Do’s & Dont’s

The Do’s & Dont’s (Effective & Ineffective) – is based on photos seen on social sites such as Instagram to Boston, New York agency portfolios unless otherwise noted. Important to note if you just shoot or pose for fun it’s all good and this information does not pertain to you for it’s for the serious model or photographer who kicks ass.

The way you tell real fans and real ability is selling your images and persona. Then you know. I know of noone who can sell their images of unknowns for a higher price than we can we helping the model or friends with model stores. We don’t have stores ourselves but now know how to make awesome websites so we an help models attain the highest level of success.

We want to thank all our models who posed right for we taught them but helping us with tutorial images on ineffective to effective posing. Thanks again to our models!

We signed up for Instagram 3 years ago and noticed their were alot of model photographers but next to no professional model photographers who knew the purpose of a model image or attention to detail to have agency or Supermodel success. We have that experience and will share some valuable tips we haven’t seen anywhere on Instagram.  Instagram is really a social site and not a site of professional models and photographers locally. In the days of film it was critical a photographer learned the ropes for the price of film and developing didn’t allow joy rides. Not the case anymore. Nothing wrong with being a novice. But somehow models and photographers who shoot often feel that brings experience and winging it is just BAD EXPERIENCE useless to anyone needing a model or photographe. Shooting with a PRO who can help you’re career and understands the purpose of a model image is what an agency model should aspire for.

We have shot for other photographers at times for their image needs and many a traveling model who shoot with 200 to 300 photographers a year but never found any who had a clue about professional modeling and they check off very experience but not experience on being a professional model. They are fine for the start up just looking to shoot with a pretty model.They almost all have bad makeup, bad posing, bad expressions, bangs and poor choice of clothing  (which is why we have around $185,000 in model clothing). Do you want someone who cares or someone who says nothing and just shoots away while you have the wrong nail polish, hair style, belly button ring to clothing that doesn’t match and makeup way off if they have any makeup.

We have seen countless videos on YouTube and none we saw even remotely was accurate information and that goes double on those selling posing courses on Instagram. Model photography is all common sense yet it’s lacking. There is much information out there for over 50 years to never wear a belly button ring or undergarments to models hair styling yet because of the digital age, it’s not done.

We see model photographers who do this for a living with zero grade F knowledge of model photography working lots. We have shot thousands and used to schedule around 50 shoots a week. We now shoot for TFP versus pay and the best deal out there. We know how to turn a gal next door into a Supermodel if they have the basics and willing to do the work. That is seldom the case due to husband hunting where a model let’s their boyfriend decide if they model or not or how they model. Interesting thing about this is that we never have seen the guy make concessions for his model girlfriend and give things up. When it’s all done, they break up or get married and it’s too late to model and too late to realize they were searching for a husband, not a caring best friend who cares about their success and happiness.

You DON’T HAVE TIME in this business. If you want to be a career model or make money you need to start TODAY.Said it many times, modeling is not who you are, but who you become. You can change a model into super sexy if the way to be super sexy. We ask the models what is their goal so we can help them, not their boyfriends into who they way to be.

Study your images and see if you can figure out what is effective posing to ineffective posing or methods. Feel free to ask questions on the contact form and indicating who you are and if you appear to be a hard work with potential we will shoot and no charge.

One of our beautiful doctors helping us out with my posing book PLAY TO WIN sample.

We see this ineffective posing  by 90% of the models and photographers on Instagram. 50 times by the locals TODAY if you count hands next to the chest or face which is a model posing disaster. With this image not being YOU can it be any more obvious you don’t want hands or fingers in your images for they are major distractions, looks  like a male body partite times when a model places their hand  on the leg but it definitely distracts and breaks up the nice lines of the legs. Arms and hands up near the models face or chest area isn’t much better. Learn how to pose effectively and avoid as many distractions in your images as possible.

Notice the models nails are not long like you may see on El Vira or a Halloween show. The blue to baby blue are signs of no success as is the case for long nails and orange and green nails. Clear, nude, dark red, or maroon are the colors of success. A pro will spot the beginner look asap and bypass agency models showing inexperience or common sense. You post ineffective images and you may have lost the cash cow of your lifetime. Unless instructed otherwise. Wear the nail polish and length of a pro!

We have mentioned all pro models wear no bra’s or panties as undergarments as known by ALL pros for at least 60 years. Unlike a few models pretending to be pros. Note this model looking very professional and she has two curves. and how awesome her figure looks being real and not formed to a bra and  her great abs and hip flexors not being broken up by panty lines?

