Advice on getting your modeling or acting photos!

If you want to book many modeling and many acting jobs with legitimate paying clients your photos and the way they are presented is your main selling point.

Often when I submit talent the client quickly will scan through my best submissions and pick out their favorites. I have witnessed over the 25 years that I have been booking models and actors it is not just the so called best looking model/actor that get’s booked. It is usually the talent that fits the image the client visions. This is where it get’s very tricky for talent to know what to use to promote themselves.   

I would highly get a recommendation from an agent that successfully books hundreds of jobs with a variety of clients.

Usually this is your only or first chance to show professionalism, your level of expertise based on what they see in your photos. If you have little experience with professionals this can get you the leg up on models with more experience! If you have some experience but your photos are either outdated or wrong it can severely hinder you.

If you photo’s are not overly photo shopped but  still have that “wow factor”, paying clients will be more likely to want to book you and pay you. The client wants to know what you really look like, but you still have to stand out from the crowd. 

I cannot tell you how many people submit to us cell phone, portrait, glamour, amateur, family, pageant type, or photos from people willing to shoot them for free for some reason and expect to book paying jobs from them.

The most important photo is your main headshot. This can also be a half body shot. Many times that will be the first and only photo they see.  Variety is important in a portfolio. When creating a portfolio, the photographer you work with should be willing to think outside the box. The last thing you need are photos that make you look exactly like everyone else. I have seen so many photos taken by photographers where the model doesn’t really matter at all in the photo but they concentrate on the background or scenery because they think it is artistic. It may be cool or artistic but it is not selling the model or actor! You want to use photos that show you, your diversity, and what you are capable of.

When creating a portfolio it is very important to show variety but also consistency! Just because a model has many photos does not mean clients will book them over someone that only has a few images. Only show the absolute best photos, even if that means having just a few in your book. Most clients do want some experience but will judge you often on your consistency. If you have ten photos in your portfolio and only 2 are good you will not book as much as someone with 3-4 but they are all amazing. They usually judge you on you best and worst photos.

The last but equally important step is to have a professionally printed card made of your main photo or photos! I have cast or attending many castings and it amazes me how many people try to just print there photo on a home printer, kinko’s or copy machine.  There are so many things that are red flags to most paying clients when they see these types of photos. It shows amateur right off the bat. Usually it is on a flimsy piece of photo paper, colors are off, lighting looks wrong your name and agency are not properly presented etc, etc.

 

Get a top professional grade photo card and graphic design done, then get at least 100 made so the price go’s way down. In the long run it will cost less and actually give you the chance to book jobs! You may be able to get in an audition and show inferior photos, walk out of the casting and think my advice is wrong. Having booked 1000’s of talent what I have found in a casting usually happens behind closed doors is this. The clients just toss your photos, shakes their head and go’s on to the next person knowing you are not a pro and not worth the risk of booking you. You usually never get a second impression. Don’t make this mistake!!!

Getting the correct photo is complicated but worth the time and money because it is the ultimate best way to get your foot in the door and book paying jobs! I see to many potential talent try to take short cuts on this vital necessity in our industry. Be smart, don’t pay to much or to little and get honest advice from people that have a proven track record of booking people for numerous types of paying jobs in the modeling and talent industry.

Best of luck and if you need more advice email us at craze@crazeagency.com or go to our site at www.crazeagency.com

There are many ways for a male to become a model!

The most lucrative yet hardest way is to become a high fashion model. Most male high fashion models are between 5’11” to 6’3” tall, they are extremely well built without being overly muscular. The normal chest size is 40-44 inches, waist size of 30-34 inches and inseam of 32-34 inches.

The age range of a male high fashion model is 16-30 years old. They normally possess a strong chiseled face but sometimes a softer almost boyish look is also marketable. A High fashion model does print work, runway and sometimes commercials.

The next step unless you live in the largest cities in the world would be to get a modeling agent who has a proven track record of booking high fashion models in their local market. You then can build a portfolio with a variety of photos and tear sheets of the work you have done.

Once you become established in your local market, a great local agent can then shop you to the reputable and busy National Agencies. Most good high fashion models can make money in smaller markets but it is limited. To make $100,000 a year or more you will have to work in the Major modeling markets in the USA, Europe, Asia and a few other Countries.

If you do not have an agent you can always submit a photo to the large market agencies. This is a tough way to get discovered because they usually receive many submissions. If you are planning a trip to a large market many of the agencies have a day they see new faces. You may be able to see a few different agencies in the same day with luck and planning.

The second way to become a working male model is to work as a lifestyle, catalog or commercial type model. The good news is most cities with a population of 400,000 or more have some fairly consistent work in one or more of these areas.  Often there are not as many restrictions for this type of modeling.

It ranges from really expressive fun cute kids, teens and young adults, to 25 -60 year old business looking people or character faces then to healthy looking seniors. Usually the work is not as consistent but this work is much more available in smaller markets. Most people are only able to do this as a part time job.

A good model booking this kind of work can make $50-$300 per hour once they are established. It does not matter your age but generally adults work more than youth. Once a model is established with a company or photographer they will often receive multiple booking from the client because they have developed a professional working relationship.

