Damiens Blog from Whereverland

When preparing for your first professional photo shoot, there are a million and one things that will be running through your head. Every model has their own rituals, but here are a few quick tips that will serve you well when getting prepped for your next shoot.

1. Keep to a strict (but smart) health and fitness regime. You want your body to not only be in shape, but also to look healthy for your shoot. I don't what you see on TV, thinner doesn't always mean sexier. There is nothing sexy about a sickly, frail looking model with sunken eyes. So instead of starving yourself before a shoot, start a healthy eating program in the two or three weeks before. Eat a balanced combination of sugars and carbs and try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Also, try to regulate your alcohol and caffeine as they can affect your skin and energy levels. Keeping a good routine will energize you and make you feel great and look hot!
2. Try to keep your schedule as free as possible in the 2-3 days leading up to the shoot. Give yourself time to relax and work through any issues you may have (Yeah, I know- models don't have issues right?). It is very important to go into a professional photo shoot with a clear mind, because if you are stressed or upset over external issues, it will show and your photos will not end up as good as you wanted them to.
3. Try to get everything ready with as much time to spare as possible. That way, if there is anything that you have overlooked or forgotten you will have time to get it together. For instance, you might need to take a few outfits to get cleaned. If you take them the day before, and there is a delay for any reason, then you won't be able to use that outfit. Take it in the week before and you will be able to leave it there until they can do it. The last thing you want is to go in to a shoot unorganized.
4. On the night before the shoot, get as much sleep as possible. It can be hard to wind down on the night before a shoot, as you will be excited and probably nervous about what the day will hold. It may not seem glamorous to go to bed at 9.30pm, but it is necessary if you want to look your best. And please, don't go to a pro photo shoot hung-over; the party can wait until the shoot is over.
5. To release any stresses you should use the afternoon before a shoot to pamper yourself. Get a massage or a facial and maybe treat yourself to a new outfit. By doing this you will not only feel good, you will also look good.

If you follow these tips and don't push yourself too hard, you should wake up on the morning of the shoot feeling full of energy, alive and oh so gorgeous!

Damien O'Riley 

It's almost 3pm and there is an actual, honest to god chance that the new site design will be finish and loaded. One thing about being a photographer is that we tend to see everything as a finished image and filtered through a lens of composition, balance, feel and color; which can be a royal pain in the ass when it comes to web design.

I have spent three months designing layout after layout, working with several different freelancers (a story in itself) and just about driving my OCD self bat-sh#t!. But, may the gods of light and shadow throw me a bone...we might just knock it out today. Damien

If you ask any aspiring high fashion model what their goals are in their career, 99 times out of a 100 her answer will be that they want to be a successful runway model. Although a model can have hundreds of jobs for magazines and advertisements, they haven't truly reached the top of her game until she is a regular face on the catwalks of New York, Paris or Milan.

So what does it take to be a knockout runway model?

The first thing that you must do is look at the facts. Unfortunately, even though you may have the most beautiful face in the world, if you don't have the body type to be on the runway, there is little to no chance of success. Runway models aren't made, they're born.

The minimum height requirement for female catwalk models is 5'9, and for males it‘s 5'11. Also, models are generally expected to fit into sample size clothes, which are typically made a size 2 or even a size 0. Although there are occasionally exceptions to the rules, these usually only apply if a model already has an exceptional print career.

If you tick all of these boxes, you may have a chance at runway modelling. There are, however, many different things that you have to realize before you get out there on the runway. The most important of which is that that you are essentially a clothes-horse for the designer. Remember that, and make your performance about the clothes, not about you.

Make sure you hold your body in a way that flatters the clothes. The easiest way to do this is to stand as straight as possible. If wearing a dress, it sometimes helps if you lean back slightly in order to let the material flow behind you. Let your arms hang naturally and let them swing only as much as your body naturally makes them. Keep your hands relaxed and no curled fingers as this will look strange from the viewpoint of the people watching the show.

Runway Models Don't Clomp or Prance

The most important point refers back to the clothes-horse example. Concentrate on the clothes part, not the horse part. In other words, clomping or prancing up and down the runway are a definite no. You should take slightly longer strides than you would if walking normally, but do not lift the knees too much.

Finally, remember to practice. It might feel silly walking up and down your hallway, but there's no such thing as too much practice. It is also a smart decision to find some recordings of fashion shows, and watch how the models hold themselves. If you want to do something well, you might as well learn from the best.

So if you posses the genetics, and you think you have the nerve, hold your head high and see if you have what it takes to strut your stuff on the catwalk.

Copyright 2008 Damien O'Riley