AleanElston.com

Category: Modeling

  • Building your port with a Photographer you just met… Be smart about it! #modeladvice

    Building your port with a Photographer you just met… Be smart about it! #modeladvice

    One of the things new models should be doing in order to start their career is to build a portfolio that showcases what they can do. Over the years I’ve always preached that in order to take yourself to the next level in modeling you have to treat yourself as a business. That means being selective about who you work with and conscious about how they will effect your brand.

    This is especially crucial when it comes to your pictures. When I started modeling, I was trying to get in front of anyone that had a camera, and unfortunately it led me to encounter a few photographers who were GWCs (I’ll explain what that is later in this post) or their work with me ended up being a waste of my time because the images were unusable. I want to set the record straight for all models, professional and aspiring, on what to look for when evaluating if you should work with a photographer or not.

    Ready?

    Here I go!

    (more…)

  • Rihanna Demonstrates How She Rocks a Photoshoot (Video) | Complex

    Rihanna Demonstrates How She Rocks a Photoshoot (Video) | Complex

    Rihanna is Queen of taking a bunch of pictures with not much on an making it look so effortless that “regular” people think that they can attempt the same looks (not successfully tho, lol). For the recent Complex Magazine cover shoot, Rihanna demonstrates how she works the camera for the shoot, taking “selfies” aka camera phone pics and holding the camera taking regular pictures of herself. Take notes, she may just show you a thing or 2!

    Rihanna Demonstrates How To Shoot A Selfie (Video) | Complex.

  • I am a MODEL, not TICKETMASTER… #justsayin

    I am a MODEL, not TICKETMASTER… #justsayin

    Before I get into this post, I wanted to mention that I am still looking to feature exceptional models on my site! If you would be interested in being featured, email me [alean@aleanelston.com] 2 – 3 professional pictures, a brief list of the work that you have done, and tell me a little about yourself and why you would make a great feature. Now on to the post!

    So I’ve been wanting to write this for a LOOOOONG time.

    I’ve been doing fashion shows for a long time both as a model and as a producer and one of the things that I have NEVER understood is when shows expect models to sell tickets to the show!

    There have been shows that I have auditioned for that tell the models there is compensation for modeling in the show. Then to find out in order to be paid, you either have to sell over a certain amount of tickets or you make a percentage from every ticket you sell?

     

    HUNH?!

     

    I am not ticket master! Why am I selling tickets to your show…that is the producer’s job, NOT the model’s! All a model should be doing is MODELING! It shouldn’t be a requirement for me to have to sell tickets in order to get paid. The way I see it, I am doing a job as a model, and for modeling, I should be paid. You want me to sell tickets then hire me to sell tickets, and you’ll have to pay for that too!

    Lets break down the fashion show process, shall we?

    1. I have to get to your casting to audition to be in your show (gas and maybe tolls costs $$)
    2. I get the job, now I may have to attend a rehearsal (gas and maybe tolls is going to cost me more $$)
    3. Its the day of the show, I have to be there early in the morning to get fitted, hair, makeup, for the show to begin later that day/evening – lets assume this takes up 8-12 hours of my day that I could be working a regular job or another gig that is guaranteed to make me some money during that time frame. (more gas and maybe tolls is going to cost me $$)
    4. and you want to tell me that in order for me to get paid, I have to sell tickets?! Tell that to the gas station and the toll booth attendant, cause they got their money, and I need mine.

    Think about it, The venue got their money for the producer to have the show, the makeup artists have to pay for their supplies and time and they need to be paid, a quality photographer need to be paid for their time to be there and edit pictures, and I MIGHT get paid depending on the tickets I sell…

     

    …I’ll pass

    I am not TICKETMASTER, I’m a MODEL.

    #justsayin

     

    Follow me on Twitter – @CompleteBeauty

  • Model Professionalism #modeltip #modeladvice

    It has come to my attention that a lot of models don’t understand that professionalism goes a long way in this business. Maybe its because, a lot don’t think of it as a business, but more so as something to do because they find it to be fun for them and love the attention and the way they look and feel in a photo-shoot. While all of that is fine, one must understand that it may be fun for you, but for others, its a business, lifestyle, and a way of supporting their families. You mess any of that up or you rub someone the wrong way, you can be sure that your fun career will not move and prevent you from moving forward.

