Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Recognising Anne of Antwerp

Anne has been nominated  for one of the top Belgian business awards,"Womed 13".

But, we are not referring to one of our favourite fashion designers Anne Demeulemeester, instead to Anne Chapelle the C.E.O. of  fashion house BVBA 32  who acts as a primary investor in labels such as Anne Demeulemeester , Haider Ackermann and  Jean Paul Lespagnard.

Anne Chapelle. Copyright New York Times.

Her criteria of electing to support designers, simply because “She likes their work”, was initially questioned by more of her dollar driven competitors. However, by providing a little help and a lot of love, her original humanistic investment in designer Haider Ackermann has recently seen him receive glowing reviews for his Autumn / Winter 2012 -13 collection.


Haider Ackermann: A/W 2012-13. Copyright Multiple Fashion Disorder.

From humble beginnings within the healthcare and pharmaceuticals’ industry to a power house within the fashion world, she is conclusive proof that you can wear your heart on your sleeve, and attain success.
                                                  
                                  Please vote for Anne Chapelle by clicking here



Thursday, February 9, 2012

Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012 : The Highlights

The ninth edition of 080 Barcelona Fashion Week began on the evening of January 25, 2012 in the Spanish capital of Barcelona with the Catalan brand TCN presenting its corsetry and Fifties’ style lingerie.

The government of Catalonia aims to turn Catalonia and the city of Barcelona into a "Benchmark for creativity and design in the fashion industry through 080 Barcelona Fashion". But were they successful, did the apparel of  Barcelona live up to it's architecture?

The four-day event showcased  Fall/Winter collections of well-known brands and designers such as  Pierre Cardin and Mango. New designs by Miriam Ponsa, Justicia Ruano, Juan Pedro López and Brian&Beast were  also  showcased at the event. Desigual  displayed  its usual dark arts of outlandishly garish designs for the first time at the 080 event, whilst on another level, conservative French designer Pierre Cardin was the guest of honour, attending the event in person for the first time.

Catalonian fashion brings to mind vibrant colors, bold prints and frills. If you’ve ever walked through Gaudi’s Park Guell or popped into many of the boutiques, for that matter, then you know the people of this lively corner of Spain aren’t afraid to show some flash, or flesh. But, don't sell the local style short; there were plenty of unexpected runway moments at Barcelona Fashion Week, aka 080 Barcelona. After thirty fashion shows, one lunch and three parties, these are some of the highlights of this increasingly popular bi-annual fashion event;


Manuel Bolano

Manuel Bolano’s heroine for this  Autumn / Winter show case  appeared to possess the attributes of being strong on the outside, and weak on the inside. The designer, who was influenced by  factors such as instability, mental institutions, and the military presented a collection of mainly jackets and dresses composed of raffia, chiffon, velvet, cashmere (and the occasional photographic print) showcasing  his  fine tailoring within this collection. Add to that, heavily made up models sporting fake bruises, and bloodied noses reinforcing his step to the dark side with a sound understanding of graphics, prints and proportions for this season.


Manuel Bolano: Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Manuel Bolano: Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Manuel Bolano: Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012
  
Josep Abril

Barcelona loves a touch of the Gothic, a style which was highly evident in Abril's collection which was well received on  Wednesday.  Sharp tailoring  and stylish clothes in navy and teal were the order of the day , (along with a slight Arabesque feel), which saw the male designs showcased in desert coloured prints and turbans. Overall this was a very wearable collection, and the transition from runway to street looked to be a very possible option.


Josep Abril : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Josep Abril : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Josep Abril : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Der Metropol

Another designer paying homage to Barcelona's rich gothic history, with a less conservative collection. Mario Francisco brought the look bang  up to date by showing insect clad print puffer jacket amongst his collection. Fabrics were sheen and shiny. This was definitely a collection to be noticed in. To add an element of safety and 'wearability' within the collection, options  like primary coloured shorts and  zip front sports jackets  meant we could look stylish and athletic at the same time.That's if we wished to.


