Many artists see getting an agent as one of their top career goals so what can you do to prepare yourself and your book to achieve that goal?
Kathy Aragon who has been through the process has kindly shared some insider tips for those who are working towards agency representation.
1. The work you have in your book needs to show that you add value to the agency so it is important to have, not only excellent test shoot images, but work from paid jobs and tear sheets too.
2. Your book should show the agency you have experience working on multiple sets with a full crew so they have confidence sending you on a variety of assignments.
3. Your portfolio should be immaculate and beautifully presented. Don’t take the words ‘tear sheet’ literally. They will ideally want to see a book full of neatly cut out full page tears.
4. Of course every agent is different but most will want to see you are confident producing clean beauty looks. Clean looks also show the agent that you know how to edit your work which is important.
5. When building your book ‘Say no to random stuff on the face.’ This opinion was shared by many of the agencies Kathy heard speaking at the Makeup Show in LA. No feathers, no rhinestones, no gold leaf when you’re testing.
6. Agencies can spot a bad or overdone Photoshop job a mile off and generally don’t want to see overly Photoshopped images from tests in your book .
7. Before approaching an agency it is really important to do your home work. They will want to know that you have studied their artists and their work and that it matches what you want to do with your career.
8. Assisting the artists at a top agency is a great way to start building your relationship with the agency. If you call to put yourself forward for assisting opportunities mention specific artists you would like to assist. This gives them an idea of the direction you want to take your work and your inspiration. Be sure to also make it known that you are available to assist all of their artists so they know you are willing to assist anyone they represent to prove yourself. They want to see dedication.
9. Once you feel your book is ready you need to start by calling the agencies you’re interested in to find out what their submission process is and whether they are adding artists to their roster.
10. Not sure if your book is good enough to take to an agency? As a guideline when you are ready your work should be in line with the other artists represented by the agencies you are approaching.
You can view Kats work at www.kathyaragon.com or follow her on Twitter @KatAragon
If you too have agency representation like Kathy or have recently shown your book to an agency please share your experiences and tips in the comments section as I would love to hear from you.
Showing posts with label Portfolio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portfolio. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Get Usable Image Files From A Test With These 6 Questions
A test shoot is a collaboration in which all parties involved should benefit from the pictures received. I don’t go in for contracts or think you should come across like a demanding diva when approached about a test shoot but you do need to discuss a few things with the photographer before the shoot so you can be sure what you receive later will be useful to you.
Here are some questions you should have answers to before any pictures are taken to insure that the image files you receive after the shoot are suitable for printing.
1. Can you get some close up shots of the makeup?
Always ask the photographer to get some close up shots of the makeup as part of the deal and remind them on the day that you need some head shots. A great beauty shot next to a full length image can look fantastic in your book and will show your skills as a makeup artist more clearly.
2. Can you start the day off with a really clean beauty look?
You should be focusing on clean beauty when you start building a portfolio so if you get roped into a test that doesn't involve clean beauty see if you can do a quick beauty look at the start of the day which you can build on after to achieve something more adventurous. This way everyone should get something usable for their books right from the start and you get more looks out of a days shooting.
3. Will you get Hi-Res files?
Make sure the photographer is going to provide hi-res files so you can print nice sharp images for your book. Low-res files are only suitable for posting online so they don’t take too long to load.
4. Does the photographer have watermarks on all his/her images?
If the photographer you are working with uses watermarks on his/her images check that getting files without the watermarks won’t be a problem so you can print the images for your book.
5. How many images should you expect to receive?
Discuss how many images you should realistically expect to receive and whether these files will have been retouched. Unless you are shooting a big editorial story it is unlikely that you would really need more that 5 images from a shoot.
6. Will you have any input into the final picture selection?
Often all parties involved are looking for something different for their books so it's great if you all have some input into the final image selection. If you are given a choice of images think about the composition in your book so the images you pick go together on a double page.
If you are unsure about any of the following points discuss them with the photographer in an email. Emails are great as it gives everyone a record of whats been agreed on to refer back to.
Do you have anything to add? Leave a comment below...
Here are some questions you should have answers to before any pictures are taken to insure that the image files you receive after the shoot are suitable for printing.
1. Can you get some close up shots of the makeup?
Always ask the photographer to get some close up shots of the makeup as part of the deal and remind them on the day that you need some head shots. A great beauty shot next to a full length image can look fantastic in your book and will show your skills as a makeup artist more clearly.
2. Can you start the day off with a really clean beauty look?
You should be focusing on clean beauty when you start building a portfolio so if you get roped into a test that doesn't involve clean beauty see if you can do a quick beauty look at the start of the day which you can build on after to achieve something more adventurous. This way everyone should get something usable for their books right from the start and you get more looks out of a days shooting.
3. Will you get Hi-Res files?
Make sure the photographer is going to provide hi-res files so you can print nice sharp images for your book. Low-res files are only suitable for posting online so they don’t take too long to load.