     

    Here’s a list of 3 things that models do that industry insiders say can prevent them from working with that model again:

     

    Arriving Late to a Booking

    Personally, I think we can all understand that time is money, in any industry. But what I seem to see quite often are models who think that things revolve around their schedule… Let me be the first to let those of you who think this is the case know: YOU CAN BE REPLACED!!! Sure there are circumstances that may have held you up and prevented you from getting you there on time, but when you decide not to call anyone and let them know that you are running late. You are holding up the production and wasting money and possibly light (daylight) to get the job done! What will usually happen if you don’t call AHEAD of time when you are running late (and by that I mean, call when you know you are running late not when you are running late and its 5 minutes before you are supposed to be there) is that there will be another model willing and waiting in the wings who is available and will take your job. Then because they were such a lifesaver and time saver, they will be called upon for more gigs. Lesson: BE ON TIME and if your not, let somebody know ASAP!

     

    Having an attitude

    TUDE TUDE TUDE!!!!!! ATTI-TUDE that is… It says a lot about your work ethic, your personality, and your state of mind. One thing people must begin to master is the ability to control their attitude in what is often known as checking your emotions at the door. This is very important when on set, or backstage because to be frank, NOBODY CARES about whatever is bothering you!!! There is a task at hand that needs to be taken care of and you need to execute. If you want your bad attitude get in the way of that, or if it rubs someone the wrong way or if you just can’t seem to contain it. Don’t bother coming in. Bad attitude can effect everyone and no one (especially me) wants to be hanging around a dark cloud or negativity. I’ve seen plenty of girls be replaced simply because they couldn’t suck up their feeling about what happened outside of a photo-shoot or outside of a show and get down to business. Attitude is an emotion, and emotions are personal, and Personal issues can inhibit proper business. When you get an attitude remember the saying, “Nothing personal, just business” and get the job done.

     

    Talking bad about others

    NOBODY ASKED YOU!!! Well maybe somebody did ask you… but that doesn’t mean you have to spill the beans about everything that you didn’t like about the way they did things. This industry is very small. Especially if you are working in a particular area, and begin to advance in the industry. you will start to see that you will see some of the same people over and over again. All of those people talk and you don’t need to fuel any fire talking about another one of the members of the already small industry circle. When in doubt about discussing another photographer, MUA or stylist, just smile or look shocked and act like they are the best thing since sliced bread. lol! You never know who is related to who, or could be friends with the person they are asking you about.
    Stay tuned… next tip will about being professional in reaching out about modeling jobs!
    Stay pretty!
    Alean
  • Makeup Artists at fashion shows and photoshoots #modeltip #modeladvice [VIDEO]

    Makeup Artists at fashion shows and photoshoots #modeltip #modeladvice [VIDEO]

    Backstage behind the scenes of a fashion show can be very exciting and nerve racking, especially if it is your first professional show. You want to make sure you look your best when out there in the spotlight. Here is my tip for selecting the right makeup artist to work on your face when you are backstage at a show or you are about to do a shoot. Let me know what you think! and be sure to share this #modeltip!

    Follow me on Twitter! – @CompleteBeauty

  • 3 Reasons Why You Didn’t Book That Modeling Gig #modeltip #modeladvice

    1. You showed up to the casting all types of wrong!

    If you wore any of the looks that Tyra is wearing in the above picture, THAT’S WHY YOU DIDN’T GET THE GIG! Let’s go down the line here…

    • If you are attending a swimwear casting, you need to wear a SOLID color bikini under your clothes(preferably in all black or white, stay away from neon colors, stripes and patterns and flashy embellishments), just in case there isn’t anywhere to change. One piece swimsuits or Monokinis don’t really show your shape, they can hide your shape, body flaws and in some cases make you appear worse. And leave the huge hoop earrings and Hater blockaz (huge sunglasses) in your purse, don’t wear them to the casting.
    • Wearing a ton of accessories is a NO NO when it comes to castings. Keep everything to the absolute minimum. Colorful necklaces, huge costume jewelry, and kiddie cute headbands, please leave that stuff at home.
    • Wearing a bad lace-front wig or a hair color that has no business being matched to you for your skin tone. Do I really need to go into details about this one?

    and…

    Did you wear all of the make up you own to the casting, complete with hot pink eye-shadow and lipstick, and lashes that make you look like a puppet? Casting agents don’t want to the “All Made Up” you, they want to see the natural beauty that you really are. Castings are meant for the decision makers to see what they’ll have to work with from scratch, they’ll make you over to what they want you to look like. The most amount of makeup you should be wearing is a light application of concealer to cover up problem spots (or a sheer application of foundation all over your face), mascara, and a neutral lip gloss.

     

    2. Your portfolio/comp-card is wack or non-existent

    I hope this makes since and I’m going to state the obvious here…

    IF YOU DON’T HAVE A PORTFOLIO TO SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO, YOUR CHANCES OF BEING BOOKED ARE SLIM TO NONE!!!

