PSD MODEL SCHOOL #1 Good girls can do bad!

Welcome to the first ever of my model school classes. Having worked with loads of models from first tests through to published shoots I have amassed a mountain of knowledge and experience which I am only too happy to pass on to the next generation of models, because you never know when we will work together and will be able to create some photography future-classics.

Good Girls ‘Can’ Do Bad

I meet too many nice models! Seriously, sometimes I am just crying out for a diva to throw her phone at me. OK, that wouldn’t be so pleasant. My point relates to behaviour in front of the camera, not before the shoot.
Models need to be able to adopt a persona, and that can be something dictated by the client or stylist or photographer or more often it is something the model has to channel herself in relation to (sometimes very) abstract concepts thrown at them by the creative team. More oomph! Fiercer! Be Aloof! Smoother! Too Hard! Be a lion! Glisten! Go Psycho!

Think of all those RnB, pop, dance videos and look at what the stars are actually doing - it usually involves playing a part in the story of the video - essentially it is acting, often with dancing combined. Modelling is acting combined with posing skills. Irrespective of your own character, you need to ‘pretend’ to be whatever the client/photographer wants. All it takes is to be prepared to look foolish.

This seems to be a huge part of our national psyche - being afraid of looking foolish. How many times have I heard that phrase? And how many times has it held a good model back from being great? A lot.

“No bad shots ever leave my studio” - by that I mean all the duff ones are thrown out at the first edit. So given that only good photos are going to be shown, then all you need to do is overcome your nerves and get in sync with the photographer. Pretend no-one else is there and just focus on performing. Nerves are natural, common and actually not so hard to overcome - more on that in another blog.

The title of this blog sums it up for me. Most models I meet are actually lovely people (which makes the job a pleasure), and struggle to be mean, aggressive, confrontational and intense in front of the camera. It does not come naturally to them to portray this character. Back to the fact that modelling is a big part acting, so what you need to do is practise! Get in front of a mirror. Copy some top models, or even actors and try to understand what works for you. Look through Vogue. See how many models have been asked to look edgy, angry or upset. They were all booked because they were able to get to another place in front of the camera.

So, next time you are in front of the camera, let go, surprise yourself and the results may surprise you!