How to become a Professional Wardrobe Stylist

As a fashion photographer I usually run into three important factors that must be met before
I begin the process of developing an amazing project.

1.MODEL
2.Beauty Team
3.WARDROBE!!!

How are you going to call yourself a fashion photographer and you are not shooting FASHION?
Well finding an amazing wardrobe stylist can be a pain but the payoff is ALWAYS worth it.
You and that stylist must share the same vision.

There are SOOOO many who claim the title of professional stylist but you and I both know that
is a lot of unjustified confidence.

So for those who are curious I post
How to Become a Professional Wardrobe Stylist
By Maggie Hira


A professional wardrobe stylist goes to a client's home and, basically, edits the person's wardrobe, deciding which clothes to keep, which to store and which to give away. A wardrobe stylist can also go on shopping excursions with clients and help them pick out new clothes. Read on for tips on how to become a professional wardrobe stylist.


Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Extensive fashion knowledge
* A good eye for fashion
* Solid personal style

1.
Step 1

Take fashion classes at a college or trade school. This will help you develop a good eye for colors and styles that match and work together well, which will also help you put together great outfits for your clients. It will also allow you to develop your personal sense of style.
2.
Step 2

Build up your knowledge of fashion. If you are really interested in becoming a professional wardrobe stylist, you probably already love fashion and know a lot about it. However, no matter how much you already know, you should still cultivate your eye for fashion by reading fashion magazines and watching makeover and style shows on TV.
3.
Step 3

Get a job or internship as an assistant to a professional wardrobe stylist. As an assistant, you will gain the experience necessary to begin a career of your own. You will also learn all the basics from the source such as how to coordinate business outfits, travel outfits or party outfits. You will also make contacts with tailors and other fashion professionals that you can turn to for help. One way to get a job or internship is to contact a wardrobe stylist via phone or email and ask if she needs a helping hand.
4.
Step 4

Advertise your service. WEBSITES help tremendously.

Model Advice: Building a Portfolio

Over the last few years I have spoken with several bookers in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles
who work for some of the leading modeling agencies in the world (FORD,Elite,RED,IMG, and Major to name a few).
Being that I work to develop model's portfolios (test shoots) I wanted to know what is the
key deciding factors that an agency or client is looking for in a model's portfolio when deciding to hire or represent a model.
Now you must understand that their opinions are merely their opinions and are largely based upon
the region that they are in (New York is totally different then say Los Angeles).
This list does not include what they are physically looking
for when they meet a model but what they are looking for in the portfolio.

1. TEAR SHEETS are KING (or QUEEN if you will)
Clients want to see that your look has value to someone. Printed work in a magazine
(physical print magazine sorry online mags don't cut it) and published advertising work
says that you have a level of experience. A-List Top Professional working models in this
industry have a portfolio FILLED with print work. In case you don’t know what tear sheets are, they’re actual pages from magazines, brochures, or any other physical
published material that has your picture on it. Printing quality is usualy not as great a computer printed image. A
tear sheet shows how the picture was used in conjunction with the layout of the concept.
It shows how the image works with the graphics, type, other pictures, and with other elements on the page. While tear sheets don’t
really add anything to the quality of the portfolio, they do add the message of legitimacy and experience to the book.
It’s one thing to have a pretty picture of you in your book and quite another to have a pretty picture of you on the
cover of Vogue Magazine.

Don't trip so hard at first about not having tear sheets even the best model in the world, had to have her first shoot and at one time,
only had one photo in her portfolio.

2.So what if you are a newbe and don't have print or ads in your book?
well the next best thing is to work with professional photographers who shoot in that style.
There are many amazing fashion photographers who's style looks like you can rip their work
out of any major fashion magazine, heck most agencies and clients would just automatically assume
that the work was published because it looks so professional.
You want to work with photographers who can give your portfolio "WOW" factor.
You want to make certain that your images leave a imprint in their heads so that they remember you
long after you leave. It helps when you are booking a test shoot to work with photographers
who have a vision and direction. TEAM is uber important. Check to see the work of the photographer's
team. When you are paying a photographer's test rate make certain you review the work of
the makeup artist, hair stylist, or wardrobe stylist.
(WHEN RESEARCHING MAKE CERTAIN YOU DO SO IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER)

Ask questions. When you are paying top dollar for a result. you want to know that the team knows
exactly what you are looking for. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

3. Everyone asked said that the portfolio can be the make or break deciding factor because it
shows the client what you are working with. They can tell how serious you are about the industry
based on the quality of the images placed in your book. If you come to a agency with a crappy book
that means they have to do more work. Say if you have the look they like but your book sucks, that means
you are going to get thrown right over into the "New Face" or "Develop" group of the agency. Which means
you are not really making them any money which in turns means they are not going to focus any extra attention on you.
Why would they? Heck you may even be costing them money lol.

