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Working with your dream photographer, and one of your friends, is always a dream come true...you could even say it makes me feel "out of this world". Sorry, bad dad joke. But what's no joke is how amazing Jaime is and how dope all of our photos turned out! Can't wait to release more! Photography: Jaime Chan Dress: Valentino A Model’s Guide: How to Handle Press
One of the best ways to book jobs is by appearing in various platforms, including the press. The press can vary from interviews to podcasts to video commentary. Generating news around your brand and you are important as to expand your reach and promote cool projects and photoshoots you are working on. Once you start being interviewed, it’s important to maintain a clear head and decide on what you will focus on for each interview. Here are some tips and tricks as to generating and handling press:
 Reasons to Shoot in Chicago Rain or shine, sun or snow there are so many things to do in Chicago. Even when the city is cold, many unique and adventurous places are open in Chicago. It’s unique and vast neighborhoods along with hole-in-the-wall spots make Chicago one of the best places to shoot. Here are some reasons to shoot in Chicago:
Chicago is a city with a rich history and diverse group of people. While maintaining it’s big city status, it feels like a small tight-knit community with something always going on. There’s so much room for personal and professional growth, along with the ability to make close friends that’ll last a lifetime! All Images by my lovely friend Jack Soltysik
Very rarely will I partake in unpaid workshops, and almost NEVER attend meetups. However, when one of my best friends, AMAZING photographer, Katie Levine asked me to model for her workshop, I couldn't say no! It's always a toss up when I'm choosing meetups and workshops to participate in. You get no control over the images, if you receive any, and usually when you do, they're not anything you could put in your book. I knew with Katie's workshop, this would be a bit different of a story. Everyone at Katie's workshop was so talented and kind, which is usually a very different story for sets like this.  Collaboration is critical for any model whether it’s a workshop your taking or teaching or a meetup you’re hosting or just attending. Here’s a breakdown on how to best participate in workshops or meetups; the levels of engagement; and how to figure out what’s right for you. When you’re new to modeling: For people who have little experience in modeling, or who want to build up their book and connections, attending workshops and meetups are a great option for expanding your work and meeting new people. Attending a Workshop: If you interested in attending a workshop, look for a model or photographer who you’d love to work with and admire. Read the specific style they will be teaching and shooting and decide if this is an area that you could work on. When attending a workshop, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Since you’re paying to attend workshops, make sure to listen and get everything you can out of the workshop. Even though it costs money, these workshops can be extremely beneficial to learn tips and tricks other people may not give you in an unpaid setting. Attending a Meetup: With the rise of Instagram communities, meetups are becoming more prevalent. Meetups are a collective (one like H!) who bring people from all different styles and backgrounds together to shoot with a large group of people in order to teach everyone new skills. When attending a meetup make sure to bring two or three different outfits for variety and keep your hair and makeup clean and simple, showcasing your natural beauty. When deciding if you should attend a meetup, look at who is hosting. If the people who are hosting are people who you’d like to work with and can learn from their work, then it’s a right fit for you! When you’re more experienced to modeling: The longer you model the more tips you can contribute and teach newer models and even photographers. When you host workshops and meetups, you’re not only adding to your resume, but you’re also contributing back to your fashion community. Hosting a Workshop: Hosting a workshop is a great way to earn some money from your experience, but it’s also a great way to connect others together who have similar goals of learning. When you’re hosting a workshop, since people will be paying to attend your workshop, a key point is to have a Q&A where you allow the photographers, models, and other industry professionals to ask questions about your craft and how you’ve reached the point you have. Make sure to include one or two tricks up your sleeve that you would not reveal in other settings to make your workshop special and unique. Have a variety of settings so everyone can get a different shot and interact with everyone on an individual level as well as a group setting. Hosting a Meetup: When you’re hosting a meetup, include influencers (including photographers and models) who have a huge impact in your community and who would bring out higher quality photographers. Find a central location that’s easy to get to, with an abundance of parking, and can be versatile in shooting. Create an event so everyone can see individuals information for easy tagging and connecting. Make it your own by adding a cool theme that fits your own brand and career. Hosting a meetup is a great way for people to see your work and potentially work with you in the future. This article was written for and published by The Hub.  Both photos from Katie Levine's workshop. Images by Hello Image. Carly, of Hello Image, stood out to me for her incredible talent and kind, yet edgy, aura (which is something I'd love to emulate myself). Her work is showcased through this article as she is one of the very few people I've ever met from workshops and meetups who I would wholeheartedly work with again!
