Saturday, June 27, 2009

Modeling and age

A girl recently asked me if age was an issue for modeling? These were some of my thoughts on modeling and age and I think it might inspire you:


Age is not an issue because actually most commercial products, -watch commercials, flip through a Marie Claire, Glamour, Redbook, Self, Allure, most of the products in the magazine are for a woman 27-40.

So the more you think of modeling as advertising the more you will see models are ALL ages. Even Grandmothers model!

A major part of finding success as a model is making your own marketing material, making your own compcard, managing your shoots, being the art director and knowing what you need photographically to get the photos that WILL help you. I would keep mailing your compards out. Like an actor that mails their headshot and a handbag designer that mails their line sheet to buyers, you, as the model have to be aggressive with mailing! It is the only way.

Remember for your own modeling pursuits: Beauty,skincare, hair-care, accessories, modeling lifestyle products should be your goal. Modeling has no age, because wherever there is a need to advertise a product, there is a need for a model. Ironically fashion is spoke about A LOT more, but it is print modeling that actually is where most models work. 90% of modeling is print and yet no one talks about it.
Someone has to model that Advil, wrinkle cream, insurance, hair dye, and they are woman of ALL ages.

And to target yourself as a print model, with the right photos, to the right agencies it does take a perceptive eye and a marketing mindset! :)

Mail your compcard to commercial print modeling agencies. A few to consider are: Flaunt Models, FFT, R&L Models, Images, Rick Miller Agency, CESD, and Parts Models for hands, feet, eyes, body part modeling.

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Short models are not in style for cycle 14 ANTM

In my breakdowns I noticed cycle 14 to America's Next Top Model is casting, but the short chicks are not welcome this time. However, do not think that this means you can not model if you are shorter, shorter girls can model but they do have to market themselves well and be ambitious in marketable ways.

If you are 5'7" or taller and want to be on the show you can apply here ( yet I did not see an open call in NYC area, I will not be applying, also be aware: you can not have experience as a model to do the show):
http://www.cwtv.com/thecw/topmodel-cycle14-casting

However these reality shows leave many girls are left discouraged and they give up after they get kicked off the show, when really they could find opportunity, but are aware of it or just simply do not know how.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Dear Tyra from Petite Model Isobella Jade


In celebration of my modeling memoir Almost 5'4" hitting the bookstores in the NYC area now!! I wanted to share my Dear Tyra with you since the book is timely for cycle 13 of America’s Next Top Model:

Dear Tyra,
As the shortest working model in New York City I wanted to share some tips that might help your itty bitty hopefuls.

My first tip is to not judge how the girl walk. Don't kick a short girl off for how she walks. Pretty please. Only a small percent of models rock the runway and shorter girls really should focus on the areas of the modeling industry they can really get ahead, such as in print modeling, parts modeling, or modeling lifestyle products in commercials.

Knowing their facial expressions well can be a benefit, since a shorter girl can find opportunities modeling skincare, hair-care, and for beauty products.

Using their personality and creating a nice headshot or close up should be a goal of the models.

After you kick them off, the girls might leave the show feeling like "now what?" So I suggest that the girls create their own compcard after the show, strive to work with the photos they got from the show, (they get to keep those photos right?) and put together a nice submission package that can help them get in the door at an agency after the show.

Also there are way more print modeling agencies out there than fashion, so don't give up!

Many shorter models give up after a few submissions to agencies without a call back, but trying once is not enough to be a model. It took me years to work with the agencies I work with now and get great modeling jobs. These days modeling is not about someone discovering you, or thinking you can do it, it is about you discovering your self, and focusing on what you do have, and what you can offer the modeling business. The modeling business is really the advertising business for a shorter girl and she should learn how to model products, show she can actually model, and remember that ambition out weighs height and inches.

Isobella Jade

Monday, June 22, 2009

Isobella Jade's memoir is available in Bookstores

How many bookstores can Isobella Jade hit up in one day? 5!! You can find autographed copies of Almost 5'4" in the Greenwich Village store, Fifth Ave (near 45th), East 54th Street (Citigroup center store), Lincoln Triangle at 1972 Broadway, and another one at the Tribeca store, in the briography section. I am trying to sign as many in-store copies as I can.