4. Does the photographer have watermarks on all his/her images?
If the photographer you are working with uses watermarks on his/her images check that getting files without the watermarks won’t be a problem so you can print the images for your book.
5. How many images should you expect to receive?
Discuss how many images you should realistically expect to receive and whether these files will have been retouched. Unless you are shooting a big editorial story it is unlikely that you would really need more that 5 images from a shoot.
6. Will you have any input into the final picture selection?
Often all parties involved are looking for something different for their books so it's great if you all have some input into the final image selection. If you are given a choice of images think about the composition in your book so the images you pick go together on a double page.
If you are unsure about any of the following points discuss them with the photographer in an email. Emails are great as it gives everyone a record of whats been agreed on to refer back to.
Do you have anything to add? Leave a comment below...
Friday, 27 February 2009
7 Things To Consider When Designing Your Online Portfolio
One of the most important marketing tools you can have under your belt as makeup artist is a website. It always amazes me how many artists I see with profiles on networking sites that haven’t taken the time to set up their own web page. I think a website can give the impression you are serious, committed and professional so its important to develop your web presence and branding early on even if you haven’t got much work to show.
If you have a website or you’re getting ready to launch an online portfolio what can you do to improve the design and make it more user-friendly? Here are some key areas you should think about when designing your website.
Portfolio
In the same way you carefully select pictures for you book keep the images on your website well edited. Clients will usually judge your capabilities after seeing just a few pieces of your work so push the best pieces to the front keeping portfolios small, slick and focused. It is also important to make sure images are optimised for the web as no one wants to waste time waiting for pages to load.
Layout
In the western world we read left to right, top to bottom so it makes sense to have your name and tag line (a short, snappy summary of what you do)in the top left corner so straight away the client knows who you are and what you offer.
Cutesy names are all well and good but in my opinion its better to go by your full name. If at some point down the line you get agency representation or see your name in the credits of a film it will be your full name printed not a kooky company name that you will see in print. Get that name out there as early as possible so people start to associate your name with your work straight away.
Navigation
Your site should be easily accessible, efficient and fast. Those with little time on there hands will not hang around to figure out how to get around your complex website so keep it simple and organised to make it user friendly. Try adding ‘call to action’ buttons or links that are clearly visible to keep viewers moving around the site and to guide them to the pages you want them to see. Check out Kyle Meyer’s post ‘My Last Portfolio Sucked Yours Might Too’ to see see the pitfalls you should avoid when designing your online portfolio. Poor navigation is a top pet peeve!
If you have a website or you’re getting ready to launch an online portfolio what can you do to improve the design and make it more user-friendly? Here are some key areas you should think about when designing your website.
Portfolio
In the same way you carefully select pictures for you book keep the images on your website well edited. Clients will usually judge your capabilities after seeing just a few pieces of your work so push the best pieces to the front keeping portfolios small, slick and focused. It is also important to make sure images are optimised for the web as no one wants to waste time waiting for pages to load.
Layout
In the western world we read left to right, top to bottom so it makes sense to have your name and tag line (a short, snappy summary of what you do)in the top left corner so straight away the client knows who you are and what you offer.
Cutesy names are all well and good but in my opinion its better to go by your full name. If at some point down the line you get agency representation or see your name in the credits of a film it will be your full name printed not a kooky company name that you will see in print. Get that name out there as early as possible so people start to associate your name with your work straight away.
Navigation
Your site should be easily accessible, efficient and fast. Those with little time on there hands will not hang around to figure out how to get around your complex website so keep it simple and organised to make it user friendly. Try adding ‘call to action’ buttons or links that are clearly visible to keep viewers moving around the site and to guide them to the pages you want them to see. Check out Kyle Meyer’s post ‘My Last Portfolio Sucked Yours Might Too’ to see see the pitfalls you should avoid when designing your online portfolio. Poor navigation is a top pet peeve!
Target Audience
Consider your target audience and what they want to find when visiting your website. As a makeup artist you may find you work in several different areas that are all looking for something different from you. If this is the case consider creating separate sites particularly if you have a large body of quality work. What one client loves may turn another off completely so think carefully about the work you display and if it is of interest to your target market. Alternatively you could display work targeted at different markets such as film and fashion in separate portfolios on the same site but make sure the overall design is appealing to all clients that may come across you site.
About Page
This is where you get the chance to connect with those viewing your web page by telling them about yourself. Try to keep it focused and to the point whilst still being personable. The most important thing is not to ramble, why use 30 words when 10 will do! Testimonials can also help prospective clients get a feel for the artist behind the portfolio and what you are like to work with. Adding a few choice testimonials can give clients confidence in you as the opinions of a third party count for more that your opinion of yourself. Be sure to include you location in this section too.