 Black silk: something so simple, yet elegant. One of my previous stylists pulled this piece from goodwill a couple of years ago for $2 (pretty good) and it's my go to! This week is like black silk for me. It's simple and easy. There's no lengthy article or tips and tricks I have for this week, since my back injury has really been hurting my creative process. HOWEVER, here are some gorgeous images from my time in LA with Jaime (my forever favorite person). Photography: Jaime Chan
Greetings from Nashville (feat. Brandon Keith Photography) and an Exciting New 10 Part Project4/17/2018
 I am currently working on a 10 part series as a way to test out a new style to the blog! So, what is it?! The project I'm currently working on combines my love of clothing and style with my writing experience. I will be creating 10 blog posts aimed to give viewers insight into what/who I wear, how I buy for the low and everything I deal with as a model for styling (including what I wear off set). Some blog posts, already created, are All Black Everything, Leather + Lace, Dressing in Designer for Less and Emulating my Style Influences. This project is set to release mid-May, but I'm also currently looking for various talent such as: Photographers, MUA/Hair Stylists and stylists to help me curate more content. This would include interviews and photos. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in being a part of this project, or you have recommendations for articles, interviews, content you'd like to read, and creators to reach out to: drop me an email (laurenrebeccaroth@gmail.com) or a DM on Instagram. Photographs by: Brandon Keith Photography
Finding Your Style as a Model Everyone has their own unique style, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same one you portray in modeling images. While you need to find your style as an individual, many models don’t create another style for themselves as a model. You need to be genuine, but also different--almost more over the top-- for modeling. How can you make yourself stand out when there are so many people in your industry shooting similar looks and styles?
Images by Jaime Chan
I love traveling and meeting traveling industry professionals. When Teresa and Jeniffer came into town I couldn't have been more excited to work with them. It's been a long time since I've done bridal work, for a very personal reason, but seeing them come into town I knew I couldn't miss this opportunity, and DAMN I'm so glad I didn't! Check out the latest with such an exceptional team! Makeup: Victoria Anne Hair: Ann LaCorte
Evolving for Models
There are quite a few ways to grow as a model, both the physically obvious ways and the more subtle ways. In my eight years of modeling my career has evolved and changed, but I’ve also changed with it. Growing your book: This is the most obvious part of modeling. As you model more, your book and skill set should naturally grow. Working with new people, practicing more out-there and unique poses, creating new facial movements and finding new angles will help diversify the amount of looks and poses you can do for various photographers in various settings. Reaching out to photographers, stylists and other models is a great way to get advice and to work with amazing talent. When growing your book, don’t be afraid to pay for higher quality images. THIS IS IMPORTANT, since the top photographers charge to test. Paying amazing photographers to shoot could give you the best images of your life, ones you will have for a very long time. Also when shooting with photographers make sure they all have different styles as to buff up your book and make it look as unique as you are. Growing your audience/connections: When I first started out modeling, and even now, my biggest asset has been how much I’ve been able to travel, and how often I still travel. Traveling for networking events, photoshoots and just to build up a name in a specific area will help you in the long run. I travel every couple of months to Los Angeles, which, as a result, has brought me brand deals, paid photoshoot opportunities, more friends in the area who support my work and a larger follower count due to networking and just being in the area. When I travel, I will oftentimes post stories that include the city I am visiting. When you’re on a loctions story, more people will click on your profile and view your content. I also reach out to my favorite photographers in an area, depending on if they’re friends of friends or not, I will often send emails rather than DM’s to show I’m interested in a professional setting. If photographers are not interested in shooting, I’ll also try to grab coffee with them as to make a new connection, and leave the door open for a booking in the future. As for linking with brands as I travel, popping into your favorite local stores and physically talking with people who work there is a great way to reach out and give a more personal touch. Growing as a model yourself (personal growth): As you’re working on building your book and connections, the most important aspect of growing is who you are as a person. Identify your core values and what you are really passionate about. By understanding who you are you’re able to better identify your role in the fashion industry and what types of shoots you’ll shine in. For example, I am a bit more on the edgy side and really enjoy pushing my body on poses, so I work better in a high fashion setting than in a e-commerce setting (but as a model you have to work in all settings, this is an example of how to make your book standout and what you should try to book the most of). When you’ve identified where your personality really shines through, you will start to fall into a group that you fit in well with and have similar interests. As people are coming into your life you learn new skills and things about the world. One of my favorite ways to grow as a person is getting more experiences and learning how to better connect with anyone and everyone. There are many ways to grow as a model, but these are some ways that are always evolving for models and are ways as a model you’re constantly growing. As you’re in the fashion industry longer, these ways to build your book become easier and quicker to accomplish. Don’t be discouraged if you are seeing the growth immediately. It takes awhile to grow into who you are and make your mark in the industry. It’s a process and never be afraid of that process, but embrace every chance to grow. This article was originally written for, and published on, The Hub. Photography: Jaime Chan Bodysuit by Lively: Get $10 off your purchase of AMAZING bras/underwear/bodysuits/swimwear with code: AMB-laurenrebeccaroth BUILDING YOUR BOOK: DO’S AND DON’TS
