Independent Internet Models V1.2 Tools of the Trade.
What does an IIM need to get started? In this section I will go over some of the more useful tools I use to keep life organized and my calendar booked.
1. Modeling book or portfolio. This is usually a 9 x 12 sized book with clear plastic pages that can hold up to 40 prints. These can range in price from $10.00 at art schools supply stores or over $100.00 when sold from professional modeling portfolio sellers. (I just use the cheapey portfolios they do the job just as well as the expensive ones.) This book is where you put your best prints. This book is what photographers and artists will be looking at to see the quality of work you do when you meet them in person. Yes, we internet models do meet people in person at times.
2. Prints. These are your stock and trade. These prints are what sell you as a model. Do not lose them. Do not leave them out in the rain. Do not let your dog chew them up. Old school European magazines dictated long ago that a models book and prints are 9 x 12 inches. This has to do with the size of the older magazines. Many newer photographers are using ink jet printers and 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper for prints. If you have a choice try to get the full bleed 9 x 12 prints for your book they look much more professional when presented rather than the 8.5 x 11 smaller images. Though you may not always get a choice.
3. Legal sized file box & legal file folders. Mine has a cool purple lid but you may choose any color you like. The legal size is great for holding those long 9 x 12 prints we talked about earlier. For every photographer/artist I work with I write there studio/name on a file folder and use that file for documents such as model releases, contact info, studio location, directions, and sometimes a note about the job or artist in general. Receipts also go in a file so that all expenses are easily tracked.
4. 90 disk CD album holder. In this new internet era most models receive many more CD’s and DVD’s of images than actual prints. I like the smaller 90 disk size because it also fits in my handy legal size file box. I keep all the CD’s in the album so they tend take less room than in the jewel cases, and so they are all in one place and protected and not strewn about my office.
5. Coupon book. I love my little coupon book. I use this as a small traveling file box. In it I keep a pen, my directions and locations of shoots, necessary paperwork I need to bring, small receipt book if I need to write a receipt for modeling, my mileage log, and all my receipts until I get them filled in the big purple box.
6. Mileage log. This is a small book that all miles related to modeling are tracked and given to my tax preparer at the end of the year.
7. Business cards. I have simple white business cards made up with my name, website, email address, cell number, and some random plug about my being an art nude model. I carry these EVERYWHERE!!! If I run into someone who may wish to hire me or even may with to know someone who wish to hire me then get a business card or two. Nothing is worse then hunting about for a scrap of paper or napkin and screwing your name on it just to be shoved in someone’s pocket, washed and thus forgotten.
8. Comp cards, Zed cards, promo cards. Old school agency models use agency cards that are printed on card stock and are 5.5 x 8.5. These usually have one large image on the front along with models stats contact info and 4 small images on the back. IIM can get their own comp cars made up at most any good quality printers. I have been seeing many IIM’s using smaller 4 x 6 photos with stats and contact information. This is actually what I hand out to many artists and photographers. Again, this is not per agency standards but it works for me and as an independent art model many people like receiving them, although it could be due to the nude image of me….Hrmmmmm….
9. Calendar. Calendars are getting more and more integrated. We used to just have a big old paper calendar that tacked up on a wall and we used a big sharpie marker to write down shoots and dates and events. Now your calendar can be integrated into your website and phone and be remotely updated by either. Google has a great calendar function. http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlecalendar/tour.html.
This calendar can hold as much or as little info as you wish, you can also allow chosen other people to sign in and make bookings for you. This is a great live tool to use to keep up to date and send to potential clients to show when you are available and already booked.
10. Website. This is where it all comes together. I have my website linked up to all my online modeling portfolios all over the internet. Having a single website makes it much easer to be found if your client doesn’t use what ever new modeling site is popular this month, with new sites popping up every few months it gets hard to keep track of them all. My website has just a few simple pages, an intro page telling your viewer where they are, a portfolio page showing samples of my work, a resume page showing examples of artists I have worked with links to publications I am in and links to other artists, my fun and friendly blog page, and my calendar we previously discussed.
11. MUA kit. I have an actual black sturdy MUA kit that I take with me on shoots. It is stocked with all sorts of goodies besides makeup…black electrical tape, safety pins (for the two shoots a year I do wear clothing), shampoo products, girl products, makeup remover, pens, protein bars. As I find I need something on a shoot that is useful I have added to my kit.
12. GPS (Global Positioning System). This is the most expensive thing on this list, but by far my favorite. This little gadget tells me directions and times to get to shoots. It also tells me where the nearest gas station/restaurant/hotel is in cities I am not familiar with. And it gets me back home after shoots.
That is about it. That is what I use to market my self as a model and to keep my self organized both at shoots and on the road.
