush and that is what inspires all good looking faces to reach the heights of well known models.Most of upcoming models that I have interacted with just want to become a top model without even knowing what their next step is going to be like. Well, it is good to have a vision and dream big but unless you have a plan to achieve it, it is always going to remain a dream.What One can only see is the the glam and success of the top models without even knowing about the "struggle" one has gone thru. I Can't lay a path for you to succeed, all i can do here is share some of my experiences which will definitely help you to move up from the position where you are  today.

No one can define a path for your success, you gotta tread it on your own:

The first  and a foremost thing to achieve a vision is to have focus and determination,just having a thought won't work. It is good to wake up one fine day with a thought of becoming a  model but being consistent about the thought and working hard towards it is the only thing that will help you achieve it.

• A majority of upcoming models usually suffer from myopia (short sightedness) when they see their pics. They usually feel sitting on a dining table or posing with their pet in the sofa as a appropriate fit for VOGUE cover. It is good to assume and have that feeling that you are unique but on a serious note isn't that what everyone thinks about himself.  Getting 10 likes and 20 comments on a pic on facebook doesn't make it a portfolio.A professional photographer enhances your best features and subdues your flaws in the portfolio and not only that it is important to have a folio which has a complete mix showcasing your personality in different perspectives. It is  important to understand your strengths and improvement areas and work on them before getting a folio done.

• Be realistic and be ready to accept the feedback. I see a very miniscule percentage of  models who are ready to accept the fact that they have their improvement areas which they need to work upon. I have models asking for work and when I tell them about to work on certain areas I can see a big wall of ego standing in front of them. Unless you aren't open to feedback how will you improve?.

• Whenever agencies or photographers ask for your pics most of the time they would mention the details of the shoot along with, so please understand that and send your pics accordingly. If you feel you will send them 40 pics and leaving them with option to choose then trust me most of the times your pics will land up in trash box. You are not the only model who would be competing for that advertisement. There would be at least 20 more models so if the agency or photographer has to choose from 800 pics (40 pics of each model * 20 models) they would go crazy. Understand the requirement and send your best pics which suit the requirement. There have been times when I have specified the requirement as corporate shoot and  have received bikini pics from models. I haven't seen any corporate company having girls roaming in bikini in office, might be playboy has it but i don't think any of Indian photographers has shot for playboy as yet and needless to say all those bikini pics couldn't be forwarded to the client and models lost on the chance of getting work even if some of them might have deserved it.

•  Lot of models think that they would be able to perform in front of camera and that is their biggest pit fall. Most of upcoming models have 2-3 poses with them and they feel that it would suffice them the entire life and when photographer asks them to change the posing or expression in midst of a shoot they simply keep on wondering what to do and go blank. Work on your expressions, body language, style, attitude because that is what would differentiate you from others.

• Networking is the key to be successful in this field. You have to have a good network with agencies, Photographers and coordinator's as that increases the spectrum of work you will be exposed to and the chances you will get to try your luck.

• Periodic introspection helps a lot , I can quote a real life example where a very good friend of mine wasn't able to crack a single assignment for more than a year and rather than feeling depressed and leaving the industry, he analysed his weakness,  worked on his body, acting skills and got a new folio done and trust me he must have done more than 100 advertisements which includes sharing the screen with MR Amitabh Bachhan

Lastly as they said it is the ATTITUDE which Determines ones ALTITUDE and same holds true in this field as well. A model not only needs to have a good looking face but style, confidence ( Not Over Confidence), poise, grace and an attitude to make it a complete package.

P.N: This blog is not written with the intent to show anyone down or to give gyan but over a period of time there have been periodic requests coming over to me from a lot of models asking for guidance and i realised it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to educate them one by one. This is just an effort from my side to guide those who need it.