People who have worked with me know I like to equate modeling with acting and will frequently use an approach similar to how I would interact with an actress on the set of a short film or related project that requires a dynamic performance to reach a specific end goal.
Every future project that you book or work on as a model will have a different set of goals and objectives to which you will need to bring a unique voice and expressions. The degree of difficulty will depend on the project's overall vision from the photographer or director.
While only being pretty might be enough on social media to attract attention and become an influencer, to stand out among peers in your profession when competing for the same jobs, your ability to step up and outperform others will separate you from the pack in a saturated market. Of course, the photographer you work with will significantly influence how you perform and look, but let's focus on what is entirely within your control.
Tip One: Professionalism
This tip seems like common sense, but its an excellent place to start. You would be surprised by how many people shoot themselves in the foot before they ever get going. To gain an edge on your competition, be the professional others are not.
You never want to give the impression that you are unreliable or problematic. Lack of communication and lateness are two quick ways to develop a reputation for being unprofessional. "My uber was late" will not fly in any context. Now there are times when life happens, and there are legitimate reasons for poor communication or late attendance.
Still, in my experience, the people who are always with an issue are the same people who will lack a sense of urgency and awareness when they finally do arrive on set.
Modeling isn't a solo act, and you will never be able to perform at a high level if the people you collaborate with lose confidence in you right from the get-go. Diva attitudes and entitlement will only make others steer clear of you, whereas carrying yourself with class and being a good person on and off camera will never go unnoticed or out of style and make people gravitate towards you.
*It is worth noting that everything stated above stands true for people on the other side of the camera. Photographers, makeup artists, creative directors, etc... Everyone has to be held to the same standards of excellence and lead by example.
Tip Two: Awareness of environment and people
Models and Actresses who are very polished will almost always have a great sense of their environment and discern what type of performance is required. You have to be able to "read the room" to get a feel for what is expected of you by the photographer or director and perceive how much experimentation and play you can bring to your performance. That is why I always stress building rapport and connection with those you work with. There is no universal answer to this because all projects are different, and every person has their own workflow and temperament for how they do things. The key is to understand that you can't go into a gig with a set mindset where you can only work and do things one way. You have to remain open-minded and flexible. You can't allow yourself to shut down with feedback, either. A lot of magic happens with the in-between moments, and if you are closed off, you're missing out on an abundance of value within your repertoire.
Tip Three: Connecting the physical to the emotional
This tip ties into the previous ones and depends on you researching and preparing properly with your practice leading up to your call time. If you have booked a job, you have to do some level of prep work on your own to put yourself in the best possible position to deliver on what someone saw in you. It's like an actress preparing for a role; she wouldn't ready herself for a dramatic scene with comedic timing as her references. Prepare with intention and focus with a plan but also be able to read the room and be flexible like we discussed in tip two. At this stage, if you've put the hours in preparing, everything should be flowing where you are just playfully creating from your gut, in tune with feedback and everything around you. You know the lighting setup and camera placement and its relation to the angles you are trying to find with your poses and movement. Everything becomes an extension of yourself, and you are just having FUN!