    In the words of Iman, “If you want to survive as a model, you have to be a good businesswoman and understand that your pictures are your currency.” Loosely interpreted, if your pictures aren’t on point, or they don’t exist, you don’t have anything to use to help further your career and make you money! It takes money to make money people! Invest yours in QUALITY photography (stay away from Guys with cameras aka “GWCs” who just want to see you for reasons other than professional ones and take a bunch of “booty” flicks) and watch your return increase. Another note to this: GET YOUR PICTURES PRINTED! I cant tell you how many models I have met that have said, “You can see my port on model mayhem, or on “abc dot com” here’s my account number.” If they wanted to select you based off your pictures on a website, they would have done so! When you meet someone in person, especially at a casting it is expected that you leave something behind (a comp-card or a picture from your port with your info on the back). If you have nothing to leave behind, guess what? You won’t have to worry about getting booked! Be a professional and get your pictures in a portfolio book and make sure you have various looks please!

    A rule of thumb I use when selecting photographers: If their portfolio of work doesn’t look like something that should be in a magazine, I will not work with them. Also, if they are new photographers I’ll consider working with them considering they have grasped certain concepts. i.e. lighting and not cutting off vital limbs and great photo elements to a shot.

     

    3. You’re all tatted up!

    I know I know, you know plenty of models with tattoos that are working, and blah blah blah.

    Well, I have been to castings and on jobs where models have lost the gig SOLELY because they had tattoos that they didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t cover up. Granted that tattoo of Winnie the Pooh on your shoulder blade might look cute to you, but to a fashion designer and her strapless or backless gown, they wont find it as the right complement to their look and thus can result in you not getting booked. Best way to get around this in case you do have tattoos is to invest in Dermablend. Its a brand of makeup that can cover up tattoos and large scars very well. Get in the habit of applying it if you don’t want to be turned down for jobs!

     

    Are there any reasons why you have been turned down for modeling jobs? Let me know, comment below or tweet me with the #modeltip hashtag. 3 MORE reasons will be coming soon!

  • Tyra Banks Joins in on the Teen Fantasy Novel Craze

    Just wanted to share this. Modelland written by Tyra Banks

    **Item is on my birthday list in case you were wondering lol 🙂

    Here’s the Synopysis from the publisher Random House:

    No one gets in without being asked. And with her untamable hair, large forehead, and gawky body, Tookie De La Crème isn’t expecting an invitation. Modelland—the exclusive, mysterious place on top of the mountain—never dares to make an appearance in her dreams.

    But someone has plans for Tookie. Before she can blink her mismatched eyes, Tookie finds herself in the very place every girl in the world obsesses about. And three unlikely girls have joined her.

    Only seven extraordinary young women become Intoxibellas each year. Famous. Worshipped. Magical. What happens to those who don’t make it? Well, no one really speaks of that. Some things are better left unsaid.

    Thrown into a world where she doesn’t seem to belong, Tookie glimpses a future that could be hers—if she survives the beastly Catwalk Corridor and terrifying Thigh-High Boot Camp. Or could it? Dark rumors like silken threads swirl around the question of why Tookie and her new friends were selected . . . and the shadows around Modelland hide sinister secrets.

    Are you ready? Modelland is waiting for you. . . .

    Buy the book here: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/208106/modelland-by-tyra-banks

  • Photoshoot Concepts I’d Love to Do!!!

    Just a brief compilation of shoot concepts I’d like to try, either as a model or for a fashion designer client. If you would be interested in collaborating on any of these, just let me know! ENJOY!

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    What Can I say….I love colors!

  • Model Advice: What to Wear to Casting Calls and Go-Sees

    Be sure to check out my other posts on

    What to Wear to a Winter Casting and

    Should I wear Weave or Braids to a casting for more info!

    I recently went to a casting call and I had to come home and write this post, because the girls there were doing too much in terms of their outfits. Large gaudy earrings, too much makeup, hair looking like they were about to do an ad for skittles, and every other major NO was in appearance at this casting call.

    Just to clarify the difference between a casting call and a go-see

    Casting Call: In the performing arts, casting (or casting call) is a vital pre-production process for selecting the right talent for the project or show.

    Go-see: When a client has a specific look that they are going for and you have been selected to be viewed in order to make a final decision on which model to use for the project. Expect that there will be models there who have a similar look to yours.

    Rule of thumb when going to casting calls, keep it to the MINIMUM! Your beauty and talent should be the thing they remember the most, not something totally outrageous that you are wearing to stand out.

