Great Models and Photographers
The following article is reposted with permission from the author Mark Hamilton
The characteristics of great models and photographers
Great models and photographers share many similar characteristics. Here are five that stand out.
They provide consistently great work
Almost everyone has shot an amazing photo or was the star in someone else’s photograph. But shoot after shoot, professionals always get it done well. It is rare that you find a “bad” shoot–even in the worst conditions and with everything going wrong, professionals find a way to make it happen.
When I look through a portfolio (whether photography or modelling) I can tell who has experience and is a professional. Everything in their portfolio shows consistent quality. I look at most portfolios and see one (or a few) amazing shots. But when it looks like the other half of photos were taken by another photographer or just don’t have the same quality, I know they’ve still got a way to go.
They have taken enough photos that things become natural
My friend came up with a saying that as a photographer, you don’t know who you are and what your style is until after you’ve “broken a shutter.” This roughly equates to taking 100,000 photos or more. This applies to models too. Until then, there is just so much to learn and think about and be conscious of that you can barely keep afloat. Under the best of conditions you feel overwhelmed. If anything changes or a curveball is thrown your way, you freak out. But then you reach a magical point where things start to click. Shoots start flowing naturally and you get your first whispers of confidence
They are always pushing themselves and learning
After you “break your shutter cherry” is when you really start learning. Things are now under enough control that you can start learning how to shoot in manual mode, or confidently pose without needing to look in a mirror. Top professionals are always pushing themselves because they all know that they don’t know everything. In fact, it seems that the more I learn, the more I realize I have so much more to learn!!. This is one reason I always feel like my best shoot is the last shoot I did.
They have evolved their own style and way of doing things
Models develop a “character” that shows through in many of their photos. Photographers develop a “style.” Most (if not all) professionals have shot so many photos, learned so many things, and tried so many techniques that they know their style and can make that shot time and time again.
You only reach this point when you have taken enough photos, pushed yourself and learned enough about your craft that you realize what YOU uniquely bring to a photo.
They have the innate talent to succeed
If you are a successful model, you are blessed to have good looks (granted, there are different definitions and criteria here). If you aren’t 5’11” chances are you won’t become a runway model. It won’t matter how hard you work on your posing or how many crunches you do, it won’t happen. Unfortunately, this is just a harsh reality of the fashion world. This won't stop you from being a successful photographic model - so don't give up!
An unfortunate reality for models is that you have to be born with a certain look. But just because you consider yourself “good looking” doesn’t mean you can be a successful model. There is a lot of hard work to put in.
As a photographer, you won’t be successful if you don’t have some artistic ability or a natural “eye.” There are many photographers who know everything there is to know technically, have the best equipment, and have been shooting since Bob Hawke was Prime Minister. But if they don’t have that eye, their photos will always be lacking. Are top models and photographers born? Or built? I say both. You need to start with some innate talent. But what you do with that talent is up to you. Those who put in the necessary hard work become professionals.
Put these five characteristics together and you get the perfect professional. If you find yourself lacking in one area or another, that’s what to focus on to bring yourself up to where you want and need to be.