Almost 5'4" is now available in bookstores, or just click the cover to read online shopping details.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Model Isobella Jade book release reading




Isobella reads from her original modeling memoir Almost 5'4", which is now available at bookstores, for more information stop by her website: www.isobelladreams.com or click the cover above.

6/24/09 at 6pm live at www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade

Thursday, June 18, 2009

I hate my photos! Models fixing their photo tips


http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2009/06/18/I-Hate-My-Photos-How-Models-can-fix-their-photos

This segment on Model Talk is about how to fix your photos and get better photography.

Did you know:

Hands and Makeup can ruin the shot.

Make sure your makeup is not too cakey or that your face is too shiny, you need to show nice natural skin to get a good shot sometimes.

After the shoot Make sure the photos are at 300 dpi or turn them into 300 Dpi.
Strive to learn a program such as Photoshop or basic photoshop skills.
Or try www.picnik.com

Cropping and lightening photos is a good skill to have.

Sometimes a full body shot can turn into a better headshot (crop it).

If a photo is too dark, dark around the eyes it can be hard to touch that up yourself, but if you turn the photo to black and white and then lighten the photo it could look better.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

commercial print compcard + full body shot




a full body shot or a shot that show you from the thigh up or waist up is a good one for your compcard. Especially one that shows you “in action” doing something, walking, laughing, smiling, chilling on the couch or in a chair reading a magazine, putting on makeup. To get inspired look at the editorial photos, the photos that go with the magazine articles in magazines such as Cosmo, Allure and Marie Claire and Glamour,-they have a vibe the fits for a print modeling compcard…also keep in mind what an ad for a lifestyle product looks like when you create the shot.

You want to come off that you can model any lifestyle product, that is what a print modeling agency wants to see more than measurements. Fashion agencies are different.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Isobella Jade and short model message

Realistic expectations backed with marketable ambition is best for shorter models. U might not get to rock the runway but there is more out there for you. Modeling is not just high fashion. But you have to see it that way and market yourself for the opportunities you can realistically seize.

Shorter models should focus on modeling lifestyle products, and submitting to commercial print modeling agencies, and remember where there is advertising there is a need for models.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Ask the photographer before a photoshoot


In this segment of Model Talk Radio, Isobella Jade shares questions you should ask the photographer before you do your photo shoot and what to be aware of so that you don't end up with a mistake, regret or tears, and that you get what you want instead.

Listen here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2009/06/10/5-things-to-ask-the-photographer-before-you-shoot

You can also find Isobella Jade on iTunes.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Isobella quote

Life and modeling can be tough, but if you don't expect it to be easy, you will find through hard work, trying again and again, and not giving up...it isn't impossible to do something that at first sight might seem so.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Models and self promotion: yourself and goals

Models and self promotion

I have never relied on one person to make my modeling goals or pursuits happen. I have always relied on my self most. Self promotion is such a huge part of being or becoming anything you want to be and it is the same for modeling. Working as a model involves a whole'lotta self promotion!

Here are somethings that have involved self promotion along my journey of being a model:

1. Creating the right photos. Photography has been a major part of my pursuits, this is modeling where "image is everything" so striving to get better photography, improve my photos, and strive to work with better and better photographers through out my journey as been very important. What you show in a photo represents who you are as a model. What you can do, and where you are going, so striving hands-on to plan shoots, art direct them, be apart of the photography process has been major.

2. Mailings and submissions. The first mailing I did, to all the top modeling agencies got no no-where. Once I got a headshot and mail it out it only brought back one phone call. It was to a casting director for background work on the TV show ED. Then I made a compcard and tried to improve my photos to make them more "commercial print friendly." Today I work with great agencies, but getting a modeling agency, getting consistant and quality work as a model has been a process, and it did not happen over nite. It takes a lot of mailing, and submissions, research, and stamps to be a model.

3. Battling the voices around me. Many people I encountered said I was too short to model, I would be better off even going into porn or something, but I didn't want that, I wanted more. I wanted ads, ad campaigns, to be in magazines, I wanted to "model something" other than me! So it has been important to listen to your own voice along the way, the voice that can direct you towards your goals. Sometimes what people may think, suggest, is not always the best, so listen to everything but always have your own understanding of yourself and goals.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Do you go Commandos? With Jo Bernard



I recently spoke to Jo Bernard, the Commando-in-Chief of Commandos: The way to be comfy down there while you go Commando, this is the scoop on the latest go bare with ease essential.

