Practice in front of camera

Here is the first example of a very popular advice:
“All you have to do is learn to relax in front of the camera, have fun, and let your creativity come through.”
It is one of the stupidest advice! It’s good to relax on vacation. In front of camera you must work. Or, at least, to learn how to work. For me it is difficult to understand how is it possible to relax and feel comfortable in front of camera if you have no idea what and how to do? I think it will be more useful to learn how to work. It is only way for you, your agent and your clients to feel comfortable.

One more example:
“Buy the books with the modeling poses and learn from them.“
Following this ingenious advice someone from you has probably bought the similar book. Perhaps you have learned some poses already. My opinion on this advice is very simple – take this book and throw it to a garbage can as soon as possible. What you have to do next, will be more difficult – you have to forget all those poses! Why? Because they are empty and absolutely useless. Only imagine that you preparing for the shooting and think: “Now I use a pose number 25, and then a pose number 19″. The real nightmare for any art-director and the photographer.

Each product, fashion collection and especially high fashion collection has its own style and mood. And the model’s job is to express this style and mood and to make it attractive to public.
Please understand: The pose is secondary. First there should be a feeling which will give birth to a natural pose. You do not need to learn how to make empty poses. You should learn how to create thousand natural poses.

HOW? LET US BEGIN TO LEARN POSING TECHNIQUE
You should begin practicing in front of a full length mirror. But very soon you should check up your success with a help of a camcorder. There are two reasons for that.
First: You will not use a mirror posing in studios;
Second: you will be amazed how differently you see yourself in a mirror and as you will be seen by a lens of the camcorder.

The main thing you have to understand that a model as any artist or a musician has own working tools – the instrument. And that instrument for a model is a whole you. Including everything. Your body, your head, hands, legs, fingers, your eyes and feelings. Perhaps you think that if it all yours you know how to use it. Big mistake! You must practice and practice until you will learn how to use this instrument.

It is not easy. It takes time. I used to work with “professional” models who have to learn everything in front of camera. Right there. Some of them, who graduated from modeling schools even started crying, because they understood all of a sadden that they wasted twelve, fifteen hundred dollars, and still knew nothing about real professional modeling.
But you are in a much better position. You know what to do and can practice before you step in any studio.
Practice, practice and practice. In front of mirror, in front of camcorder and camera. Practice with different music. It is a always tremendous help for creating a mood.
From now on forget all empty poses. Empty poses mean what? Poor career and empty pocket.
Practicing pay attention to your back. Practice to keep it strait. And it suppose to be not only strait but also flat. Very often models making mistake by keeping back strait by opening shoulders to much. In this case you always see not very good looking shoulder-blades. Muscles became very tighten and you loose your ability to move freely.
Practice to keep your back strait only by spine. Your back will be straight, flat and your muscles will be relaxed and ready for any move. Please pay attention and practice.

Next. Your neck! A neck is very important for modeling career. Long neck is your plus. If your neck is not long, try to make it to look longer. And never forget about your shoulders. You should always keep them open. Especially if your shoulders are insufficiently wide.

Remember: A real professional models always know own weak and strong sides. And also know how to hide the weak sides and how to show strong.

IS IT USEFUL TO COPY POSING OF THE TOP MODELS?
You also can find this advice: “Try to copy posing of the top models.”
Aspiring model can think: “If those poses work for them, why they can not work for me?”
I have to disappoint you. They can not!
How many modeling career did not succeed because aspiring models followed this advice!
Please understand: Copy is always only a copy! The God has given you your own body, your head, hands, legs, eyes, your heart and soul. When you trying to copy somebody you are losing you uniqueness. But an uniqueness is the most valuable thing for any model.
Remember: to be a successful model you have to be outstanding.
So. Learn your modeling instrument and use it! And many types of modeling will be open for you.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FASHION POSING AND COMMERCIAL POSING?
Art of posing is art of expressions. It doesn’t matter fashion or commercial modeling. However, there is one big diffidence between commercial and fashion modeling. Expressing many different emotions in fashion modeling you must be beautiful in each of them.

Very important to find and learn your best angles. Always use only your best angles and try to express as many emotion as possible. Is it difficult? Yes. But it’s a matter of character, talent and practice. Model’s ability to make many different expressions, different looks means that this model can work with different styles, different collections and different product. What does it mean? Job! Success! Money!”

From the modeling guide” SUCCESS IN MODELING CAREER” by Igor Malkov  (More)