When you’re starting out your career, either for the first time or in a new city, it’s important to do a lot of collaborative shooting and build up your network. There’s no by-the-book guaranteed way to build your book and mold your career, but as someone who is always reinventing my career here are some dos and don’ts I’ve learned. Do:
Don’t:
This article was written for and published by The Hub. Sponsored by Lively! (Thank you Lively!) A Color Coded Containment feat. Hallie Duesenberg (HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL BLOG (AND MAKE $$!))3/8/2018
All photos by the talented and amazing Hallie Duesenberg. Building your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter following are all essential, but linking your work to your website is an amazing way to show a complete body of your work and greaten your potential to work with brands and companies for sponsorships. By creating a blog you’re also able to gain more followers, views to your website, get people excited for your new content and bringing in a new way to work with other creators. Come up with a clever name: The first step in creating a blog is obviously the name. You need something that matches who you are as a person, while giving a description as to what you will be blogging about. Make sure it shows aspects of your personality that are very unique to you and will not appear on other websites, so it’s easily searchable on Google and other search platforms. Find a platform that works for you: Blogs can be separate or part of your blog. Models have their blog oftentimes separate from their modeling work because it does not correspond to what they are posting for modeling, for example if you’re a model but love food you may make a separate website for your blog, rather than having it on your actual modeling website. Some good platforms to use for blogging include: Squarespace, Weebly, Blogger, WordPress and Medium. If your modeling brand is properly reflected in your blog, I would recommend adding a blog page to your website so people can see you update your website frequently. By linking your blog to your website you’re also expanding the opportunity to have more people see your modeling work and reach out to you for more bookings, since everything will be all on one website. Post consistently: Decide how often you will be posting and stick to a schedule. Keep track of times and days you have the highest engagement on other social media platforms and post based on the engagement. Make sure you’re able to keep up with that posting schedule, so if you’re not on social media that much, posting once a week or once every other week may be the best option for you. As long as you’re posting in a consistent manner, you’re able to generate a reliable amount of people coming to your website and reading your content. Include photos, but also words: I used to post only photo series, but by posting articles you’ve written, interviews, or your experiences on that specific photo series, you’re giving more unique content for viewers to consume that will keep them on your blog longer and give them new things each time they come back to your blog to read. Not only will your writings make your blog more interesting to come back to, but it will also give more content to boost your website on google. Using specific words and phrases in your blog post will boost your SEO on your website so more people could potentially see it if they’re searching for models in their area. Submit to companies: So, now that you’ve had your blog up for a bit and you’re getting consistent viewers, it’s time to submit to companies. In order to submit to companies you have to have a tracker of how many views your website gets per week and per month, along with specific statistics on your demographic. Many companies, especially larger companies, will ask for details as to see if it’s profitable for them to work with you. When you’re starting out your blog, reaching out to smaller and local companies will help you build up your brand and gain you more views, thus leading to bigger brand opportunities. Once you have a consistent number of people on your website, reach out to larger brands that will work with the previous content on your website, for example if you are posting work with high-end fashion brands, it may not be the best move to partner with clothing companies such as Zaful. At the end of the day, your blog is an extension of your desired content you want to share with the world. If you don’t enjoy blogging, you won’t do it so make sure it’s something that is easily maintainable for you and will enhance your brand. One of the best parts of modeling, for me, is being able to post the images and shine a light on creators, and my friends, who inspire me and create with me. I'd previously worked with Hallie while she was still living in Chicago. Our previous work can be seen here! Since she's moved to LA, it was an awesome opportunity to hang out with a boss babe in the gorgeous sun, successfully escaping the winter storms of Chicago. Long story short: if you're looking for an amazing friend/person/photographer who just recently moved to LA. Hallie is your gal! This article was written for, and originally published on, The Hub.