Der Metropol : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Der Metropol : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012

Der Metropol : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012
Toni Francesc

Here, the tone of the show was back to somber, elegant and wearable (with one or  two exceptions). Think the dramatic tailoring of the 1980's recognised in pieces such as  one shoulder print tops and silk trousers. Silk shirt-dresses and double breasted jackets were also a design staple, and a clear winner within this collection. However, pieces like the  sheer grey jumpsuit  stood out in stark contrast to the understated elegance.


Toni Francesc : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012
Toni Francesc : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012
Toni Francesc : Copyright Barcelona Fashion Week A/W 2012


Barcelona's Bi-annual Brandery

From the 27th to the 29th of January 2012, the ‘addicts’ of street wear fashion are back in Barcelona. 

The Brandery, the winter edition of urban fashion once again emerges in Barcelona. This show for professionals, born a few years ago, is a novelty because it’s not an exclusive show for stylists, brands and buyers; the public have their dosage of interaction and they’re invited to actively participate.
 
Fashion shows of prestigious brands take place in the original catwalk placed in the middle of the central pavillion of the Fira de Montjuïc complex. Paying a minimum price, the visitors can stay for the afternoon in the bars and the chill out spaces eating tapas and enjoying the music of the most famous DJ's in the city.


The Brandery : Fashion Show

Exhibitions of clothes, where they develop the new concepts of urban fashion, made for the numerous style and design schools of the city, will also be presented.

The Brandery : Tradeshow

The show is born this year under the concept ‘Love Your Way’, an invitation for people to create their own dressing style.

The numerous offers of fashion, music and design that are found at The Brandery offer a wide range of ideas and suggestions for all those who are looking for a new style, both personally and professionally.

Like in the past edition, The Brandery will develop in two areas: a space dedicated to the exhibitions of the brands and the professionals (with speed dating to make business) and another called ‘Xperience Brandtown Moda’, open to the public so that the visitors can attend the fashion shows (by stylists such as Custo Barcelona), listen to the live music of the Sonar artists or interact in person with the most prestigious brands.

A weekend dedicated to fashion.

The Brandery is unmissable for any person who is looking for inspiration for their style. The new motto, ‘Love your way’, indicates the need of each individual to identify a unique and personal image and style through fashion or art. To allow a bigger intake of public, the event will open its doors for the first time from Friday to Sunday.

The concerts and fashion shows at The Brandery.


Fashion and trends mix in the showpiece event of winter in Barcelona. In the previous edition, in July, with the help of Música Avanzada (Sonar), artists such as Ladytron, Nouvelle Vague, Hercules & Love Affair, Delorean Azari & III and Carlos Jean attended it, which attracted many fans.

The Brandery : Concert

While the catwalk at The Brandery offers a great fashion show in movement, another focal point for the visitors is the ‘OTSF’ exhibition which presents initiatives of the most important design schools in Barcelona. Also, a space dedicated for thinking invites people to attend conferences by fashions gurus that offer a laboratory of ideas and explain the trends for the 2013 season.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Fashion Takes Over Barcelona

Barcelona, a design and fashion capital?

Prestigious international magazine Vanity Fair  kicked off this process with the exhibition "Hall of Fame". The exhibition, which will be on display until 2 February on Passeig de Gràcia, brings together a selection of 60 images taken by some of the most prestigious photographers in the world.


What's more, the week of 24th January sees a series of major events overlapping in the Catalan capital, including The Brandery (27-29 January), 080 Barcelona Fashion (25-28 January), the second joint initiative Second Chance (from 23 to 26 January at shopping centers and from 26 to 29 at the same Brandery), and the ASVOFF International Fashion Film Festival (24-27 January).


Another winter edition of The Brandery  has landed in town with the slogan "Love your Way". More than 30,000 people passed between Friday and Sunday for the sixth edition of the fashion show, which is consolidated and business center and platform for creativity.