4. So what should you have in your portfolio as a new model?
1. Amazing head shot, Full body shot (swim), fashion, commercial (smile), action.
The pictures in a model’s portfolio have two basic functions. The first is to impress the viewer and the second job is to inform the viewer. If your portfolio and the
pictures within can do these two things, then you’re way ahead of the competition.

Wow, should be what you're after. The presentation and the shots should all work together to make a great first, second, and third impression. If you want to be taken seriously as a model, your portfolio should shout that you are a professional. The case should be clean, the pages of the book should be in good shape (they tend to scratch) and the contents should be first rate.

Show only your very best
Always start off you portfolio with your strongest image and end with your second best.
In between, have only your best images possible.

The Must-Have's

The tight headshots let viewers know what your face really looks like. They should know from these shots the length of your
hair, the color of your eyes, and the shape of your face. Agencies tend to love a strong head shot that showcases your best facial feature, great eye contact or a bright beautiful smile.
The waist up shot is a very important addition to a model’s portfolio. The crop on a waist-up shot is close enough so that the viewer can get a good look at the face and still see much of the model’s body too.
A shot where the model show’s off her body.Probably the best outfit for at least one of your full-length shots should be a bathing suit. In a body shot, the viewer can see exactly what they’re hiring. Remember that really skinny or really busty, are not always good things. You are what you are, and somewhere, somebody needs a body just like yours. Another reason for having several full-length shots is to show how well clothes “hang” on your body. If the project is for a clothing or fashion-related client, this will be very important in their determination of which model they ultimately hire.



5.So if you’re going to include tear sheets in your portfolio, then you’ll have all kinds of shapes and sizes in it. If you’re going to have prints, you need to decide what size. Of course, the case / book will either dictate the size of the prints or the print size will dictate the size of the portfolio. Somewhere, you’ll have to make the decision on sizes.
Most model portfolios that I’ve seen have been for 8.5 x 11 prints and some have been for 11x14 prints. The vast majority were 8.5 by 11.

6.How many images should you have in your portfolio?
Well each agency is different and there is no real right or wrong when it comes to this. Just make certain that
you keep the quality level very high. Stay away from playing politics by adding awful images to your port just
because they are new or so you don't piss the photographer off. THIS IS YOUR CAREER!!!
By having more, rather that less, you are telling the viewer that you are experienced.
Having more pictures will also give you the chance to show more variety and versatility.
The ideal number of photos / tear sheets should probably be somewhere between 12 – 24.

7. Remember it is not about having tons of different photographers work in your book. As with all things quality over quantity
it is best to work with a couple of really GREAT photographers to build your book rather then 20 "so so" photographers off of some random
"model networking" site. Just make sure that the few photographers give you range and versatility.


Things to steer clear of:
-Over the top artistic shots
-pornographic themed shots
-overly retouched images
-low resolution images
-images with other models of the same sex (do you really want them to ask about the girl/guy next to you on the photo?
-too many images with looks that don't reflect your current look (hair color/hair cut)

Behind the scenes photos from SHAMAYIM's latest Los Angeles shoots

SHAMAYIM with model Maria Bernaldez

SHAMAYIM with model Jasmine of INDUSTRY Models LA

SHAMAYIM with model Jasmine of INDUSTRY Models LA

SHAMAYIM with model Kristina Moe of NEXT Models LA

SHAMAYIM and model Karen Manco of LA Models

SHAMAYIM and model Karen Manco of LA Models

Model Advice: The power you possess

Shalom all,

I would like to address an aspect of fashion that i'm most certain is never addressed, and that is the incredible power that you possess as a model.

You possess two forms of incredible power, negative and positive. Within you and your beauty lies a gift and a curse. You can use this power to destroy homes, families, marriages, self-esteem, faith/religion, health, decency, and hearts. Of course this is the negative aspects of your power.

You can use your power also to build self-esteem, strength, encouragement, positive example, and the sacred feminine. These are the positive aspects of your powers.