 This week on the blog: A dope athleisure shoot, one of my favorite types of shoots and an older article that fits with the vibe of March (for me at least) learning and growing! I've been working on my fitness and overall health and this shoot is a perfect way to emphasize health and high-fashion, all while participating in on-trend shoots. A special bonus for models is my article on 5 Things Every Model Should Know (it's a must read for anyone starting out). I'd always wanted to meet Hope, and when this concept was brought to the table, I couldn't resist! Thanks to the amazing team that brought you some of my favorite images!  5 Things Every Model Should Learn
Most models know about posing, catching the light and looking elegant while walking down the runway, but there are several aspects of modeling that aren’t necessarily obvious to a new model. Basic Hair/Makeup. People are not as reliable as we’d like to think. Oftentimes, hair and makeup artists cancel. What do you do if your makeup artist is a no show? You have to do it yourself. Example: I was waiting outside a makeup artist’s home for an hour waiting for her to come home to do my makeup where we would both go to the photographer’s studio. She was a no show so I had to run back to my apartment and do it myself. How to nail it: Keep it clean and simple. Oftentimes less is more. If you have extensive makeup experience and want to explore with colors, knowing you can execute a bight bold look successfully, then I would suggest going all out. But for the average model, if you’re not a professional makeup artist, keep it clean and simple highlighting your favorite qualities and cleaning your complexion, without overdoing it on the contour and highlight. Styling. It’s fashion. It’s all about you and the clothes. From basics to high-fashion, finding the right clothes is essential to any shoot. Your overall sense of fashion and trends could make or break you. Example: In Chicago it’s hard to find amazing stylists, and when you do find the top quality stylists, they book so far out in advance they may not be available. How to nail it: Put together a moodboard and go through images with the whole crew. When you have a specific look chosen with sample images, search your closet (or a friends) and possibly go shopping with one of the crew members to find what would fit the style your moodboard has set. As you’re picking up items, always run through the choices with the photographer to confirm your picks will look killer for the shoot! Who’s-Who of Your Market. When you’re trying to make connections and make your shoots higher quality, finding a top tier crew is essential, while maintaining a realistic view on your own abilities. When you identify the top photographers, makeup artists, etc. you can set goals for who you want to work with and the skill level you want to be at. Getting to know your market and where you stand that market will help you get a better understanding of how to grow and build your portfolio. Example: When I’m looking to shoot a high-quality production, I am always looking through Instagram, friend connections on Facebook or asking my own connections. I have photographers and models I aspire to work with and/or be like. By setting my goals for connections I make and understanding who is at the top, I’m able to understand my market more and how to market myself to new audiences. How to nail it: RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH! Comb through Instagram, Facebook and your favorite creatives’ websites to find new talent and people who you’d be interested in working with. When you see someone’s work that’s nice, go through their portfolio. The three things I look for is: Consistent quality—their work is always maintaining a certain high standard. Versatility—their book of work showcases a diverse range of styles and talent they work with (for example a MUA with not only just Caucasian models—but also African American models). Connections—the biggest thing I look for is the quality and skill level of people who they are working with and shooting. If they’re a newer photographer, do you feel they have enough potential to work with them before they work with well-established models? In-Person Networking Skills. Online communication is important, but if you don’t have the skills to carry your online personality to real life, your job opportunities and room for growth is limited. With how much people are on their phones texting, there is a lack of in-person interactions, what the entertainment industry is all about. Working on social skills and properly communicating to clients and photographers is an underestimated skill. Example: A by-chance encounter introduced me to two of the top Chicago designers, who have turned into close friends. Even though I’m shy when it comes to large groups, it’s important to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Because of this many other jobs have been offered to me as companies and photographers get more used to seeing my face and my images through our mutual friends. How to nail it: Attend networking events. Don’t be afraid to go up to people. Stay confident and chatty, asking questions about themselves and their career is important showing you’re interested and invested. Use active listening skills and be genuine, people will be able to tell. Conducting yourself like a business. Managing yourself like a business and conducting your communications and interactions in a business-like-manner are so important. From sending emails to phone calls and castings to being on set, it’s crucial to act as if you are a business—because you are. If you’re not just taking images for Instagram/social media and working with companies, again, this is crucial. Example: I receive so many emails that are unprofessional and uneducated about my career in general. As a result, my screening process for bookings is rigorous. My response rate to professionals is much quicker and more friendly than people who just send me a DM saying “shoot?” How to nail it: Keep your emails and messages professional. Title your emails correctly and when on set be polite. Remember that the entertainment industry is fun, but still a business, even when emailing friends. Learn how to save your earnings from modeling and how to invest in the industry to build up your brand. Slay the game by showcasing a business People will respect you, and therefore book you, more if you know the ins-and-outs of your business, from marketing to understanding ranks and other local businesses around you. By expanding your horizons, you’re expanding your business and flexing your abilities proving you’re not just another pretty face but a force to be reckoned with. This article was written for and published by The Hub. |
About LaurenAs a model for almost ten years, I find myself learning new things everyday. This blog is a way to share my stories, images that may not be on my main board, and interesting things abut modeling and my life. |
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