You Wanna Be on Top? (Intro to Modeling)

Intro

• I'm Jordan Underwood (@jordallenhall on all socials)
• Started modeling in fall 2018 when I signed with the BTWN -- they put out a call for models of all sizes on Instagram and I responded, and then signed with them that week! When I submitted, I included a video of me dancing to make sure I stood out from the other folks who were submitting
• I was already comfortable on camera because I was working full time as an actor in the city (headshots, promo shoots for shows, shooting with friends over the years)
• Had photos to send that were clean and showed personality
• NOT NORMAL to submit to one agency and sign right away (I got very lucky/right agency, right place, right time)

HOW TO START MODELING

• I hear a lot from folks that they want to get into modeling (specifically plus size modeling) in order to become more self confident -- this scares me. The industry is brutal, there is very little work, esp for truly plus size models, and your body is a major reason why you do or don't book work. We model bc we have the confidence to maintain the career, the career isn't what makes us confident
• First you must build confidence and thick skin
• Get comfortable in front of the camera!! Take pics with friends! Reach out to local photographers, student photographers, anyone looking to practice or build their portfolio! Develop relationships with photographers
• Once you're comfy, get someone to take good digitals for you!
• You need at least 3 photos (headshot, 3/4 body, full body)
• Sometimes you need a profile, back shot, and hands as well
• Do research on agencies in your area! Look at the people they're representing! Do they have models your size/height/gender? Do you fill a gap on their roster? Are they scouting right now?
• If they're scouting on social media, they might have a hashtag that they use to scout, post your digitals and use the hashtag!
• Other agencies have submission forms on their website! You can submit that way! If you can, try and add something that shows personality/individuality!
• Submit, submit, submit!
• Get on websites like backstage.com, and castingnetworks.com and start submitting yourself for jobs! These are often the same jobs agencies are submitting their models for! It's a great way to start out, get seen by casting directors and put yourself out there!
• Keep doing test shoots to keep your book up to date! Talk to other models and use the photographers they use! Make sure your book is varied (commercial shots, beauty shots, editorial shots)
• Network with photographers, models, MUAs, hairstylists, agents, designers, etc. Build your community within the industry!
• Utilize social media! You don't need a huge following, you just need good, clean, up to date pictures! Lots of folks are scouting on Instagram constantly, and they don't care how many followers you have.

Disability on set

• Be clear with the creative director, production assistant, and photographer ab your access needs
• Communicate access needs to your agency so they can advocate for you
• Typically everyone on set is unmasked (unfortunately), but vaccines are required and most of the time they will test you at the door before you enter the space
• Set days can be long to pack a good bag that has anything you might need for pain management (there's typically lots of down time so don't be afraid to bring things like pillows, heating pads, or massage guns if they help you)
• Ask questions ahead of time about accessibility/do research into the space bc sometimes there's an elevator but you need special permission to use it

Social media

• Share your digitals and tests shoots!
• Use the hashtags agencies use to scout if you're looking for rep
• You don't need to have a huge following
• If you DO want to put time into growing your following, there is more money in influencing work than there is -- especially if you have a home studio or just a clean/aesthetic space to create content in
• Tagging brands in your photos is a great way to get noticed -- they might repost your photos which can help with gaining followers/finding an audience

Common Q+A

• I have a pt day job/other gigs I do -- there aren't enough jobs for larger fat models to make a living solely from modeling right now
• My favorite part of modeling is a tie between getting my nails done on set and seeing what photos the creative team selects months after the shoot is done
• For gender affirming poses -- look at models who give you gender envy who have the same body size as you and get familiar with their poses, practice with your phone on self timer (not a mirror)
• When posing always think about shapes
• Taking dance classes will help you most with posing
• Detach yourself from looking "pretty" -- some of the best photos are weird and ugly and contorted; you're not sending these photos to your crush! You're trying to get a compelling photo

Final Points

• Be you -- if you're pretending to be someone you're not, that will read on camera!
• For every job you lose because of your body or hair or whatever it is, there is someone else who will book you because of those same features