Hope you’re starting to get the impact of what you may encounter and a pro photographer. Amazed we see no common sense out there and models working so hard and traveling when they are doing nearly everything ineffective  possible with no clue for no photographer has ever spoken up, and if they did, perhaps they gave ineffective advice for they never learned themselves or applied common sense to their work.

Everything matters in modeling which is why our PG pics generally make 3 to 4 times of what other models make with their nudes. We know Glamour modeling inside out, forwards and backwards as well as anyone, anywhere. We spend nearly 60 years learning every change we can and applying our great common sense to all that we do.

We teach all our models how to pose hair and legs prior and this being our 10th shoot, but the buck stops with us photographers. So many older types watching our photo shoot thought our model in the thong 1pc was a barbie doll and cute that she is. Well we missed the posing errors for a few shots and need to not be distracted for even 1 shot.

Hair posed horribly wrong as are the legs. Do you know why? Basics 101. If you don’t know what is ineffective / beginner then as a model or photographer you need to learn your trade to be considered a professional. Learning will be well worth you time!

I would tell any model or tog to NEVER use this image for agency or portfolio for its not professional. We corrected the posing in a few shots but we aspire to catch the error before 1 click! Using any image with flaws in your agency port probably means you are bypassed for almost if not every job opportunity. You are only as good as your worst image and EVERYTHING matters for agency modeling.

Career and model income killer’s

One of the top models in the country 1976 or so made a comment about belly button rings. Intelligent woman  without exception do not wear belling button rings and her agency does not allow wearing them fo any photo shoot. Smart models know belly button rings showcase a follower, not a reader and someone who buys Cliff Notes versus reading the book assigned for class . 45 years latter , there is no love and a belly button ring means lack of common sense. IF you love yours wear before and after your shoot. Noone else business what you do when not shooting. Wearing a BB ring destroys  any and all photo shoots.

Never give or display the middle finger in a photo it means you hang out with near homeless types and you will lose lots of money if your goal is a model career.

Many models put pictures smoking a joing or bong and they are the poor models. Rich guy with thousands to spend and even someone who wears a suit to work probably has no interest in models giving the finger or shooting images that relate to drugs or weapons if they appear to be displayed as violent. Never kick or punch doing videos at the screen. Means you’re highly uneducated with no common sense. If you wee going for a job and punched or kicked would you get the job?

If you were going for a job with a resume and half the resume was about your boyfriend would you get the job?  Then it’s obvious a low IQ move and just following other clueless humans. Be smart, think smart. Lots of money in modeling in acting but not if you do the belly button rings, long nails, hair extensions, miss hair dies, wear wrinkled clothes, orange to white or bright blue nail polish.

I have had many models who have done very sexy images and look classes and awesome. And then on Instagram you can see so many with clothes on looking like they are porn starts. YOU control your destiny. Chasing paid work means you sell out to what the photographer wants or needs and surely this method of a modeling career is for those who will have a modeling shelf life of just a few years.

There are few photographers who understand Model Photography. Next to none. Buying a camera, lights, setting up the light so the lighting is perfect doesn’t make one a great photographer. A nice picture doesn’t give a model a nice career. A nice picture where the model is showcased does and that’s what we but few others do.

All that is written here has be been known for 50 years or longer. Just like PUBLISHED for photographers mean you are published in a NEWSTAND Magazine or images are being used and sold as STOCK IMAGES. Only start up beginner Photographers and Models  who are showcased in a magazine from someone’s printer says they are published. So tacky, so low end. if that is published then your first image on Facebook at 6 made you published.

Having a hard copy keepsake in these printer magazines is great. We recommend it! We just  say don’t look like a fool to  real photographer or agency with such nonsense.

Model showing fingers, fingers and more fingers with bright white nails.

We teach models to hide their fingers behind their head or in their hair and to make a light fist or other posing methods so the shot does not become a fingers shot like 90 percent of models and photographers do. Fingers and bright nail colors are you enemy and link to childhood.  You take the time to travel and model and it’s time to start modeling and shooting photos effectively.

Hacked eyebrows in a thin line or chopped.

Look at EVERY pro model and you will see FULL eyebrows without the trimmed edges. Why don’t models or non models see it’s a bad look trimming the edges. Trim slightly only.

