Learn to see with a critical eye.

So many photos just suck! If you would like to see some crappy photos, brows through Model Mayhem. It is full of sexy photos of girls who think they are hot. (most of the time they are right about that) but being hot in a photo is not being a model. That photo of you that shows your sexy cleavage or your tight buttocks might appeal to the boys (or girls) but maybe it does not belong in your portfolio.

When I see a lousy photo of a pretty young girl showing of her T and A, I want to scream "Just because you have a photo that will make a guy think 'I want to meet her in a bar tonight and take her out back for 15 minutes' does not make you a model". Looking sexy does not automatically make you a model. And modeling is NOT about looking sexy. Usually, modeling is about connecting with viewers to get them to buy a product or idea.

Models need to learn to recognize what good photography is and what it is not. There are a couple of ways to do this. Look through photos in fashion magazines, take time to figure out what is going on in the photo. Get an agent to help you weed the crap out of your portfolio. (Yes, you have some crappy photos, we all do) Get a make up artist, or a mom, or someone that won't tell you you look nice just because they like you.

Hire great photographers to work with. The good ones won't give you finished photos that don't make both you and them look good.

Ask other models about your photos. You may not like what you hear, and you don't have to take every thing they say to heart. They may not be any better at seeing a good photo than you are, but if you get lots of feedback that a photo doesn't help you, figure out why.

A model in a forum that I run wrote this today in response to the heated reaction of a model who asked for validation and the results came in poorly for the photo she asked about - "Coming from somebody who has been "modeling" in this industry for 13 years now, what models need to understand is that this industry is GREULLING!! You are going to get torn to shreds sometimes. You will get told your fat, too tall, too short, weird nose, bad skin tone.......its all sh*t that you are going to hear. DEAL WITH IT. Welcome to the industry and open your eyes. Not everyone is going to like your look, or even consider you "model material." If you cannot handle criticism, you shouldn't be in this industry. PERIOD." - Kayla Rae Dalebout


Get started today learning to develop a critical eye. It will make you a better model.