Category Archives: Photography



Highly Effective Ways to Stay Motivated

Highly Effective Ways to Stay Motivated

Highly Effective Ways to Stay Motivated
1. Understand your why. Sometimes it’s not so much the what or the how that matters, but your why–the purpose behind what you’re doing. Being clear about what you’re working for can give you the stimulus to stay on course.
2. Define your goal. Defined goals put your ideas into action mode. It’s the vital step between planning and doing.
3. Create a clear vision. If you want to succeed, you must create a clear compelling vision, something that you can relate to and resonate with. If it doesn’t speak to your heart, it won’t motivate you to stay on target. Create the highest grandest vision possible, because you can achieve only what you see.
4. Produce a plan. Once you have a goal in place, a plan is will take your vision and break down the steps you need to get it done. A goal without a plan, as we know, is just a dream.
5. Look for the bigger picture. When you have to stay motivated, think of the bigger picture. How does this relate not only to yourself but to others? How will it contribute to something important? Where will this make a difference? To accomplish more, think bigger.
6. Keep it positive. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions, and self-affirming statements will help you to achieve your best. Take control of how you think, how you feel, how you act. Positivity will help you make the choices that lead to accomplishment.
7. Approach tasks in new ways. Sometimes just getting started might be the problem. A different approach might give you a new perspective and more energy.
8. Break goals into manageable tasks. One important key to your success will be your ability to break down your goals into shorter-term and smaller single tasks. Keep things manageable.
9. Get organized. Make sure your workplace is uncluttered so your mind can be organized. A calm environment gives you a better chance of being more efficient and productive.
10. Tackle procrastination head on. Don’t make excuses or waste time rationalizing why you haven’t already started. Instead, try to uncover the real reason for the delay and get to work immediately. The best way to begin something is just to begin.
11. Seize the power of deadlines. Setting a time limit for an activity will enable you to assemble your resources and materials toward accomplishing things you might not otherwise get done.
12. Stop multitasking. Don’t divide your attention but give your full and undivided self to the task at hand. When you do, your chances for success go way up.
13. Starve your distractions. Do what you need to do to stop being distracted by people, tasks, or electronics. Devise strategies to help you start and complete tasks without any distractions or interruptions.
14. Stay in the zone. Your best and most productive work is usually done when you’re in the zone. Ask yourself how to create the perfect environment for you to do your best work and keep at it until you’re done.
15. Choose success. Choose to be successful, then stick to your choice and see it through to a conclusion. By creating a mental picture of yourself successfully completing a job, you can increase your chances of success.
16. Keep it fun. If you seriously want to stay motivated, find a way to make it fun. Fun is not the enemy but a great motivator.
17. Harness the power of optimism. Belief that you can accomplish something is essential to your ability to do it. Optimism is the foundation of progress.
18. Reward yourself. Learn what it takes to get yourself to complete dreaded tasks and set up a system of rewards for completion.
19. Visualize yourself succeeding. Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you to focus, stay motivated and achieve your goals. By creating a mental picture of yourself successfully completing a job, even the worsts tasks can feel like part of achieving something big.
Remember, motivation starts within. Find it, keep it and make it work for you.
What you should wear to a modeling photoshoot?

What you should wear to a modeling photoshoot?

What you should wear to a modeling photoshoot? Most models are professionally photographed wearing casual clothes. It’s important to bring a pair of jeans, capris, and shorts to a photo shoot. You should also bring t-shirts, casual shoes, and casual dresses. It doesn’t have to be a huge bag of fancy clothing, just something small containing the basics for classic looks when testing. Think about the classic looks that you see in everyone’s portfolios, like a cool ripped jeans and implied topless combo, or killer heels paired with a sexy bodysuit, and keep those looks in mind when putting together your pieces to take along with you. Once you’ve got the basics down, put some thought into what you’ll be wearing on the day to arrive in, as you’re going to want to wear something that you can potentially use for the shoot that can also be paired with extra wardrobe pieces you’ve brought with you. It’s best to aim for a more basic casual vibe, which you can pull some heels out of your bag and dress up if necessary. Lastly, you can’t always count on having a professional makeup artist to sort you out on the day, and even if there is one scheduled there may potentially be a last-minute cancellation, so always remember to take a basic makeup kit along with you. Especially important if you have skin allergies and you have specific makeup that you can use that won’t cause irritation or if you have a foundation that’s been tested to match your skin tone exactly.
How To Become Kid Model

