How Designers Use Model Mayhem to Find Models
It’s quite a humbling accomplishment to be coming up on our third straight season of LA Style Fashion Week this March of 2015. Yet in the past, an invitation like this had me struck with fear of all that I didn’t know about putting on a giant runway show.
In my first season, I was told I needed 30 models to walk in my show. The catch? I didn’t have the funds to pay them, as I was working on getting my line of Brazilian-cut bikinis off the ground, and had two jobs to support my efforts. How was I going to find 30 girls who were willing to walk for free?
I couldn’t even trade for swimwear, as each bikini cost me fifty dollar to make one at a time. But of course no one in the industry – photographers, models, stylists, designers – can just work for free all the time, despite our willingness to collaborate with and support one another.
However, as soon as I posted that I was showing at Fashion Week, models began contacting me left and right, and I came to realize what a prestigious opportunity it was to walk the runway at LA Fashion Week. We were ALL doing it as a portfolio builder.
Model: Ashley Marble
There were many talented models who didn’t need a boost to their modeling resume, who were willing to walk for my line just the same. I was in awe of how many models were simply willing to walk to support what I was doing, perhaps with the universal understanding in this industry that good karma always does a person good.
In season two, nearly every single model who was asked to walk again came back to rock the runway, and that time I was at the point where I could give swimwear to the returning models. Even one model who had been a runner-up on Project Runway took the stage again, as well as another model who had become such an incredible friend – she even passed up a paying gig to walk in my show. I was floored when I discovered that, and overwhelmed with gratitude.
Eventually I got to the point where I was able to gift bikinis to bloggers and models who were doing photo shoots with me, whereas I hadn’t been able to do that before. Mailing out bikinis in bulk paired with thank you cards gave me such a feeling of accomplishment and progress.
Model: Amber Soleil; Photographer: V A S I L I S
The camaraderie resulted in the creation of a small Facebook group, which serves as a community for feedback on products that are in development. Many of these contributors are the models who will be back for Season 3 of LA Style Fashion Week. After all, they ARE our target market of bikini buyers. What’s more is that they are talented, kind, appreciative, courteous of our products and our staff, supportive, hardworking, fun, and they are the Kinsman Swim Elite.
Other Kinsman Swim Elite members include our invaluable wardrobe stylists who pull from Kinsman Swim as needed for photo shoots, photographers, and hair and makeup artists – all of whom have contributed to the growth of Kinsman Swim, starting from our most humble beginnings. And for that, we are forever in debt to each of them.
Aside from photos galore, video footage, and shout-outs that we’ve been able to provide to our talent, we’ve shown our appreciation with connections to book more gigs, as well as gifts like free jewelry and beauty services as luck has had it. We are even discussing sales rep positions with a few of them who are looking to earn extra income on an upcoming product that Kinsman Swim is rolling out.
If I could offer one piece of advice to models, no matter what level of expertise you may have reached, it is to develop and maintain relationships with the designers, stylists, photographers, videographers, and beauty providers that you enjoy working with. Stay on the top of their minds, keep them on the top of yours, and you too will become part of their elite team.
Kinsman Swim
Known for its unique designs, elegant silhouettes, and attention to detail, Kinsman Swim Lingerie SWIM Collection is designed by Joanna Kinsman and sewn to perfection in San Diego, CA. Their website is http://kinsmanswim.com .
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January 03, 2017 at 4:50 am, Scott Parrish said:
Timothy, that’s the difference between amateur’s and professionals. A true professional, model or photographer, will follow their passion and learn anything and everything about their profession. They will attend school, go to seminars, enter contests, collaborate with others and ask questions around every corner they turn. Always striving, persevering, to become better and better to fine tune their skills, finding the “zone”, to be the best. Everyone starts in the amateur stage. Now whether we stay in the amateur stage or pull ourselves out to reach a higher standard, depends on the heart of each individual and the direction they take it. And yes, like you said, there are those who pick up a camera, go a little snap happy around the house or outdoors and then decide they are a “photographer”. The truth of it lies in as to the degree of their actual interest. If they aren’t trying to increase their skill and knowledge, then they are only “hobbyist’s” that see a camera as a toy instead of an artistic tool.
March 04, 2015 at 11:11 am, Timothy Jenkins said:
Sometimes I get the feeling that this is a place for people that are not really models or photographers but think they are or could be. With the invent of the internet, anyone that can get in front of a camera can now be a model. You do not even need to take modeling classes because people will look at anything that moves these days. And don’t get me started with photographers. They are the worst. Anyone that can take a picture is calling themselves a photographer. No classes needed for that either. Just get a women in front of you and take a photo. If It doesn’t look right, no problem, photoshop the image to get the lighting or color the way it should be. I am an artist. I am not a photographer, although I take photos that I use for my artwork. It is kind if like drawing still life. I love details but am not a realistic as I would like to be. I draw in a more illustrator style. But I tell a story with my work. Either you are looking in on someone elses day or you are experiencing a moment with the person in the drawing. Some of the photos I see on here I just do not get at all. Maybe I am not supposed to get it. . .
March 04, 2015 at 11:09 am, Timothy Jenkins said:
Sometimes I get the feeling that this is a place for people that are not really models or photographers but think they are or could be. With the invent of the internet, anyone that can get in front of a camera can now be a model. You do not even need to take modeling classes because people will look at anything that moves these days. And don’t get me started with photographers. They are the worst. Anyone that get’s can take a picture is calling themselves a photographer. No classes needed for that either. Just get a women in front of you and take a photo. It doesn’t look right, no problem, photoshop the image to get the lighting or color the way it should be. I am an artist. I am not a photographer, although I take photos that I use for my artwork. It is kind if like drawing still life. I love details but am not a realistic as I would like to be. I draw in a more illustrator style. But I tell a story with my work. Either you are looking in on someone elses day or your are experiencing a moment with the person in the drawing. Some of the photos I see on here I just do not get at all. Maybe I am not supposed to get it. . .
March 04, 2015 at 11:08 am, Timothy Jenkins said:
Sometimes I get the feeling that this is a place for people that are not really models or photographers nut think they are or could be. With the invent of the internet, anyone that can get in front of a camera can now be a model. You do not even need to take modeling classes because people will look at anything that moves these days. And don’t get me started with photographers. They are the worst. Anyone that get’s can take a picture is calling themselves a photographer. No classes needed for that either. Just get a women in front of you and take a photo. It doesn’t look right, no problem, photoshop the image to get the lighting or color the way it should be. I am an artist. I am not a photographer, although I take photos that I use for my artwork. It is kind if like drawing still life. I love details but am not a realistic as I would like to be. I draw in a more illustrator style. But I tell a story with my work. Either you are looking in on someone elses day or your are experiencing a moment with the person in the drawing. Some of the photos I see on here I just do not get at all. Maybe I am not supposed to get it. . .