Hey MM - This is my first time posting on the forum so try to be kind

I'm a new model and expanding my port. So far I've had a great experience on MM connecting with photographers... BUT most of the photographers I've found are interested in shooting the same types of concepts. (i.e. glamor, nude, lingerie, simple outdoor garden-y stuff)

Advice I've been getting is that if I want to make $$$ at this, I need some commercial / lifestyle type shots in my port.

ARE THERE NO LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHERS OUT THERE???

Do I need to make a casting? Is that the best way to approach this? But then if I do, and they have nothing in their port to show me.. what do I base their ability on? How do I conceptualize the shoot?

I see LOTS of photographers who list "lifestyle" in their list of styles they shoot but really NONE of them have any of that in their ports.

I keep seeing surfing photos and tennis and such (when I do a general search for lifestyle photos).. I don't surf. And I'm not near water. I also don't play tennis, nor do I own tennis equipment.
What do I wear? What do I pretend to do? Do these all have to be outdoors or can this be a studio shoot?

Could I do a commercial / editorial shoot instead and/or WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Sorry if these are stupid or silly questions, but I feel like I need some direction with this. My agent is NO HELP.
So please MM, help me.

First of all, Welcome and enjoy the mayhem (which it sometimes is).

As to: ". . .most of the photographers I've found are interested in shooting the same types of concepts. (i.e. glamor, nude, lingerie, simple outdoor garden-y stuff) . . . That's partly because so many of the photographers, like so many of the models, are new or relatively new to model photography and thus have not yet developed their own voices.  Of those who've been around a while, particularly the ones who have the particular skills for the kind of work you want to do, most use MM as either an artistic outlet for the kind of work that they can't do in commercial photography or as a means to find models for that sort of work.  Most clients would not be very happy to see the work they've paid for and that is associated with their products posted in an internet site, especially one with as many nude/glamour/erotic photographers and models, so you'll see comparatively little of that sort of work here.  My suggestion would be to browse the photographers in your area, looking for the ones that handle lighting and posing well, have a lot of clear, sharp pictures without a lot of clutter, etc. and then check out their websites to see what their commercial work is like,  You may very well have to pay them to get the profile pictures you want, just as many photographers have to pay to get the models they want.  If they're expert in the commercial world they get paid for those pictures.

As to:  . . . Advice I've been getting is that if I want to make $$$ at this, I need some commercial / lifestyle type shots in my port. . . . Internet modeling and commercial modeling are pretty much two different animals.  If you goal is to make money in the internet world, comfort with working with some level of nudity can make all the difference in the world in terms of your hireability. (see above) but for commercial work, not so much.  and . . . My agent is NO HELP. . . .     Then perhaps it's time to look for a new agent--They should be guiding you in developing your portfolio, recommending photographers (who you may have to pay) and helping you to find tests.  If they aren't giving you at least minimal support  you might want to do some looking around.

As to . . .Do I need to make a casting? . . . I'd say don't think in terms of A casting but instead in terms of frequent castings but remember, unless you're paying (and probably paying well in order to get the quality work you want) you're going to have to produce the kind of work the photographer wants as well, and he's going to want to see that in your portfolio, just as you want to see it in his, so it's going to be an incremental thing.  As your work gets better and you develop a broader range you will become more marketable and more able to pick and choose.  It takes time to build a career.  And you are more in control of your time when you browse proactively than when you rely on casting calls alone, which is reactive.  You really need to do both and to browse the casting calls as well.

I wouldn't go after life-style shoots depicting a life-style in which you aren't at least somewhat proficient--It will show and frankly you will just look silly.  I'm a big believer in the adage, "let them knock you out, don't knock yourself out," but you don't want to take that too far.  The time you spend chasing things for which you're not suitable is just that much more time you could be chasing things that are suitable.

And there's absolutely nothing stupid or silly about your questions.  It would be far stupider and sillier to not ask them.  You might want to check out https://www.modelmayhem.com/forums/post/927266 to see if there's a model mentor near you who can help you on an ongoing basis, or https://www.modelmayhem.com/forums/post/923164 to find a Big Buddy.

And remember to always take the advice you get with a grain of salt.  it's all . . .

. . . IMHO as always, of course.

Welcome to MM.

Ray has given some great advice above.

A lot of MM is hobbyist or professionals doing stuff they cannot do at work. What pays the bills and what is fun are generally two different things. MM is mostly the fun variety of stuff.

However you should post a casting and browse photographers at the same time. Think of something that you feel passionate about and then try to put that into a scene that lends itself to being photographed.

Good ways to network are:

Post an availability notice letting people know that you are available (under the casting/travel tab). This is for when you want to charge money. You can offer trade as well.

Search for Casting Calls in your area based on criteria you select. Post a Casting Call letting people know about an idea you have and want to put into a work of art. This is for when you are willing to pay other people. You can offer trade as well.

Search or Post Casting Calls and Travel/Availability Notices
Official Casting Call Rules - Read
Find the talent and resources you need on Model Mayhem

Browse for photographers in your area and leave comments on images you like, send a friend request or message. Start a list of photographer's photos that you think are top notch for photographers in your area. This can become something of a Rolodex. Make sure that you select the Advanced Options and select an appropriate Logged in within:. I typically use 30 days, but you may want people who respond faster. Otherwise you will get photographers who haven't logged in in over a year. There are a lot of inactive accounts.

Make an announcemnet. Look on the front page for members offering comments for comments, and comment on their photos. Also make an announcement yourself.

Post a bulletin by going to My stuff > bulletins. Friends can see the bulletins you post.

Be active in the forums, but avoid trolls who start threads just to watch the ensuing flame war. Avoid threads that beat the over GWC's, flakes, escorts, ..., etc. Use the forum search to look for posts on your topic. Make positive constructive comments. Whenever you get published, add some new photos, or accomplish anything in general, post an announcement in the Accomplishments, Achievements and High Fives forum. When people see your forum post the first thing they see is your avatar. It has to be interesting enough for them to want to click on it and look at your portfolio.

Share your other accounts on the Social Media User Name Sharing Thread.

Rinse and repeat.

Good luck in your search!

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Some lifestyle ideas you could do:

outdoor:
fairly conservative, on-trend workout clothing, a bottle of water, a ponytail. You are just SO HAPPY with your bottle of water. That workout was AMAZING! Nothing like exercise! Maybe a few boring stretches. Ahhh!

A bench in the park? A serious looking book? A European style shopping basket with a bouquet of flowers sticking out the top? A sunny day? Look at you, cascading hair, cute sundress and cardigan, engrossed in your travel guide. Yeah!

Is there an eye-catching doorway somewhere? Put on a classic dress or capri pants/bright but conservative top and some ballet flats and LOOK LIKE THE HAPPIEST PERSON TO EVER STAND IN A DOORWAY. It really helps to master the "laughing with person off camera" look. Even if there's no one there.

indoor:
not my favorite place to shoot but ok.

nice living room set up. You are arranging elegant flowers in a handsome vase and looking so satisfied with life people can't help but want to be you.

kitchen: woodblock cutting board, some gorgeous looking tomatoes. You are chopping them for dinner while holding a fun conversation with your perfect husband (off camera of course. master that "laughing with person off camera" look).

Another option if you're in a studio space is to put on a classic but bright top (think coral twinset, that kind of thing), have slightly imperfect hair, and do a ton of adorkable faces. Turn it into a quad collage. Think early 2000s J Crew catalog.


You can also seek out catalogs of brands you would want to work for. Lands End? Draw inspiration from the catalog, perhaps how you style your hair and the setting. that kind of thing. If you want to work for Guess obviously you would do a totally different look. Good luck!