The fair opened at the weekend for the first time, so as to make it easier for the public to attend. It was continued to be split into two distinct areas: the Trade Show, the commercial section, exclusively open to fashion industry professionals, and Brandtown a Fashion Experience, open to the general public. Besides the exhibition area, The Brandery once again offered truly spectacular catwalk shows, with the emphasis on the show part. Also back for this edition is the OnTheStoreFront exhibition, featuring window displayed created by some of Barcelona's top design schools.

Virtually simultaneously, Barcelona's Plaça del Rei hosted 080 Barcelona Fashion, organised by the Government of Catalonia's Consortium for Trade, Crafts and Fashion (CCAM). Previously focused on budding talent and young independent designers, the runway showed at this 9th edition will bear out a new approach that sees the event open up to the industry and to household retail and distribution brands.

Charity Fashion Initiative

The city geared up for the second edition of Second Chance, an initiative combining fashion, charity efforts and recycling. From Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th January, the Bulevard Rosa, La Illa Diagonal and Pedralbes Centre shopping centres collected used jeans in a good condition. These were then by customised by students from the Escola Elisava's Master in Fashion Design, within the framework of The Brandery, and then be donated to the Fundacio Arrels, which works to provide care for the homeless. From 26 to 29 February Second Chance will be located in an area of The Brandery.

Fashion At Its Most Audiovisual

Anyone interested in the audiovisual side of fashion didn't miss ASVOFF the Barcelona International Fashion Film Festival, run by the fashion critic and journalist Diane Pernet, who also writes the blog A Shaded View On Fashion Film. New features this year included the mobile competition, honouring the best short film shot using a mobile device, which has the support of Barcelona City Council.

Creative Talent Brought To You By MODAFAD

MODAFAD is an independent non-profit association associated with FAD (Fostering Arts and Designs), which has been promoting Barcelona's fashion scene and young designers since 1993. This year's show is scheduled to take place at the Antiga Fàbrica Moritz (old Moritz brewery) this 24th January and also included a light show by renowned artist Moritz Waldemeyer.

New Ethical Fashion Platform

Launched in Barcelona, BeCo is the first platform in Spain aiming to raise awareness and foster business in the area of ethical fashion. The initiative, which boasts the support of Barcelona City Council, was kicked off at The Brandery and aims to create and promote sustainability-related projects in the fashion industry and raise the profile of the sector as a driving force for economic activity and employment.

Something For The Little Ones

Little Barcelona is the new children's fashion taking place on 5th – 6th February at the home of FAD (Fostering Arts and Design). The event had taken place for the first time in Barcelona and will feature 50 brands from the sector that shy away from the classic and traditional.

A Key Sector For Barcelona's Economy

According to the recently established Catalan Textiles And Fashion Cluster this sector, which is home to some 3,000 companies and 40,000 professionals, generates an aggregate turnover of 5,000 million euros, i.e. 4.5% of the industrial GDP and 1.5% of the overall GDP in Catalonia.

The Top Designers Of Fashion Week.
 
Catalonian fashion brings to mind vibrant colors, bold prints and frilly things. If you’ve ever walked through Gaudi’s Park Guell—or popped into a Desigual store, for that matter—then you know the people of this lively corner of Spain aren’t afraid to show some flash, or flesh. But don't sell the local style short; there were plenty of unexpected runway moments at Barcelona Fashion Week, aka 080 Barcelona. Coming up next, the pick of the bunch from 080 Fashion Week.

Studio 115: The Inauguration Party

Thursday 2nd February saw the Inauguration party for Shoot 115 Studios, at Carrer Pau Claris in Barcelona. 

Gus Ruiz Checo and Miguel Yerga Aparicio's creative space has gone from strength to strength in the past six months, which was reinforced by another successful event  to showcase the space to over 200 of the city's industry people.


This took the form of an evening packed with  networking, food, drink and culminating in an exhibition of 9 various artists adorning the walls of this crisp minimal studio.