How To Become Kid Model

How To Become Kid Model Are you a kid with an outgoing personality who enjoys posing for photos? You might be the ideal candidate to become a child model. If you’re interested in getting into the field, though, it’s important to understand that it will take hard work, patience, commitment, and your parents’ help to really be successful. Make sure you’re really interested in modeling. Being a model may seem like an exciting and glamorous job, but it actually requires a lot of hard work. It’s important to determine whether you will really enjoy the experience before you give up your free time that could be spent playing with friends to commit to modeling. Ask a friend or family to do a practice photo session with you to see if you have fun posing.
  • Practice photo sessions won’t just help you decide if you’ll enjoy modeling; they can help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera too.To become a child model, you’ll need to get some quality photos taken and send them to a local modelling agency. … Once you have some photos you’re happy with, research local child modelling agencies to send them to. You’ll usually need to submit them online with a letter saying why you want to be a model.
Types Of Print Advertising

Types Of Print Advertising

TYPES OF PRINT Ads


Newspaper
Newspaper advertising can promote your business to a wide range of customers. Display advertisements are placed throughout the paper, while classified listings are under subject headings in a specific section.

You may find that a combination of advertising in your state/metropolitan newspaper and your local paper gives you the best results.

Magazine
Advertising in a specialist magazine can reach your target market quickly and easily. Readers (your potential customers) tend to read magazines at their leisure and keep them for longer, giving your advertisement multiple chances to attract attention. Magazines generally serve consumers (by interest group e.g. women) and trade (industry/business type e.g. hospitality).

If your products need to be displayed in colour then glossy advertisements in a magazine can be ideal – although they are generally more expensive than newspaper advertisements.

Magazines do not usually serve a small area such as a specific town. If your target market is only a small percentage of the circulation, then advertising may not be cost-effective.

Outdoor and transit
There are many ways to advertise outside and on-the-go. Outdoor billboards can be signs by the road or hoardings at sport stadiums. Transit advertising can be posters on buses, taxis and bicycles. Large billboards can get your message across with a big impact. If the same customers pass your billboard every day as they travel to work, you are likely to be the first business they think of when they want to buy a product.

Even the largest of billboards usually contain a limited amount of information; otherwise, they can be difficult to read. Including your website address makes it easy for customers to follow up and find out more about your business. Outdoor advertising can be very expensive especially for prime locations and supersite billboards.

Direct mail, catalogues and leaflets
Direct mail means writing to customers directly. The more precise your mailing list or distribution area, the more of your target market you will reach. A direct mail approach is more personal, as you can select your audience and plan the timing to suit your business. A cost effective form of direct mail is to send your newsletters or flyers electronically to an email database. Find out more about direct mail.

Catalogues, brochures and leaflets can also be distributed to your target area. Including a brochure with your direct mail is a great way to give an interested customer more information about your products and services. Learn more about leaflet marketing using letterbox drops and handouts.

Online /E-Commerce
Being on the internet can be a cost-effective way to attract new customers. You can reach a global audience at a low cost. Many customers research businesses online before deciding whom to buy from.

A well-designed website can entice customers to buy from you. There are a number of ways you can promote your business online via paid advertising or to improve your search engine rankings. Learn more about doing business online.

Other ways to advertise your business online include promoting your products or services on social media sites, blogs and search engines and other websites that your target audience visits. Find out more about social media.