1. For my readers who do not know yet, tell us about Commandos and why a girl needs to be in the know?

As girls and women, we are raised to wear traditional, conventional underwear. Conventional underwear has always been about a piece of apparel designed to hold a cotton crotch in place for our hygienic protection and comfort. In the Evolution of Underwear, our panties have evolved from the chastity belt to pantaloons to granny panties to bikinis to thongs, all intended to hold a crotch for us. COMMANDOS Patches have now eliminated EVERYTHING BUT the crotch and it is COTTON, which is the natural and absorbent fabric recommended by doctors for our optimal vaginal health. No more waistbands and legholes creating VPL's in our jeans, pants, and shorts. No more irritating crotch seams when we choose to "go commando". COMMANDOS Cotton patches are for Ev'y Femma, Every Woman, no matter her age, size, ethnicity. Meet Ev'y Femma on our website www.gocommandos.com. They are great for travel, maternity, all sports and exercise, equestrian, after waxing, and just to wear every single day in jeans and pants.

2. I love all the reasons why you can wear Commandos stated on your website, I think the commando patch to put inside jeans is something awesome that many females can relate to. Had you gone commando in the past and wondered how you could make it more comfy?

I had never gone commando (without underwear) before we invented the Patch. It was completely foreign to me.

As a result of our marketing survey last year, we have learned that 51% of our customers also had never gone commando, which tells us that many woman are seeking an alternative to traditional underwear and have now found a replacement they prefer. Most of our customers rate the comfort level VERY HIGH and I'm sure it's because we use premium cotton that is very soft, and cushions this most sensitive area. The completely unique and patented design allows for ultimate flexibility when placed in the crotch inseams. The adhesive will hold it there until the woman chooses to remove it. Once you experience wearing nothing in your jeans or pants but the soft, comfortable COMMANDOS Patch which you don't even know is there, you really begin to dislike the extra layer that conventional panties or thongs add.



3. Have you ever had a memorable experience telling someone about how you sell comfort with the cotton crotch?

I once tried to discreetly explain it to a woman in her 80's. Once she understood the concept, she broke out into a huge smile and laughingly said, "Honey, I haven't worn panties in years! I just didn't know it was called 'going commando'. Where can I buy them?" This is when I learned NEVER to assume who our customer is. Again, she is Every Woman. "Ev'y Femma"! (I also love to be on a crowded elevator and ask who knows what it means to go commando!)



4. How has the internet come into play with launching the brand and marketing Commandos?

The internet has been and continues to be huge for COMMANDOS. Women love to share and Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) is the absolute best form of getting one's product out there. The personal recommendation, the personal experience, the community of women needing and wanting products that they can believe in and have benefits for them, are all nurtured and developed on the internet. For example,there is a whole community of women who have vulva-vaginal conditions that cannot wear traditional underwear. They have online support groups, as well as Physical Therapists and Doctors, who provide much needed services and products that often are unavailable to them in their own geographic communities. Plus, many women prefer online shopping and we have our COMMANDOS available in our website store. Our website is fun, and girly, and very informative. It showcases our Press, our Testimonials, and of course, Ev'y Femma. In addition, men and women from around the world have found COMMANDOS Patches online and this is how we have now launched our product in South Africa and soon in the UK. www.gocommandos.com



5. During photoshoots it is best not to show panty lines so where can my readers pick up a pack of Commandos?

Your readers can order directly from our website www.gocommandos.com

Where we offer all of our colors and all 3 cotton fabrics (Cotton Fleece, Combed Cotton Interlock and 100% Certified Cotton Jersey). They can also call our tollfree number 866-970-FREE (3733) either to order or to inquire about a retail location near them. COMMANDOS are also available on a number of other websites, including Amazon.com.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The Persistent Short Model segment


Isobella shares how to be persistent without pushy to get what you want as a model. From an agency to modeling jobs, working with photographer and becoming the model you want to be, in her latest podcast at Blogtalkradio.com

Not giving up is key. Approaching the right agencies, approaching them with the right photos.

Focusing on what you can realistically model and then perfecting your photos so you can get ahead

Here is a segment on The Persistent Short Model:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2009/06/03/The-Persistent-Short-Model

Modeling video: Modeling Call Sheet

Petite modeling source for advice and tips on modeling and modeling photos and inspiration for the petite models.