The creative team are already preparing to launch their highly industrial shoot space in Tetuan, Barcelona, which will serve as a creative juxtaposition to their  sister venue.

What Should I Bring To My First Photoshoot?

So, now you have read the first part of my guide, you will be well aware of the type of model you wish to represent, within the Industry.

The next step is to compile a portfolio 'Or book' of images from your first 'Test Shot'. This will enable you and the photographer to work on your specific area, and to provide images to send to a potential agency for representation.These are my top tips  for your first session;

Be comfortable: Good pictures will require a certain comfort level from you, the subject. If you are scared of losing your balance in high heels or sweating under that polyester shirt then good pictures are going to be harder to come by. Stick to clothes you like, that build your confidence and are functional and comfortable.

Clothes are a statement: Outfit changes are the norm in a portrait shoot so mix it up with some clothing options that will make for more fun, sassy portraits. Bring along other outift options that are more formal to ensure a more broad choice of pictures showcasing the various parts of your personalities.

Keep it simple: Dark, plain fabrics usually work best. Avoid crazy patterns, designs and logos too. Clothing with distinct lines, dots and bright patterns can be distracting in a photo. Same goes for shiny fabrics. Keep your jewelry choices simple and minimal.


Avoid short sleeves and shorts: Long sleeves and pants are the superior choice. Skin tones can vary a bunch on various legs and arms not to mention the lighter complexion will distract the eye when viewing the pictures.

Not too many choices and changes: You should feel welcome to have a few clothing changes but don’t overwhelm yourself and your photographer with choices. It takes a little time for your photographer to get the creative ball rolling. Stopping for an outfit change halts and can disrupt that process.

Ask before wearing whites: Yes, dark solid print clothes are generally better, but rules are made to be broken. Talk with your photographer before the shoot if you are considering a white shirt. It can look awesome in certain kinds of backgrounds and contexts so let your photographer know and they will be better prepared to make excellent photos.

Suitability to locations, or not: If you are hiking about on nature trails to get to your locations, you will want to consider clothing that is practical and appropriate for that surrounding. Or, for a little extra contrast, maybe really dress it up with a suit and tie and wonderful dress to strike a visual contrast with the rustic surroundings. Again, talk with your photographer beforehand about such ideas and get their input. A little planning always helps.

Classic, timeless styles: Great pictures last a long, long time so be sure your clothing choices will age gracefully. What is the fashionable trend today can easily be tomorrow’s parachute pants. So stow away the Ed Hardy shirts.


What to avoid

Avoid bright yellows, reds and oranges (they battle the subjects face for attention) and the camera will readily pick up the reflected light and render skin tone with a colour cast.

Avoid clothing containing logos, slogans, or other distractions.

Bold stripes, large designs and polka dots stand out and tend to draw attention from the portrait's subject.

Avoid short sleeved tops or shorts. When arms and legs are exposed and there’s lots of skin visible, it can be a distraction from the main focal point of the photo - the face.


What to wear

I like white long sleeved tops and blue jeans. This combination works very well with the white background.

Black tops can also work well with a white background but this is a high contrast and leads to photographs with a very different style.

Also consider wearing a top that has an interesting collar and/or sleeves.

A top that has interesting textures (e.g. a sweater) can also add depth and richness to an image. If you will have more than one change of clothing for your session then consider bringing a variety of necklines, textures, colors, and undergarments to achieve a wide variety of looks.

Stick to solids and subtle patterns.


Accessories

Simple and elegant is the advice when selecting jewellery for a portrait. The same applies for any other accessories that you wish to have included in your portrait.


Wear something that makes you feel like you look awesome! If you feel uncomfortable with how you’re dressed, you will not exude the confidence you want in front of the camera.

I Want To Be A Model, But I Am Not Sure Which Type?