    This means:

    • VERY light makeup – no pinks, purples, or greens etc on the eyes and no red or hot pink lipstick. Keep your makeup natural, this means a basic face: concealer, foundation (if you need more coverage than concealer), mascara, and a skin tone lipstick or gloss.
    • Hair should be pulled back and out of the face. Go for a simple ponytail or a bun. If your hair is short, style it in a cute style but make sure you don’t have any bangs covering your face.
    • Nails – Neutral nails PLEASE! A picture of spongebob should not be all on your nails along with glitter rhinestones, and your social security number, and they should not be extremely long either. This includes the toes. Go for a french manicure, or american manicure or any light pinks or browns. Think flesh tones.
    • Your clothing should be form fitting, not extremely tight! and should be neutral as well. No need to over accessorize, the casting directors, designers, Make-up artists need to see you as you are. You need to be seen as a blank slate so that can envision what they are able to do with your look.
    • Shoes – NEVER  show up with flats or sneakers on! Its OK to wear them around town on your way to the casting or go-see but once you get to the building where it is being held, you need to change into your heels before you walk in. Often times once you get to the location where they are holding the casting its right there as you enter or step off the elevator, no time to make a second first impression, you are judges as unprofessional if you walk in there without heels on. Consider High heels as a part of your work uniform as a model. When you are in model model mode, you cannot be seen without them, PERIOD

    Here are a few visual examples of what I am talking about:

    Clothing

    Being that it is summer, this is along the lines of what I wear to a casting call. Its cool, simple and shows off the form. When I am running around and I don’t feel like being in my heels a cute pair of flats or flat sandals will work perfectly with this. For a casting call in colder months, I recommend swapping the shorts for a pair of leggings or skinny jeans and the open toe heels for a simple pump or cute high heeled bootie.

     

    CastingCall1

    CastingCall1 by CompleteBeauty featuring short shorts

     

    Makeup and Nails

    These are a few of my faves. I personally don’t wear all of this at one time, but most of the time on a casting call or go-see I’ll have on the concealer, mascara, and lip-gloss. For my nails they are usually done with an american manicure, but in the the event they aren’t I just have them with clear polish.

     

    CastingCall2

     

    MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation, $27
    MAC ‘Pro Longwear’ Concealer, $17
    Dior ‘Diorshow – Black Out’ Mascara, $25
    NARS NARS Lipgloss, $24
    Essie Nail Polish, $8
    MAC Nail Lacquer, $14

     

    Hair

    Have Natural hair like me?

    You are in luck, there are different styles that are acceptable for go-sees and castings. These are a few styles that I wear

    A simple bun

    A simple pony

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Again, when in doubt, go with the minimum but keep it sleek and neat. If you have any questions that you want me to address in the next post, comment this post so I can address it.

     

    Thanks! 😀

  • Fashion and Photography Experts Give MODELEVILLE the Thumbs Up

     

    MODELEVILLE is a social media platform that caters creative professionals in the modeling, fashion, styling and photographic industry. It is an arena that showcases the imaginative works as well as a ground of meeting people with the same passion.

    Since MODELEVILLE launched in October 2010, it has more than 30,000 sign ups (though not all profiles are approved), viewed in more than 150 countries.

    MODELEVILLE is open to all kinds of photographers and models from glamour, lifestyle, nude, body part, swimsuit, portraiture and of course the tall and slender fashion models.

     

    • “Modeleville connected us with both, potential consumers and talent for our fashion shoots and shows.”

     

    – Amanda Che, designer of A Che swimwear. from the USA

     

    • “I think Modeleville is the next big casting website for serious industry models, with a lot of great contacts to be made!”

     

    – Caitlin O’connor, model and runner up for Miss Philadelphia 2011

     

    • “I met several top photographers through MODELEVILLE who, I ended up working with. It’s a very easy and direct way to connect with some of the best creatives in the industry.”

     

    – Kristina Korsholm, Model/Actress, in new feature film “Madoff – made off with America”

     

    • “Drifting through the social networks for years… it is refreshing to finally find one which is equivalent stylish and state of the art too!”

     

    – Volker Fleck, Los Angeles based fashion and celebrity photographer

     

    • “Modeleville is a great new site for all professionals in the modeling industry.  It is easy to use and view profiles and I find it more useful than any of the other sites I have been on in the past.”

     

    – Justine Price, FHM and Maxim Photographer from the USA

     

    • “MODELEVILLE is an amazing platform for all fashion business professionals and beyond! You can easily get in touch and collaborate with top notch agents, photographers, editors, publicists and models. I truly enjoy the Internet presentation, which is stylish and classy with very well composed portfolios. You can also link your page directly to all the major social networks. All in all, it’s great and outstanding website that I can highly recommend.”

     

    – Sylvia Ray Arden, Model/singer from Germany

    SOURCE Modeleville