Now we also just saw a pencil tip eyebrows on a few models. First sign of a druggie and neurotic person is eyebrows hacked up. Grow your  eyebrows full and you can spend tons less on your clothing to makeup and still look amazing when not shooting photos.

A model with short hair losing all her features in a poorly cropped image wearing a Man T with grandma’s bra. 

Not the look anyone should want. Who takes these shots if the model doesn’t know better? Models don’t wear bras and they want long hair if they are serious about modeling.

A Boston agency model who did work at least twice 4 years ago in a dress with leg forward and poorly cropped image.

At some point you should be working but to do so you need pro images. One very basic of modeling is to have a cropped image so you don’t lose your energy yet the photographer decided to be shooting most of the ceiling than just the model for all shots. The idea of an image to keep your energy is to have the WHOLE image grab the viewer. But if you stick one of your legs OUTWARDS versus to the side you can count of not working for another 3 years. How can you be an agency model for years and not know first day common sense basics of professional modeling. Same goes for the photographer.

A grandma approved image complete with a bra under a halter top and what looks like a few diapers on the bottom. As sexy as spinach left out in the hot sun a few days. 

Why bother pretending? Trying to hide you are a woman modeling with a bra with implants and what looks like 15 pairs of shorts being worn at once is quite entertaining. The model had a hair elastic on the wrist too.

Model wearing hat and it doesn’t work. It ruined the shot and saw around 5 hat shots destroyed just yesterday because they were wearing a low social style hat that should never be worn by someone not 10 or under.

We shot one of our models in a black hat with swimsuits and she nailed it. Hat fit her perfect and didn’t look like it came direct from the gift table of a carnival. Most have that child or out of place look. Be sure your hat t glasses work so the set isn’t a waste of time. Stay away from hats until you are a veteran or you probably will waste your time.

This young lady could have worked to be one of the top Supermodels. 5’10” Basketball star and captain her team and very competitive. She worked on the abs and the V muscle so when you tug and bring your garment down low there’s something impressive to see without seeing it all. Great models don’t pose to be outdone. You want both V’s and arms not blocking your hips and fingers with no crazy color nails or long nails taking away from the look you have been working hard to achieve.

Watch this models figure in other photos. Could have trained her into a top supermodel but lived over 5  hours away.

A model with 3 inch nails, sticking out with thumb distracting while tugging hard on her bikini bottoms that have no curves like she has no sex. Her hair is posed incorrectly and her head up in the air like she is about to do 50 lines of cocain.

One of the most important things a model needs to learn to do correctly is exercise their V muscle and tug or tease with the bottoms like a pro or you will look as cheap as cheap gets like this model does. A model is going nowhere without lady curves. No sex is not part of the crazy WOKE movement. Tugging with no curves is really strange. It takes TWO to mess up this shoot. The photographer and model both don’t have a sense of class or how to proceed with the most popular pose in the world.

Can you see the disaster we see hundreds of times a day on Instagram and then the photographer receiving “BEST THERE IS” comments. How much worse do you want to pose the model? We have seen this pose for decades by models claiming to be VERY EXPERIENCED on model sites. I appreciate our model posing ineffectively for this most important tip. Saw a Boston agency model in June 2022 shooting with a photographer who receives accolades but anyone can set up a set of lights in a studio, practice til lighting is perfect and then shoot 500 models with the light in the same spot.  We are not the least impressed. We know this person from 20 years ago. very nice, but no clue on effective, make the cash box ring model photography.

A woman model with hands between the legs says your photographer is USELESS! Totally useless if your goal is to be a working agency model. You don’t want to look like a guy adjusting his package and you don’t want to cut up your body lines, features have your image a hand and arm shot that also casts a shadow on their bodies. 

Boston models since day one play follow the CLUELESS Don lady and in 3 years we have only see a few receive work here and there. I am shocked that common sense is not there for modeling effectively is all common sense IF you understand the purpose of a model photograph. Anyway the hero work is useless for any successful model looking for a workable port. Not happening.

Take the time so you don’t rely on your clueless friends or agency friends. All it takes is common sense.

An agency model who has lots of potential yet always has unprofessional images posed poorly by those who think they are at the top of their trade but with all the shooting they do, no clue. At some point common sense should take over and say the knees and elbow features are not working, hair not posed, not working. In this case we have an arm up near face and then an arm up posing against the head.