Types of Modeling

The market determines what models are needed. These needs tend to cluster into market segments and allow us to look at types of models. It is important to understand the type of model you want to be. By understanding the type of modeling you are interested in you can learn what the requirements are and if you can meet them. This also helps in avoiding getting ripped off. I have seen the greatest number of rip-offs and bad business decision happen when a wannabe model is thinking of one type of modeling (usually high fashion) and a scout, agent, photographer, etc. is recruiting for another (life style, Playboy glamour). So it is very important you understand what type of modeling you are interested in.

Fashion Modeling

The Garment and Beauty product industries are large users of models. People want to see what clothes or beauty products look like on somebody. Your high-fashion, designer-label garments, are designed for what fashion designers view as the "ideal woman." This is someone tall and slender, somewhat leggy, with a swan like neck and very young. In major markets like New York, this is someone who is 5'9" to 6' tall and from a size 8 to a size 0 depending on what is in. For men it is at least 6 foot tall and a 40 regular - of course, you have to have that "look" to go with the clothes. In secondary markets we would like to have this but often work with fashion models that don't meet these measurements. It is more important you just have a look of being tall and slender and that the sample clothes will fit you. The "look" can run from classic beauty to some extreme looks for fashion.

If you are going to work in front of the camera you need to be photogenic, and this you won't know until you do a test shoot. Usually the face is oval shape, with symmetry to the facial features. Eyes are almond shape. The cheekbones should be strong and nose straight and proportioned. Lips should be full. All of this just puts you in the general category; from there it is a matter of what the market demands are.

On the money - Top New York High Fashion models (there are just a handful of these folks) make more money then any other models (As high as eight million a year). By contrast a model doing a fashion show at a local mall may get paid nothing. This shows the wide range of income one might expect in fashion modeling. Most folks who try to make it as fashion models will earn almost nothing so don't quit your day job.


Types of Fashion modeling:

FASHION EDITORIAL MODELING - Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Cosmo, etc. - these and many other magazines today that focus on fashion have lots of editorial pages they must fill each month. Many of these editorial pages feature models wearing what the magazine thinks will be the next trend in fashion. Editorial work does not pay as well as other types of high fashion modeling but it is great for building a model's reputation and getting tear sheets for one's portfolio. Also, because fashion magazines are not as constrained as advertising work, they can use more 'extreme' and 'special beauty' models in their pages.

FASHION RUNWAY MODELING - Clothing designers traditionally show their new collections twice a year (Fall and Spring) to perspective (store) buyers. (buyers is a key word here, if some one is putting on a fashion show without buyer then it is entertainment) As an example, the New York Ready Wear shows just finished with 110 designers presenting collections for Fall 2000 (post 9/11 the number of designers has fallen 30%, note 2010 slow economy has not been kind to the fashion industry). Designers present these collections to a gathering of buyers by sending models down a walkway or runway. How well a model brings the clothes to life and shows important features of the garments can determine how well they sell. So it is worth it to a designer to have the most ideal models show these collections. This leads to why models have to meet very strict requirements and why they get such high fees for this type of work (modeling agencies have also forced up fees). These young models tend to be very tall, slender and move very well in clothes.

FASHION CATALOGUE MODELING - There are a lot of clothing catalogs produced. These catalogues, whether business-to-business, store, or direct marketing, require models to pose in the clothes they are trying to sell. Generally, catalog models are picked for a project because they represent the ideal of the market segment for which that catalog is targeted. Often times this is the classic beauty - tall, slender, healthy, and beautiful. The marketing idea is for transference, i.e. if you buy these clothes you will look as nice as the person pictured in the catalog. Catalogue modeling usually pays well because of the volume of photos that must be taken.

FASHION PRINT MODELING - This is fashion and beauty for print advertising. It can be display ads or collateral print materials. This is the most demanding work to get but pays the best because of usage and exclusives (this is where models make millions). These are the ads that can make or break a designer's reputation. With these ads it is very important that the concept, photo, and model work perfectly to convey the 'image' that is wanted.

FASHION SHOW ROOM MODELING - Modeling for buyers in the designer's show room. This is lower pay but very regular work, it could even be a full time job. Only happens where there are designer show rooms.