There is no way around it...you are influential.
will you lead to lust or to love?
will you build admiration and respect or disgust and envy?
you manipulate the way the world in general perceives human beauty.

I encourage you to make fashion and modeling more then your vanity. vanity serves no one including yourself. at it's core fashion is not about how expensive or exclusive fabric is but it is the expression of the artist as an art form of human experience. you as a model are that artist canvas and tool of relaying their message.

your bodies are sacred and beautiful, this is not something that puts you above someone but a feature that was given to you to help motivate and inspire. like all parts of nature your features will wither and eventually decay. but while you have them how will you use them for the benefit of the planet?

all it takes is one photo of you saying no to the genocide of a race, no to a evil government, no to animal cruelty, no to poverty, no to aids, no to evil and it will inspire...even if it is just one.

the world watches you for a reason.

-SHAMAYIM

Model Advice: online model networking sites

Shalom all,

Let me first start off with the "warnings"
If you wish to come across as a aspiring professional model ALWAYS do the research.

Be weary of any model network site that
1. Does not allow authentic agencies
Think about it like this. Why would a website that is supposed to be designed for model and industry networking not allow legitimate agency representation to be hosted on the site? agencies are arguably one of the most important tools for EVERYBODY in the industry. So why would a site not allow their presence? Don't get me misconstrued i'm not talking about "garage" agencies or fly by not "web" model agencies but legal corporate and boutique agencies.
believe it or not agencies can be your friend. it is their jobs to research the venues in which their models are displayed and they have no problem with bringing in legal actions against unlawful practices. be very wary of a site that neglects the agents.

2. Steer clear of model networks that do not SCREEN the "talent".
If a professional networking site allows just anybody with a camera on their site then be alarmed. Nothing against amateur artist but if their portfolio consist of camera phone shots of girls in a thong...lets be serious you have no business on a professional site. Most of these sites have forums filled with garbage that have nothing to do with anything fashion related or that are filled with mindless arguments and z-list rumors.

3. judge a book by it's cover.
Look at the layout of the website. Does it come across as designed professionally? If not then it probably means that Skeeter the local geek created the page to check out hot model girls.

4. review the competition.
Look at the model profiles and industry profiles on the site. Do the models look like....models? do the photographer have work that reflect the direction in which you want your career to go? If a site is filled with internet model and GWC (guys with cameras) then do you really want to represented through this venue?

5. Don't be fulled by popularity.
Talent is not plentiful in the world if it was then it would be talent. Which means you want to be exposed to pros who know what they are doing and you want to keep an out for the models who are going after the same thing you are after. If a site has thousands of photographers don't you think it would be a little difficult to fish out the legit from the horny? These sites have huge numbers of members for a reason...THEY EXCEPT EVERYONE. Don't get it mistaken this industry is elite in its standards and does not EXCEPT EVERYONE.

6.There is only one myspace
If a page that promotes being a model network site has features like myspace...run away.

7. Is it a model network or a dating site?
no legit model network site promotes such unprofessionalism as member dating.
if you see an excess amount of comments on profiles that make the site seem more like a dating site rather then a networking site...run away.

Alrighty with that being said I have a great suggestion for you, join models.com
i'm not getting paid by models.com so you know i'm not lieing lol
that site is the real deal. it is endorsed by almost every major fashion modeling agency in the world. they have been responsible for discovering several top models. real working models are on the site and not a whole lot of net models.
great pro shooters (photographers) and amazing mua, hair stylist, and wardrobe stylist. the best part is that this site actually allows you to submit your port to agencies from the site to get reviewed. you can't beat that. oh and unlike other sites this one is not notorious for "breaking" down, deleting members, or having rapist and molesters on their site :)
they actually screen each and every photo placed on the site for professionalism.

so if you are a serious aspiring model check them out
if you are what i like to call "a girl who likes to take pics" you know where to go the place that is known for it's unprofessional "mayhem".

ciao
-SHAMAYIM

Model Advice: Why can't you get signed?

