Welp. It was quite simple actually. I really just had to believe in it.
I quit my job at the 2018 New Years, not returning in 2019. I took time to myself. The plan was, not to have a plan; to take time to myself and not let any societal norms play a role in this space - it was just for me. I did some travel abroad, but mostly a lot of listening to pod-casts, reading books, journaling, and working out (the best form of quieting my mind, for me). Out of it, the most important illuminating words came from the book GRIT, by Angela Duckworth. This and a few others asked me to go back into my childhood memories- what did I remember? In what moments was I my happiest? What kind of child was I? What took up most of my time? Answer: performing.
I tell myself I have a poor memory, so this ask was quite easy for me, since I didn’t remember much from my childhood. The only moments that came up were creating skits with my cousins and videotaping them; being put in a band every summer, rehearsing, and performing with them at Antones (a historic bar in downtown Austin); being backstage with my theater groups lit up off lack of sleep and excitement; being on-set of the horror film I starred in at 16; singing at talent shows, school musicals…these were the things that made me shine and that my memory held onto because they made me feel most alive.
It pretty much slapped me in the face. What are you doing?! This stuff makes you happy, it keeps popping into your life, and you keep denying it. So, I gave in. But I didn’t want to approach it as I always have. This was a year of exploration. I chose to approach it through what would scare and challenge me most.
It started with singing. I’ve always been very shy about my singing skills, but ultimately enjoy sharing them in a professional setting (on stages). This time, I would share them with the world. I recorded a few songs “karaoke-style” up to YouTube, searched for some bands seeking a singing on Craigslist…but, nothing was feeling like the right fit and the “next moves” didn’t feel like what I should be taking at the time. I decided to move on to the next scary thing…being the center of attention…modeling.
I had never done any modeling. It terrified me to have all eyes on me, have to look at myself, and be judged on my appearance. Sounds like a plan to me- eh?! I jumped in. Had nothing else to do! Now is the time. If anything, it would make me more comfortable having people’s eyes on me. That was mostly what I went into it thinking…
Joining the Facebook Group, Austin Area Models & Photographers, was the big launch point. It has 20K members from photographers, models, makeup artists, hair stylists, to just general creatives. I introduced myself to the group with a few photos I took with my iPhone (hung a white sheet from my ceiling fan as a background, propped my phone up on my desk, and sat there for a few filtered portraits). I got a couple photographers responding they would be interested in shooting with me- TERRIFYING!
I ended up going with a female for my first shoot. We met at Mozart’s Coffee shop, in my childhood neighborhood on my Mom’s birthday. It was perfect since I had to go to my Mom’s birthday dinner that night. Turns out there were 2 photographers there and 2 models (including myself). The plan was to shoot with them both, but I ran out of time. My photographer was going this as a hobby. She had a full time job and had been shoot on the side for about a year now. I felt in good hands. I had a bag full of clothes changes and accessories. We started inside at a table with a fake coffee and a book to get a more lifestyle look- this still is one of my favorite pictures I’ve been a part of! We then moved outside with a more fall look. I had no idea what I was doing. I’m not someone that takes or is in photos often- furthest I could possibly be from the selfie-queens my generation is full of. So I was grateful these shots were mostly as if she had caught me in my daily coffee shop outing.
From there, I just kept going. After my first shoot or two, having some actual work to showcase, I started to have photographers reaching out to me to shoot. Each photographer and experience just kept getting more and more advanced- in a really wonderfully natural way. It felt like the universe was laying the tracks down for me and all I had to do was keep moving forward. Things were falling into place.
I am first a foremost a business woman. I have always seen myself as such and take pride in it, so I approached this all as I would any other venture. I created my website, social media, made business cards, started an online presence on the sites I needed to be seen on- Actors Access, Casting Networks, Backstage. The biggest help was my Instagram Account where I posted my work from shoots daily. Using hashtags like #Austinmodel, #atxmodel, #austinphotographer and always tagging as many local people associated or that I wanted to be seen by- this was key. This is when collaborations started ramping up and most of my time was filled with photoshoot. At least 2-3 a week. Collaborations are huge. A model, MUA (makeup artist), photographer, etc, all wanting to work together for free to try new things or gain experience). This is what my entire IG was populated with. Again, to me, this was a business. I was always extremely professional and everyone I shot with gave good recommendations and asked to shoot with me again, so I started to build a good name for myself with the local community.
Next I started finding paying work for myself on those sites I mentioned as well as off Craigslist under “jobs” or “gigs”. It was working! But the highest paying job I got was a few hundred dollars and it was a social media commercial for a large company. I tried handling the contract as an agent would- making changes and upping the demands…was not too successful, but the final product was! And that is all that matters. This job was the first where I had people screen shotting me for the first time- “did I just see you on my Instagram/facebook!?!” (I had been undergoing this life change secretly up until this point). Through this experience I decided I needed to follow the rules; play the game just like everyone else. Was time to get an agent.