FASHION LINGERIE MODELING - Because this type of modeling may be more revealing it requires very good body tone and proportions.

FASHION SWIM SUIT MODELING - Again, more revealing requires excellent body tone and a healthy look.

FASHION FITNESS MODELING - As health and fitness has moved more into the public consciousness a greater demand has grown in this type of modeling. Of course being in the city with the corporate headquarters for Nike, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear makes it very noticeable here. Where once everyone exercised in baggy gray sweats, fitness attire continues to evolve and become more everyday wear. Add to this all of the fitness, health, and outdoor lifestyle magazines that are on the newsstands and you have a fast growing category for modeling.

FASHION FIT MODELING - Fit models have the perfect proportions for a given clothing size. Garment manufactures and designers hire fit models to use to piece together new creations, see how they move, and develop their patterns. The key for a fit model is to never gain or loose an inch. A clothing manufacturer may hire a fit model as a permanent salary position. It is one type of legitimate modeling that you can see advertised in the classified section of the newspaper.

FASHION INFORMAL MODELING - This once was very popular (the '80s) in smaller markets. Usually it would be at ladies' lunches where models would wander between tables wearing designer clothes from local fashion boutiques. The models would describe the outfit they wore and where to buy it. Not big money, but a place to start and gain confidence in a small market.

FURTHER DIVISIONS - These categories can have further sub-categories for size - petite and plus, and for age - children, pre teen, and mature. Petite size models usually are 5'2" to 5'6". Plus size is the same height as standard size models but size 14 -16. Main stream models usually start in around 14 years of age and go to their early twenties. Obviously pre-teen is before this age and mature is everything after it.

A category of modeling will only be found where there are clients to support it. Since almost all of the fashion magazines are based in New York, that is where you will find work in the fashion editorial modeling category.

Body Part Modeling

Body part modeling is a special category that belongs in both fashion and commercial modeling. This is the use of just part of the body in a photograph. Often standard models that look great in full-length shots or headshots don't look so good close up. Their hands or feet may look horrible. This is where the body parts model comes in. We will set up a shoot using the standard model's face but the body part model's hands and it looks like it is just one person. Usually body part models will specialize in just one part of the body like hands, feet, legs, ears, or neck.

Hand models are one type of body part model that I have had more call for. With hand models we look for long slender graceful hand and fingers. We also look for smooth (no wrinkles, hair or large pours), clear (no blemishes or irregular color) skin, and very good nails. The ability to pose the hand in a relaxed graceful fashion is very important.

Body parts model follow a similar path as regular models with finding modeling agencies, building portfolios and having comp cards. They simply pursue a very special niche market.

Commercial Modeling

Commercial modeling is sort of the catch all for everything that isn't fashion and isn't glamour. It is vast and diverse. The physical requirements can vary greatly. The 'look' can be mother, business executive, scientist, glamorous beauty, etc. The pay can be good but not to the level of the top fashion model and commercial models tend to find work less often. But it can be an area on can work part time at their whole life. Again, the purpose is to sell something - a product, service, or idea.

Some Categories of Commercial Modeling are:

COMMERCIAL PRODUCT MODELING - Generally we are generating a photo to sell a product and the model is used to show how the product is used. Also, model may be used to convey an image about a product. An example would be a model dressed like a doctor holding a blood pressure device. This gives an image of medical authority being behind the product. There is also the old technique of selling a product by putting someone attractive by it. Although it may not be politically correct to do this, it still is done and it works. People stop to look at a pretty face, not at another computer box. The physical requirements and look for commercial product modeling can vary a great deal. It all depends on the image or story you are trying to tell. This is where character models are used.


COMMERCIAL LIFESTYLE MODELING - Models are used in photos showing a period of life or doing something in life. The photo might be an older couple walking on the beach and the photo is used in the advertising materials for a new retirement resort. Or a photo of a young couple playing in a park with their children and the photo is used in an ad for a life insurance company. The models are used to act out some concept or idea of life. The physical requirements, age, size, etc. can vary greatly. But most often they use the "beautiful people" in these photos rather then real folks off the street.

