Kristen Weaver wrote:
Today (I know, I've given you lots of notice - I'm meeting her in 2 hours) I'm working with a girl who has an interview with Elite Model Management and needs some pictures. I know she needs one head shot and one body shot. This all happened pretty quickly, and they just contacted me to do their shoot. I usually like a little more prep time, but I can work pretty well on the fly.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what Elite might be looking for? Should I keep everything casual, or do some high fashion? I'll probably take a little of both - but I want to give her a big variety to choose from for her interview, so I'd like to focus on what will be the best for Elite.

Thanks!1

Go on their site and see what's being presented. Ask the booker for expectations (what's needed for this model), see what she's missing.

If you're showing them images - keep it clean...

Catalogy is always good... But my experience is mostly Elite Chicago which is more of a catalog market.
John

Second Glance wrote:
Not much time for getting makeup/etc in there, but the first thing I'd do is look at the Elite website. http://www.elitemodel.com/

Good luck!!!
Wm

Thank you for this piece of advise! It never even occured to me to check the site (sometimes, I can be a ditz when I'm rushed). I'm glad I did - they offered suggestions for shots and somewhat of what they're looking for.

I think I'm in good shape (think??), but it's absolutely wonderful to get your opinions on this!!

Boboshadodo1 wrote:
I am very famliar with Elite models. They want to SEE the model so it would be good to get a really good high fasion shot of her so that she can show what she CAN dress up like, but get a plain shot (obviously, try to make it beautiful but don't use tricky lighting or anything) just to show Elite what the model looks like on her own (they need to study bone structure and actually see if the beauty the model has is A) Extraordinary and B) Roughly in the same ballpark of all the other models. Definately get a headshot and body shot, I would say get her a good profile shot and even a semi-profile shot to show off the angles of her face (like a side shot of her slightly turning and looking at you). Well good luck!

Bo

I will definitely take all of that to the shoot with me! When I talked to the girl, all she said was a head and body shot, so I wasn't given much to go on. I'm best at natural lighting, and natural looking work - I love that kind of beauty. So hopefully it won't rain and everything will work out

ActionShots Photo wrote:
Take everything and be ready to shoot whatever... that is a suggestion.

Here is a word of advice...

I have a model I have worked with here in WV that is 6' 1" and weighs in at 117 lbs.
She is having a hard time getting them to book her because they say she needs to loose 1/2 an inch on her waist. (Which is complete BS btw...)

SOO... good luck!

let me guess her hips are a 34.5 or a 35 and they need them to be a 34...

she isn't the only one, i have worked with a couple of gorgeous models whose agencies wont send them on castings till their hips are 34.

did you mean her hips or waist?

rachelrose wrote:
Let me guess her hips are a 34.5 or a 35 and they need them to be a 34...

she isn't the only one, i have worked with a couple of gorgeous models whose agencies won't send them on castings till their hips are 34.

did you mean her hips or waist?

One of the things that I have noticed over the years and confirmed by the bookers with whom I have personally worked, is that there are a lot of reasons for not taking on a model, but half an inch in any diection is not one of them.  These are excuses to say: don't call us, we'll call you.  Its pretty hard to be stick thin and loose 1/2 inch.  And its REALLY hard to grow taller by half an inch!  But you might try anyway...

I don't believe that an agency would hold up a model from a go see for half an inch on the hips.  Unless it is a super specific client, the type that are extremely rare.  I've held too many castings, worked with too many 35" hipped models who are listed as 34" to believe that.  Its not that critical, and I've never seen a client measure the model. (a few might). She fits the clothes or she does not.  And usually a bit tight is better than a bit loose...

Daguerre wrote:
For Elite LA:  No hair.  No makeup.  No styling.  No acessories. No stylish beauty lighting.  NO RETOUCHING!  Do not add any stylistic beauty to the images whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!  Put that camera on automatic, find some open shade and fire away!

The fashion agencies have tended over the years to gravitate towards slice of life imagery.

That is why over the years of testing with Elite LA, I've always had to do 2 shoots in one--  a styled beauy shoot for me and my team, and a yawner set for the agency.

Remember-- CLEAN.  And whatever you do-- don't put too much effort into it! 

what are you talking about?!?

How true this is,CLEAN & SIMPLE...its all about show-casing the talent...not the photographer...good luck and lets see the pic's!

Daguerre wrote:
For Elite LA:  No hair.  No makeup.  No styling.  No acessories. No stylish beauty lighting.  NO RETOUCHING!  Do not add any stylistic beauty to the images whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!  Put that camera on automatic, find some open shade and fire away!

The fashion agencies have tended over the years to gravitate towards slice of life imagery.

That is why over the years of testing with Elite LA, I've always had to do 2 shoots in one--  a styled beauy shoot for me and my team, and a yawner set for the agency.

Remember-- CLEAN.  And whatever you do-- don't put too much effort into it! 

Sean Armenta wrote:
What are you talking about?!?

Most of the LA agencies, Elite included, just want to see simple, clean, not much styling done for the new face division women.  Just show what they look like, nothing fancy. Model management women are another story.  But the OP is talking about photographing someone that will end up in new faces.

Kristen Weaver wrote:
Today (I know, I've given you lots of notice - I'm meeting her in 2 hours) I'm working with a girl who has an interview with Elite Model Management and needs some pictures. I know she needs one head shot and one body shot. This all happened pretty quickly, and they just contacted me to do their shoot. I usually like a little more prep time, but I can work pretty well on the fly.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what Elite might be looking for? Should I keep everything casual, or do some high fashion? I'll probably take a little of both - but I want to give her a big variety to choose from for her interview, so I'd like to focus on what will be the best for Elite.

Thanks!1

definately High fashion

Daguerre wrote:

Daguerre wrote:
For Elite LA:  No hair.  No makeup.  No styling.  No acessories. No stylish beauty lighting.  NO RETOUCHING!  Do not add any stylistic beauty to the images whatsoever!!!!!!!!!!!!  Put that camera on automatic, find some open shade and fire away!

The fashion agencies have tended over the years to gravitate towards slice of life imagery.

That is why over the years of testing with Elite LA, I've always had to do 2 shoots in one--  a styled beauy shoot for me and my team, and a yawner set for the agency.

Remember-- CLEAN.  And whatever you do-- don't put too much effort into it! 

Most of the LA agencies, Elite included, just want to see simple, clean, not much styling done for the new face division women.  Just show what they look like, nothing fancy. Model management women are another story.  But the OP is talking about photographing someone that will end up in new faces.

i've been shooting tests for most of the major agencies in LA including elite for a long time now.  a good percentage of my work ends up on the front of these girl's cards.  my work is far from un-stylized and i never ever shoot agency girls without hair and makeup. 

as long as the work is good, they will use it.  if they want to see a girl without makeup and hair done, they shoot polaroids.  i mean, what is the point of shooting a test if you're not going to put any effort into it?

i will agree with you that the girl is better off walking into an agency (having never modeled before) with simple point and shoot snaps.  but once you're testing with photographers, you need to go the whole 9 or don't do it at all.

Daguerre wrote:
You did a nice job. If they take her on, they'll send her out commercially.  I don't really see her as fashion.  But its a subjective game, you never know.  Let us know what happens...

Yeah, she's definately more commercial than anything else. She has a gorgeous body, but she still looks really young in her face - her bone structure doesn't really show like I'm guessing they like. But, I don't know much about what they look for in girls under 18... so maybe it's different?