The Agency I own the Craze Agency works mostly in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado Washington,  and Wyoming. Our models book 90% of the more commercial oriented jobs and in our markets this type of modeling pays  about the same as high fashion modeling jobs. A successful model must also be very outgoing, fun to work with, on time and take great direction.  The models that possess these qualities work most consistently. For more advice go to www.crazeagency.wordpress.com

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The Craze Modeling and Talent Agency is currently looking for new faces!

The Craze Agency has successfully promoted Actors, Models and Extras throughout Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Western Colorado, and Wyoming since 1999!

                                

We are strictly a booking agency and not a training center! Most Agencies will require that you take extremely expensive classes ($800-$5000) with them before they decide to promote you. Craze does not follow this practice. We recommend ages 3 and up, there a very few opportunities for younger than 3 (parents should consider being promoted there is a ton of work for adults).

You will need to set up a brief interview with us. Once we meet you in person we will be able to answer all of yours and our questions.

Currently you must live in one of the above regions and States. Though some ages work more than others we are currently promoting all ages.

 Every person’s talents are different, that is why we need to meet you in person. You do need a photo for us to promote you with but it is not required or recommended for the interview. We are very busy right now so call us at 801-438-0067 Utah, 702-530-9176 Nevada or 208-433-9511 Idaho. If you live outside of these areas and are at least 18 and interested in promotional modeling only let us know.

You can also go to http://www.crazeagency.com/what_people_say.php to see a list of the hundreds of clients we work with and positive quotes we have received.

We are currently working on numerous Modeling and Acting projects.

We do not charge an upfront fee for us to promote you. We take 10% on most extra work and SAG projects if you are a member and never more than 15% commission on each job that you are hired on.

We have projects going on now and need new talent for them! Craze Agency strives hard to keep the best reputation in the industry.

Thanks,

Craze Agency

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Interesting and successful Craze Actors and Models.

This is the third installment of interview’s I will be doing with interesting and successful Utah  Actors and Models. These interviews will show the world there are talented people in our area who are capable of handling just about anything that comes their way!

Randall Malin is currently starring as “The Professor” in the successful series of over 20 commercials for “Check City”. Randal has worked on numerous Films and Television programs with Scott Wolfe, June Lockhart, Tom Amandes, Steve Valentine, Todd Bridges, Larry Thomas and John Quinones.

What made you decide to get into the acting and modeling business?

I was watching a show on PBS that had a profound impact on me. The next day I picked up the phone and made an appointment with Craze Agency.

What made you stick with it when you first started and received some rejection?

I knew from the start that I loved it and improvement was up to me so rejection motivated me.

I know from personal experience many friends and family can sometimes be skeptical or jealous about being in the entertainment business even if you show some success.  What do your family and friends think about you being in it? Have they changed their minds over a period of time?

I tend to go "all in" when I commit to something. They may have thought it would be a hobby but has grown to be so much more than that.

Who are your favorite entertainers and why?

Daniel Day Lewis, George Clooney, Hilary Swank, Meryl Streep. All are relaxed, authentic and effortless. A beautiful thing to watch.

What has been the hardest thing for you as an actor or model?

When I'm less than 100% in an audition.

What are the things you enjoy the most about our business?

When I'm on set and everyone is functioning as one, focused and cohesive unit. You can feel it, and it feels great.

Do you have a funny story to tell about this business?

Yes, my first "Trailer" was a U-Haul

What keeps you going in our business? I

 Love it, it challenges me and brings me much joy. Another thing that I love about acting is that it's always expanding and opening, this fascinates me.

What do you feel makes you unique and talented?

My extremely positive and happy energy.

Who have been your biggest influences in our business?

Glenn Morshower, Charlie Halford, Jeff Johnson, Catrine McGregor and Troy Lee.

What is your regular occupation? How do you juggle both?

I'm also a Chiropractor. I create time and honor them both.

How long have you been serious as an actor or model?

 Nine years

One of the toughest things for me as an agent is when I continually promote our talent really hard and because of things like the size of the market, the time of year or that there just is not a job coming up immediately for that  particular talent, some talent get discouraged and lose interest.   As an experienced agent I know things will soon get busy when you do the right things and stick with it. How have you not let the slower periods or even when you are busy auditioning but not booking jobs discourage you?

Staying involved in workshops and classes. It's fun and keeps you sharp, and focused.

What advice would you give newcomers entering the business?

Take a Meissner Class from a quality instructor.

What would your dream role or entertainment job be?

Lead role in a highly successful feature film and TV series

What makes you most nervous in our industry?

Being nervous

Can you tell us about yourself pertaining to the entertainment business, (most notable roles, and some interesting personal facts about you)?

I am currently playing The Crazy, Intense Professor for Check City. This has been wildly successful. I received a great role in the SAG film Tex Murphy playing Mason, doing my best to save the planet. Also I just finished filming on the hit TV show Granite Flats. I played Bud, a wormy stepson (so much fun). On the personal side, I'm a marathon runner and have gone 100 miles/hour on snow skis (that was an adventure).

This interview was conducted by Troy Lee CEO of Craze Agency. For more information about Randall or to schedule an interview go to www.crazeagency.com  email me at bookings@crazeagency.com or call 801-438-0067.