Shalom all

As a fashion photographer and editorial director of a few magazine publications I come into contact with aspiring models several times a day. Many of these individuals are absolutely beautiful with little physical flaws to the average observer. Many would gaze upon them and wonder "why are you not signed to an agency?" Well your good friend SHAMAYIM is hear to shed some light on that question :)

1.You are Girlfriend/Boyfriend cute
fashion model is something totally different then "traditional" beauty, especially in the US and European circuit. read my last blog "the tall and the skinny" for a good explanation on that. Simply put just because you are attractive does not mean you have the infamous"look" that an agency feels is marketable. Most designers want a model with character to represent them in their campaigns. Sorry people but your grandma is perhaps your worst enemy, you know the phrase "baby you are so beautiful, you should be A MODEL" sorry granny but your name is not FORD, ELITE, or NEXT your vision is just a wee bit impaired anyway. Save your little grandbaby the drama and just tell her she's cute lol. basically cheerleader looks don't cut it in this industry. A face like Jessica Simpson's is very forgettable but a face like lily donaldson just sticks in your head making you remember that Gucci ad....see my point.

2.Your Port sucks...big time
Ok it is true that you do not have to have a super port to get signed to a major agency. There are quite a few models who were just magically discovered (Tyra, Adriana, Jourdan, Yasmin,SHAMAYIM (ok maybe not me) but anyways for most models the endless visits to the agencies is apart of the stripes you must earn. Most models approach agencies with two weapons, their port and their character.
Now here is the interesting part. Most aspiring models always tell me that they were told NOT to invest into an expensive port because the agency will just change it anyway....LOL. Mistake one is listening to your competition. Anyways most models pursue this theory and try to build a PROFESSIONAL portfolio for free. Unless you make friends with an amazing team I give you this solid advice...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. So you show up to the agency and you have a great look and the new face director likes your personality and energy then he/she opens your book and BAM!!! 12 of the cheapest ugliest photos ever. Not because you are a awful model but because you did not invest in a solid representation of your talent. Your images have to be stunning enough yet simple enough that the agency is impressed and interested without being distracted. You work with amateur photographers and you get over-retouched, out of focus, grainy resolution, and lack luster creative shots. Even worst working with a novice team of make up artist, hair stylist, or wardrobe stylist. The teams you get to develop your images should understand what it is that you need to get booked as a FASHION MODEL. The whole "finger in the mouth, booty in the air, baby oiled body, middle of the train track" photos in your port DO NOT CUT IT HERE.

3. You are lazy
Models work hard...very very very hard. It takes time and talent to get to the level of a successful model. Of course you have been catered to for your whole life because everyone says you're cute but in this world I promise you there is always a younger and more focused model ready to eat you alive. Learn how to be professional. Show up to the agencies wearing the appropriate attire. It's simple...white tee, fit jeans, heels, hair pull back, and light make up. Don't show up to the agency over done like you are heading to the club. The agency wants to see what they are dealing with before Photoshop.

4.Know your industry
You can't get signed in NY because you are too short. You can't get signed in Miami because your chest is too small. You can't get signed in Tokyo because you're black lol (just kidding...but not really). The thing is ...know who you are going to see. Different regions want different things. In a major high fashion capital they want super tall and super skinny because RUNWAY is queen in that city. In places like LA or Miami it's all about the body, they want bodies that look good in swimwear. Want to know how to judge a city? stick your head out the window and check the weather (not the temperature).

5.Don't mimic your competition.
I tell my models this all the time "look at the models in the magazines to learn what they are doing , but make it yours" nobody needs two Liyas, Chanel Imans, or Jourdan Dunns. If everyone says you look like a certain supermodel go speak with a image coach and find out what you can do to recreate your look...but keep it chic and stylish. One of my favorite female models is Genii. When I first met Genii I was completely infatuated with her hair bangs...it was her signature and it just inspired me to just shoot shoot shoot. She had a "it" factor because of that signature feature about her appearance...find one that works for you. If you don't have stunning eyes or another pow feature focus your change on your hair. My new muse Kaayla dyed her hair blond and man oh man does it make her stand out. She was already pretty and exotic before the hair but the color made her stand out from the rest of the exotic girls.

6. Just because you are not fat does not mean you are skinny
STOP LISTENING TO YOUR BOYFRIEND. to be a high fashion model it is a REQUIREMENT that you are very very thin. Your legs must be very thin and lean to get signed by a major agency. I can't stress that enough. I work with some amazing girls who simply can not get signed in NY because of their legs. Now in other areas such as Miami or LA they may desire some nice thighs and a little butt, but not in NY, Milano, Paris, or Rome. It takes more then a flat stomach, remember you are competing for a spot in the .2% of the world who make it as successful WORKING fashion models...everything has to be perfect.