Types of Modelling

Types of Modelling

Types of Modelling

There are high fashion models, and then there are commercial models. High fashion models are the highest paid and rarest form of modeling. Most women and men do not meet the requirements of a fashion model, but commercial models do not have all the specifications that fashion models have. Of course fashion models get paid more, but commercial models can make good money as well; especially with catalogue. Commercial models make up the majority of all modeling. Basically because it includes many fields of modeling such as: catalogue, print-work, plus-size, swimsuit, lingerie etc. Commercial models are hired to help sell products to the public; whatever the product may be. High fashion models model for high-end designers and fashion campaigns. Commercial models basically take care of the rest. They can model for television, commercials, websites, magazines, newspapers, billboards and any other type of advertisement. Most people who tell you they are models are “commercial” models. This is what makes up most of the industry.

So there you have it, just in case you were wondering or have been told such a thing, you now know what being “Commercial” means in the modeling industry. It means that you are not currently high fashion material, but still pretty/handsome enough to make it as a model. There are many types of modeling out there other than fashion modeling.

Tips for a Winning Audition

Tips for a Winning Audition

1. Confidence It sounds simple but it takes practice. Walk in the door with your head held high. You don’t get sympathy points if you’re nervous, not feeling well, or having a bad day. Leave it outside the door. Your good posture and body language is vital. And don’t forget to smile—that’s the lasting impression you want to leave.

2. Personality Let it shine through. Don’t give one-word answers when having a conversation with the casting director. Ask questions! The industry is looking for smart, curious actors.

3. Connection Knowing the dialogue is important, but making a connection with the reader is what will make the scene natural and believable.

4. Character. Know the character. Read the entire script beforehand to pick-up as many clues as possible. We know about a character by the following:

  • What they say about themselves
  • What other characters say about them
  • What the playwright or screenwriter says about them

5. Objective Go underneath the dialogue. What do they want from the other characters? What is the character’s purpose in the scene and story?

6. Obstacle What’s in the way of the character getting what they want? Acting is what happens to you as you try to get your objective met, in spite of the obstacle.

7. Opposites Yelling isn’t the only way to show hatred or anger. Sometimes being quiet as you make your point is a powerful display of emotion. Playing opposites is a much more interesting choice than the obvious.

8. Love Find the love in the scene; even nasty characters should be likable on some level. Find a moment in the scene where the love can show through.

9. Act Acting means to do, not to talk. Find your actions and play them! (A wonderful resource is the book “Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus” by Marina Caldarone and Maggie Lloyd-Williams.)

10. Variety Feel the levels and dynamics in the scene. Don’t play one emotion. If the character is angry or tough, when might they show some vulnerability?

Why you should hire a Professional Photographer

Why you should hire a Professional Photographer

Why you should hire a Professional Photographer:

Everybody knows them — that relative or family friend who’s really into photography, but has no intentions of ever quitting their “day job.” It’s a passion or hobby they reserve for evenings or weekends; they show you their photos on a regular basis, and their work is pretty good. They shoot mainly urban and nature scenes, and perhaps have had some of their work published. They may even own the latest and greatest in camera equipment and the best lenses and accessories.

If you’re on a budget (and who isn’t), when it comes time to find a portrait or wedding photographer, you may naturally consider enlisting your friend or relative. They’ve offered their services to your family many times, always at a reduced rate… but before you choose an amateur over someone offering professional photography, take heed: when it comes to your most pivotal and precious moments and memories, saving a bit of cash in lieu of professional photography just isn’t worth it. Here are the top eight reasons to hire a professional photographer:

1. Education

A professional photographer will have had years of training and/or schooling in the art of photography. They’ll know their equipment inside and out. They’ll be able to set their camera to the proper exposure intuitively, without having to stop and fumble through a manual. Wedding photographers in particular sometimes have just 2 to 3 seconds to adjust their settings on-the-fly so that they don’t miss a shot.