How does any first day photographer or model come up with a 3 stooges poke the head look? We have never spoken to this model but I know they are signed by a few agencies and love modeling. But zero knowledge so far. Can’t say we have ever seen the model wearing anything but the Saver’s look (and not neat) and no attention to detail or knowledge of basic model skills that are definitely out there. Too bad time and years are going buy and had a shot of being a serious career model but you have to care and you have to be your decision maker. It’s your life, model correctly or best find another career path.

Thanks to our models posing ineffectively for our book, PLAY TO WIN. notice in this case the hand is pushing down the models hair that we also see often. We also see photographers having no issues with arms, knees, chins and not being you can you see what is seen across Instagram daily? Notice the ring we had the model keep on to show the distraction rings create.

In the second image the model has the hand correctly placed to the SIDE of the face, not out in front blocking features but it’s still serves NO PURPOSE, and very inferior to the same image shot with hands down without an arm becoming a part of the image and the shadows of the arm against the models body. Hope you all can see the massive miscues we see each day noone cares about which is fine if both the model and photographer just doesn’t care.

Now imagine the model and photographer who put the hands right on the face blocking the viewer from seeing their face. Just hard to believe such little common sense. Not sniffing pro work with such ineffective posing and shooting. How does a photographer not know seeing their posing boo boo’s.

Now look at how we shoot the same tight image without fingers on the face for some ungodly reason below the other too. The image on the right being a half body shot is acceptable, hand is placed dead on with our direction but at the cost of an arm and natural light shadow we suggest no arm if you want to book more work. One extra booking might mean landing an account!

A tight portrait with hands next to the face showcasing a model portrait but she is blocking her face with fingers. A review of the photographers portfolio shows at least 15 of these unprofessional images.

Show a tight portrait with hands and fingers next to face and you are seeing a model and photographer with no clue or common sense. So what exactly are the two of you trying to shoot? Seventeen magazine shot fingers next to the face around 1971 and everyone has been doing the poor no common sense shot and it’s copy copy copy those with no knowledge of model photography OR common sense.

One of the most important shots in a model portfolio is seeing the models portraits to showcase ALL of their features and eye speak. So why with common sense or knowledge would you want a tight portrait with fingers near the face????????? You would not ever. Your client is going to toss your Comp Card into the bucket in .05 seconds after seeing such an image. It says no clue but you also stopped the client who may look at only 5 images your face without being BLOCKED. Again, modeling is totally common sense. We see this very poor shot time and time again and if one starts thinking about their shot and why it’s being shot you can start to improve as a model or photographer. Not until. IF you want to work as a paid model you need to stop working with jokers.

Agency model with great theme but useless image due to poor makeup and a look like someone trick or treating with no makeup saying cheese.

For agency success a model needs to have the “ability to sell” so you need to have the look of your audience looking sexy, yet wholesome with a look that tells the image viewer you want this garment and feel as I do. Looking like a 4th grade Girl Scout is no good. You can’t wear granny clothes modeling and models should have long healthy hair. Never short hair if selling to the agency younger market. The 4o year old business lady shorter hair works but those with short hair for t he younger market seem to have the worst makeup and bad body language and hands down by the side that is a deal breaker for clients.  Grow the hair, grow the eyebrows and learn makeup by studying tons of how to’s on Youtube and going to perhaps MAC where they will apply and teach you if you buy the makeup.

We see pretty models across Instagram that have the same graveyard expressions thru every image for 3 years that really impacts success and income. To have a great smile and happiness you need to remove the stress factors in your life from work, parents, location or whatever prevents you from showcasing a natural warm smile.

The smile you see here is the smile you see on top Supermodels. Study it well, for it needs to be a natural expression for you and real success. A great photographer knows how to work this as we do as well.

Thanks to our models showcasing the distracting bras, bra straps, crinkles and showcasing how the bra gives the half keg look before they change for the photo shoot.

Also note the distracting belly button rings and numerous rings of our first model. 

Gorgeous Boston model always wearing bras and posing poorly.

Not a model in the world is taken seriously wearing bras or having panty lines. It’s no secret and never done for print. Only for commercials and TV shows so those old fashion types won’t call and complain like they did for Jen on the tv show Friends. Such a gorgeous woman falling way short of success. Bras spell pretend model and then some besides destroy the must have look for success!

If you score a 1000 yet your pictures show a 400 you will be beaten. In this case the bra shows no curves above and the look is that of a half keg. Great with makeup, yet a very non pro look of a total pretender.