By: Kristina Anderson, Barbizon International

Everyone has to start somewhere and getting started modeling is no exception. While it’s ok to make mistakes as you learn what it means to be a professional model, it is always a good idea to do your research and learn as much as you can about the industry before you get started. These are 5 common mistakes new models often come across:

• Building A Portfolio With All Your Fave Selfies
  Save the selfies for Instagram. A model’s portfolio is not a photo album. It’s a professional book that shows different photo shoots of work done. Photo shoots you have done for clients are great to include, but if you’re new you may not have many (or any!) work to show. Test shoots are a great option to start building your model book.

• Sloppy Social Media Habits
  Remember, building your persona on social media is growing more and more important for working models. Make sure your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and any other public profile you have is a good representation of what you want people in the industry to see if (or should I say when) they look you up.

• Unprofessional Email Addresses & Voicemail Greetings
  It may seem obvious, but needs to be said. When you start booking go sees and castings, your email and phone will be how people reach you. Make sure you have a professional email address (example: LisaGModel@emailserver.com) and that your voicemail greeting is concise and professional.

• Not Being Reachable
  Casting opportunities can come from nowhere and leave you with little to no warning. Working models need to be accessible. Check your email regularly and return calls in a timely manner. These are good ways to make sure you don’t miss out on any opportunities.

• Giving Up
  Following your dreams isn’t always easy. It takes a lot of hard work and determination to make it as a model. No matter what you do you can find a way to make your dreams a reality it as long as you don’t give up.

Want information on Barbizon’s modeling program? Schedule your audition.