From my first shoot on March 3rd, if memory serves, around May I started looking into agencies. I had collected enough material to make a portfolio and had enough confidence in my abilities to…keep faking my way forward. I asked around when I was on sets to see what agencies people talked about. I went to an “Open Call” (a day in the week they allow anyone to come-in to be considered as a potential model/actor for their roster) in Austin, at the Brown Agency. It went super well! They even suggested me for a job right on the spot and took “digitals” (plain on the spot pictures to show your natural look) to send to the big box store they wanted to submit me to as a “fit model” (someone who has “normal people” measurements that can come in every week to try on the clothes for the designers to make sure they look good on someone and make adjustments to the style before it goes to the racks for sale). This was exciting- but I was determined to look at more options.
The “ooo-lala” agency I was hearing about was Neal Hamil out of Houston. So I went to their Open Call. I got hooked. I am all about Boss-Babes and the woman that spoke to me here…well…she spoke to me. I am all about surrounding myself with people that inspire me or I aspire to be like, so it was no question. I was offered to take training through them. Most people think SCAM, I, however, was really thankful to have the opportunity to get educated on it all! I got training on my runway walk, photo-posing, the business rundown, how to be the most professional model arriving to set. Is it a scam if you gain the tools you need to be successful in your new industry? I think not. I am grateful for all I learned and have always valued educating myself to be the best I can be in anything I do.
After training, I signed with Neal Hamil in July. For modeling, they had seen me go through the training and felt comfortable with sending me out to their clients after seeing my progress. For acting (which I also signed with them on), I had to read a commercial for them- do a “cold read” (get paragraph script and have about 5 minutes to run over it then deliver a performance with it- script still in hand).
I then had my first professional shoot. This was to get photos to get up on Neal Hamil’s “board” (their website has several categories you can find us on, I showed up on “talent” ((for acting)) and “new faces” ((for modeling)). This shoot was with a female photographer out of Houston, Jordan Fischel. Of the 20 or so photographers I had connect with, this was only the second female in my 5 months experience. It was amazing. Faking it finally fell by the wayside. I felt like a professional model and am so proud of the outcome of this day. I remember getting the dropbox of all the photos when I was out with my family on the lake one day and just wanting to cry. Looking at myself and seeing a model. What a turning point.
As soon as I got up on their site BOOM! The jobs were coming in at an intimidating rate! I was getting at least 1 audition per week in either Austin, Houston, or Dallas. But not for modeling, for acting in commercials. Not only that, but I would get booked for something about every other week. My resume was stacking up! More often I would get booked solely off my headshot as a background person and get bummed up to a “featured” extra (not just filling in background motion, but being brought to the front and becoming a recognizable face in the commercial- this can also lead to increased pay). Before I knew it, I was making a living of acting (meaning, I could eat and pay my rent, ha)!
That’s enough recap for today. I’ll come back and keep my story going soon…because trust me…there is so much more to tell!
A lovely lady reached out to me asking how I got started on this journey because she wants to as well…so here are some quick bullet points I sent her on the fly…
Look at other models and their poses.
Figure out your face and body.
How can you replicate what they are doing?
For example- I figured out how to make my cheek bones pop by watching some model videos on youtube and just trying different muscles in my face.
Also- EVERYONE is obsessed with your lips being open- but still closed at the same time
Now that I've told you about it- you'll notice it
It's THE model look - so try to perfect that and you're a pro automatically
After practicing, join a Facebook group with photographers and models in your area looking to collaborate- try to look for one with several thousand people- it's definitely out there.
Post some pictures of you there introducing yourself- I just took some with a blank background, mostly portraits, different facial expressions and moods.
Another way-make an instagram account for modeling (mine start with just a bunch of inspiration photos-you can still see them if you scroll down to the beginning).
look up the hashtag #_____(your city)photographer . Just start following a bunch of photographers in your area and then start reaching out to them. I am a new model- send them some pictures- would you like to collab? Here are some of my ideas. This is why I want to work with you (comment on their work and what appeals to you). I think this step is best after you have a few shoots under your belt though.
Start collaborating! Build a portfolio.
Always helpful to be the one coming with ideas of what you want from the shoot. Gathering example photos of makeup, vibes, looks, frames, locations etc. It's a ton of work.
I recommend starting a few pinterest boards of different shoot ideas then looking at the photographers you can connect with and based off their work match them to a board you think you can both do well together.
Trust me- things will flow from here.
Then once you feel confident to move to the next step- just go to modeling "open calls" where agencies let you just walk-in and meet with them. Bring print outs of your pictures or bring an iPad they can scroll thru the pictures on. Just google the top agencies in your area to see who will see you and check out who they represent- do you fit their look...but also...don't let anything discourage you- be seen by everyone and let them be the judge! Maybe they have a new area opening up for your look.....
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!