2. Lighting Techniques

Lighting is key to successful photography and is a whole topic unto itself. It can take years for a photographer to master lighting techniques both in the studio and in outdoor settings. A professional photographer is able to adjust camera settings quickly and fluidly based upon diverse or changing lighting conditions. Knowledge of how the camera interacts with light is key to compensating for over- or underexposure, but sometimes photographers must rely upon their experience instead of the camera’s readings. The professional is also adept at creating unique and customized lighting scenes and are able to expertly supplement natural lighting with their own professional lighting effects as needed.

3. Experience

A professional photographer has done it before; they’ve shot a variety of events and portraits and have been exposed to many subjects and conditions. There’s no shortcut to experience, and you take a tremendous gamble with a first-timer or an inexperienced photographer not knowing what to do at various points during your event or shoot. Those in the professional photography world have a lot of experience to draw from; they know intuitively to take extra shots of crucial moments in case anyone blinks or has an awkward expression. They know the ins and outs of posing and can make subjects look natural in any setting. They anticipate angles and approaches for each scene. They have experience in guiding groups of every size for optimal results, interacting fluidly with their subjects to achieve the desired results.

4. Lenses

Professional photographers have an assortment of quality lenses at their disposal as well as the knowledge of which one is best for any given scenario. They’ll have the foresight to be prepared for a variety of situations with a second (or third) camera already equipped with a different type of lens. They have knowledge of advanced lens focusing techniques to achieve artistic effects that an amateur would only stumble upon by accident (if you’re lucky.)

5. Props and Backdrops

When it comes to portrait work, there’s far more to the equation than just a camera and a basic lighting setup. The right backdrops and posing props can be crucial to a successful final result. A professional photographer will know ahead of time what backdrops to have on hand for your shoot, how to light them and what effect their lens choice will have. Your friend or relative might show up with a bedsheet and a stool from their breakfast nook; while this could work, you can count on a professional to deliver optimal results.

6. Editing and Software

A professional photographer will also own or have access to the ideal editing software and know-how to retouch and edit your photos, bringing out the very best in each one. The last thing you want is a Photoshop novice trying to retouch photos of your most prized and precious memories.

7. Professionally Invested

A professional photographer is working for you, and they are invested in your satisfaction. You are their client, not their relative or friend, and they will retain a level of professionalism your aunt or brother-in-law may not. They also have the fortitude and commitment to work for long periods without breaks and see the job through so that the best results possible are achieved.

How Casting Agencies Work ?

How Casting Agencies Work ?

How Casting Agencies Work ?

Casting the right actor or model for a part can make or break any project. And these days directors are too busy to audition hundreds of talents for one role. So who makes sure that an interesting character gets a deserving act in the film or ad?

Well, this is where the casting agencies come in. Most jobs these days rely on either a casting agency or a casting director to find the right talents. Apart from the main leads (that are decided by the directors and producers) the whole supporting cast in any job is decided by such agencies. This makes the role of a casting agency in any job production very critical, and that is why these agencies get involved in any job from the time of the pre production.

Meet the film’s director and if possible writers. Get to know the story and characters. Read the script and learn about the characters.

Make sure that all the casting remains under the budget of the production.

Have a list of talents ready, preferably with headshots or videos, to speed up the process.

Make sure that the talents chosen have their dates available for the production.

Take auditions and show them to the director. Remember, the agency only recommends an actor, its the director/producer who make the final decision.

Sometimes negotiate contracts between the production and talents. However, most of the negotiations is done by the actor’s agent. But if an actor is unrepresented, casting director can step in.

Keep a backup for all talents ready until the talents are finalised and locked.

Help talents understand the characters while the director is busy. This includes preparing the talents for their roles.

So by understanding a casting agency or director’s responsibility, we can easily say that they are like a middleman between the talents and a production.

How do Casting Agencies choose talents?

Casting agencies create a database of talents. This includes collecting headshots, videos and audition tapes of several talents and categorise them according to their age, looks and abilities. This way, when a production demands for an actor, the casting agency treats it like opening a directory, pick the most appropriate actor and recommend that person to the production.