COMMERCIAL CORPORATE MODELING - Corporate modeling is like Lifestyle but it always has a business theme. Again physical requirements can vary greatly, but usually attractive people are used - although sometimes character models are used.

PRODUCT DEMO - In smaller markets this seems to be a favorite area to start models. Models stand in front of, or in a store or mall, and hand out free samples of something. The idea is they want someone attractive that people will be drawn to and will work for just a few hours or a few days. When you are young and starting out this pays better then any regular job and it can really build your confidence around people.


TRADE SHOW MODELING - Once again attractive people are attention getters. When a trade show comes to town some exhibitors may hire models to hand out literature at their booths. One of the classics examples of this is the auto show. Again, it gives some income when you are starting out and gets you in front of the public.

SPORTS/ATHETICALLY PROFICIENT/FITNESS - This is kind of lumping a lot together but this has been a growing area in modeling. With sport attire companies like Nike and the increase number of personal sports, fitness and outdoor magazines the need for models that look like they actually know what they are doing has grown. The idea is to look good and actual be proficient at the activity being photographed.

HOBBY MODELING - This is modeling for the fun of it, to help out a cause or a place to get started. Some folks may never make a living at modeling but enjoy being in front of the camera or being on the runway. It also ties in with organization that might put on a fashion show as a fundraiser. There have also been cases where some one may start modeling just for fun and this may some day lead to a career.

ALTERNATIVE MODELING - This term has been coined for the whole gothic/punk modeling. This is a very specialize niche

EXTRAS MODELING -This is where you just need someone to put in a photo. When doing an outdoor tourist bureau type photos you often find you need someone hiking a trail or standing at an overlook, this is where you need a warm body to help animate the photo. This type of modeling does not pay much and may even be done on spec, but if you like doing outdoors or tourist activities it is a chance to make money while having fun. This type of modeling can be open to all ages and sizes.

Glamour Modeling

Glamour modeling is modeling for photos with a sexual theme. This might be a simple soft or hard type photos. They can include bikini, sexy outfits and lingerie modeling. On the soft level, photos can be used for calendars, posters, and other pin-up girl products. You can't pick up a car magazine without seeing a babe by the car or truck. As one moves to greater states of undress you move to the adult entertainment industry with high-end men's magazines like Playboy and then on down to the low-end back-ally magazines. But it is the Internet that dominates this field and is now loaded with all levels of sexual model photos. Glamour modeling and its triple X component is a very big industry. Top glamour models can make as much as top fashion models. But what is different from other types of modeling is all grade levels in glamour modeling can make good money and it is common for an established model to make over 50,000 pounds a year. There are no height or size requirements as in fashion modeling. Where fashion modeling wants you to look like a beanstalk, glamour modeling wants you to have curves like a young Pamela Anderson. Where fashion may want a 'special beauty look', glamour modeling wants traditional drop dead gorgeous; where fashion really only happens in New York, glamour can happen anywhere and does.

You have to be over 18 to do glamour modeling even soft . With the way the laws are today a photographer runs a real risk doing any kind of sexy photo with someone under 18. With news story reporting mothers are being thrown in jail for photographing their own children taking a bath and putting the photo in a family album, I think the risk is too great and the return too small to do any glamour work with someone under 18. But this field is wide open once one is of legal age. Unlike fashion modeling where you career is over by the time you are 30 with glamour your career could be just getting started. There is even demand for good looking grandmothers in their 50's and 60’s.

This field is easy to get started in, as there are a lot of photographers who would love to do test shoots and photo assignments on spec. Finding work and getting test shoots has been made easy with several web sites that cater to this field, although getting top high paying work can take as much effort as becoming a high fashion model. I will leave details and how this is all done to some other web sites.