7. The Kate Moss myth
Models stop using Kate Moss as your icon for short girls who want to model professionally. It is a fact that no one will ever know that woman's true height, it changes on every single website. use common sense she is one model out of the hundreds who is actually "short". No agency is going to look at you and say "well maybe we can sign her because Kate Moss is short also".

8.The Video Vixen Curse
Name one professional FASHION model who was discovered shaking her behind on a music video? no seriously tell me one. That is not the outlet for you to get "discovered" if you plan to walk for NY, Paris, or Milano's fashion weeks. I have been told by several agency directors that they often deny signing girls who they find out did music videos. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS usually very high profile rappers use agency girls for their videos (Pharrell, Kanye West, P Diddy) and guess what they actually pay them more then $200 and lunch lol.

ok that ends part one of this blog check back soon and I will continue to spotlight more of the mistakes models make in the pursuit of their vanity :)

Model Advice: The tall and the skinny

Shalom all :)
This is a repost from a older blog. The information is always very informative because many in the industry do not understand why the standards are the way that they are. For us "chosen few" who work in the fashion industry we exist in a world that very few understand so perhaps this blog will give explanation and not excuse, because sorry we don't have to apologize for the way we go about our art.

I do admit that I am not for young women jeopardizing their health to meet industry standards, you either have it or you don't, college is always accepting your money and applications.

Anyways on to the good stuff

Why the tall and skinny?

As a fashion photographer I get asked at least 3 times a day why does the fashion industry prefer the extra tall and the extra skinny.

Firstly I can give you my personal opinion. Runway is not about the model (contrary to popular belief) it is about the clothes thus why it is called a fashion show and not a model show. Unfortunately the day of the Supermodels has long been gone and we are not blessed with the Cindy Crawfords and Tyras parading down the runways giving us fashion nirvana. To me designers would sell more clothes if the consumer desired to look like the women who wore them. But now all the focus is supposed to be on the clothes, so designers want models without curves so they don't interfere with the way the clothes hang. men and women would both be very distracted if they saw huge full breast protruding out of the designs or every time a model turned at the end of the catwalk you got a glimpse of her rotund butt.

Think about it like this most professional catwalks are set up in the same basic format. Usually elevated slightly from the ground illuminated from the audience and venue so that your attention follows the DESIGNS (not the model). If the model was 5'5 or 5'6 they would not stand out nearly as much as a 5'10 model.
So dare to dream young height impaired model but the reality of you gracing Cavalli's walk is slim to ummm the size of a runway model...0 lol

Designers need long limbs to showcase the long flowing dresses and the couture designs that exaggerate the body. Runway is about showcasing. Usually high fashion and avant garde is very dramatic and big, if you have short little limbs and neck then you get lost and seem even shorter then you already are. if you ask me the industry is protecting you from utter embarrassment see how nice us fashion people are we look out for the "little people" :)

Now from a fashion photographer standpoint I see it like this. Yes there are beautiful women in all different heights but from experience tall models show my work to the best of it's ability. Why? Because their limbs are longer which make the poses look more interesting. taller models stand out from a scene more profoundly. their thinness and height demand attention from my camera. Once again I am fashion photographer so it is important that the clothes look really good on the model.

There are many forms of modeling that benefit the more curvy and shorter models. Glamour and Beauty are two fine examples. These are more catered to the particular models look. I don't include booty modeling (and we all know what that is) because that pretty much accepts anything under the sun that is willing to drop their clothes. in my personal opinion it is not art nor deems much respect as a true aspect of modeling...but like i said that is my opinion (i know sex sells).

in general, fashion models are often interesting and unusual looking but not necessarily "pretty", now that is a general opinion to me I think they are beautiful and inspire me to do what I do. exotic features that more then likely got a model picked on as a child usually turns out to be the main reason the fashion industry would go nuts over them. i love alien looking girl. give me a giraffe neck, turtle head, pug eyed girl anyday.

Well I hope this helps shine some light on the issue of height and size for a professional fashion model. But as with all things do the research yourself.

Fashion Model breakdown
5'9" to 5'11" with outer fringe being 5'8" to 6"
Thin - puts weight at 108 to 130lbs in proportional to height. This can range some but waist no larger the 25" and maximum hips 35 ½." Beginning models start modeling in the age range of 13-19 and if you have not made it by twenty it is over.