If there is no such actor in their database, they hold auditions (paid for by the production), and then send their recommendations to the production. After that, the selected candidates get to appear for another audition that is more personal and detailed. Once everything is finalised, the casting agency informs the talents, congratulating them for getting the role.

How to Become a Fitness Model?

How to Become a Fitness Model?

How to Become a Fitness Model

There are not many jobs in the world where your physical condition actually affects if you get paid or not, but becoming a fitness model is certainly one of them.

The shape you are in will dictate if an agency signs you or if a client wants to use you in a commercial or within their magazine.

There are many types of fitness modeling that suit different types. Some prefer the natural, authentic look others prefer the bigger the muscles the better sort of approach. It all comes down to what the client is selling or promoting to their audience to what fitness model they hire.

Common Misconceptions

Many people equate fitness modeling with the rippling muscles and extreme definition of bodybuilders and figure competitors. In reality, most fitness models are toned and in good shape, but not in any kind of extreme way.

If you are you 100 percent committed to physical fitness and living a healthy lifestyle, and if u have the love for camera then you might just have what it takes to become a fitness model.

If you invest time and energy, you can achieve your goal of inspiring others with your impressive physique. You’ll need to devote lots of effort to stay in shape, so stick to a workout routine and diet.

Quick Tips.

  1. Develop a workout plan based on your experience
  2. Keep track of what you eat.
  3. Don’t cut nutrients when you cut calories
  4. Get a professional trainer

Requirements to become a fitness model:

Of course, fitness models must be in good shape, but very few leading sporting brands are looking for that extreme look to represent their brand. Quite often the more realistic and authentic look will get you far more agency work than the super ripped stereotype that many people after when looking into how to become a fitness model.

The reality is that fitness models need to be attractive in the eyes of the masses to which they are intended to appeal, generally with good skin, a nice smile and hair.

KNOW THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO

There are many routes to becoming a fitness model. You need to be clear on what route you wish to go into. Here are some options you can think about when thinking about how to become a fitness model:

  • Fitness commercial
  • Magazine covers
  • Sports ads
  • Supplement ads

You pay for what you get:

Yes, you can find up and coming photographers that are operating at discount rates and some that are very overpriced, but if you are serious about becoming a fitness model, you need to be prepared to invest a little.

How to Become a Model

How to Become a Model

How to Become a Model

At Mumbai Dreams the number one question we receive is “How Do I Become a Model?” Becoming a model can be easy, or it can be difficult, depending on how you approach it and the people with whom you associate.

Here, I’ll lay out a few basic steps that every aspiring model should follow.

  1. Choose a Market

In modeling, there are various different markets, and choosing the one that you are most suitable for will have a major effect on your success. The main markets are for catwalk, plus-size, commercial, and swimsuit/lingerie models.

  1. Create a Portfolio

A model’s portfolio is incredibly important, as it includes pictures and past work, and is the first thing casting agents, brands, or designers will look at, in order to determine if they want to work with you.

Of course, when you’re just starting out modeling, your portfolio, also known as a book, will be sparse. In time and with success, it will expand.

What the pictures should look like will depend on the market you’re targeting. No matter what market you want to work in, your portfolio should include a few headshots, just of your face from various angles, but if you’re going for commercial modeling, make sure you include a decent amount of smiling shots, whereas any other type of model should have an equal or larger amount of straight-faced ones. Then make sure to include some full-length shots.

  1. Submit to Agencies.

With your completed portfolio all set, it’s time to get in touch with some modeling agencies.

First of all, do your research and make sure to find reputable agencies that cater to the market you’re interested in. Then, check out the agencies’ websites to find out how they prefer you to submit your book – some will have you mail it in, while others will let you fill out forms and upload pictures online.

  1. Keep Looking for Exposure and Experience

Finding an agency can be a long process, so if it takes a while for someone to see your true potential, don’t be discouraged. In the meantime, look for other ways to get exposure and experience.