Contact Info
Probably one of, if not the most important page on your website so make it clear, concise and easy to find. You can also provide links to social networking sites such a face book or twitter so people know where to find you else where on the web.
Your Service
Clearly state what jobs you are available for and the skills you possess. Don’t leave a potential client wondering if you can help with their project.
Finally, check your site thoroughly for spelling errors and links that don’t work. It also helps to have another eye look over the site to see if there are any navigation problems. Make sure the site looks professional and is polished.
I know this has given me some food for thought as my own site could use some tweaking so let me know if this post has got you thinking about improvements too!
If you have an opinion on any of the points raised or tips you would like to share for successful portfolio building leave me a comment.
Yesterday Lee Munroe posted '10 Steps To The Perfect Portfolio Website' on Smashing Magazine which, having caught my eye, sparked the idea for this post so be sure to check out Lees post too. He goes into even more detail on the points raised and gives some really inspiring examples of websites that uses these ideas to create innovative, well designed user friendly sites.
Sean Hodge of AiBurn has an excellent post, ‘Creating a Successful Online Portfolio’ which also helped me when putting together this post so follow the link and take a look at Sean's post too.
Related Posts
Top 5 Tips for Portfolio Building
About Page
This is where you get the chance to connect with those viewing your web page by telling them about yourself. Try to keep it focused and to the point whilst still being personable. The most important thing is not to ramble, why use 30 words when 10 will do! Testimonials can also help prospective clients get a feel for the artist behind the portfolio and what you are like to work with. Adding a few choice testimonials can give clients confidence in you as the opinions of a third party count for more that your opinion of yourself. Be sure to include you location in this section too.
Contact Info
Probably one of, if not the most important page on your website so make it clear, concise and easy to find. You can also provide links to social networking sites such a face book or twitter so people know where to find you else where on the web.
Your Service
Clearly state what jobs you are available for and the skills you possess. Don’t leave a potential client wondering if you can help with their project.
Finally, check your site thoroughly for spelling errors and links that don’t work. It also helps to have another eye look over the site to see if there are any navigation problems. Make sure the site looks professional and is polished.
I know this has given me some food for thought as my own site could use some tweaking so let me know if this post has got you thinking about improvements too!
If you have an opinion on any of the points raised or tips you would like to share for successful portfolio building leave me a comment.
Yesterday Lee Munroe posted '10 Steps To The Perfect Portfolio Website' on Smashing Magazine which, having caught my eye, sparked the idea for this post so be sure to check out Lees post too. He goes into even more detail on the points raised and gives some really inspiring examples of websites that uses these ideas to create innovative, well designed user friendly sites.
Sean Hodge of AiBurn has an excellent post, ‘Creating a Successful Online Portfolio’ which also helped me when putting together this post so follow the link and take a look at Sean's post too.
Related Posts
Top 5 Tips for Portfolio Building
Thursday, 29 January 2009
New Work...
Check out these preview shots from the shoot I posted about yesterday....
Photographer: Diana Pai
Model: Christina M @ IMG
Stylist: Io Takemura
Hair: Tomi Hirokono
Related Posts
Behind The Scenes
All pictures copyright of Diana Pai
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Free Delivery on Prints at Photobox
Get free delivery on print orders over £15 at photobox.co.uk until Thursday.
Discount Code: JANFREEPOST
I recently ordered some 11x14 prints through Photobox and was pleased with the results and the excellent customer service. I think the prices are reasonable, the turn around was super speedy and they were really helpful when I had a question about borders so I thought I would share this offer with you!
If you have any feedback on Photobox or you would like to share your favourite printers with us post a comment below...
Related Posts
Top 5 Tips for...Portfolio Building
Picture Source: photobox.co.uk
Monday, 22 December 2008
Top 5 Tips for....Portfolio Building
As I am in the process of reorganising my portfolio I thought now would be a good time to write some posts on the topic. It can be a real mine field so to get the ball rolling here are 5 simple rules I have learnt to follow when arranging my images...
- Aim for quality not quantity. Edit ruthlessly! Don’t be tempted to pad out your book with mediocre shots as you book will look much stronger with several images that show you at your best and blow the client away.
- Start and finish on a good note. You need to get the clients attention right from the start. Grab them with your best work on the first few pages but be sure to save a show stopper to end on so as to leave a good impression.
- Position shots facing the gutter. If you have images where the models are looking left or right place them so they are looking toward the middle of the book.
- Never ever make the client spin your book to see your work. If you have a landscape shot that you want to use either print with a boarder at the top and bottom or print so it fills 2 pages and cut down the middle which is called double-trucking.
- Best shots to the right.Your eye is naturaly drawn to the right page first so if you can always try to feature your strongest work in the right hand pages of your book.
Feel free to jump in and tell me what rules you try to stick to when organising your portfolio and leave a comment below.
I would also love to hear from those of you that have recently shown your book to an agent, so join in and and share your experience with us all.
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