Model Newhire

[NorthKoreanSwag]

Hello! I started SL about a week ago and decided I'd like to model here for fun. I don't need to be paid, although it would be a pleasant surprise. After doing a few forum searches for info and to get my bearings on expectations, I'd first like to have a few sample shots of me to start off my portfolio, and some custom poses/animations made for me as well. Please PM me or reply here with your pricing requirements.

 

Also if anyone would like to hire me for work, that would be greatly appreciated. I believe my avatar is best suited to conservative fashion, but I can be flexible.

[Orwar]

   Well, I wish you luck, but usually it goes a little something like ...

   Expectation: someone will provide me with clothes, accessories, hairs and everything I might need, and then pay for me to sit on the poseball whilst they set up the lighting and frame the shot. Then they'll go edit the shot, and I get to put it in -my- portfolio. I'll be a virtual superstar in no time.

   Reality: 'model schools' in SL are a rip-off if they claim to be anything but role play (being a model is so easy, you just need to know how to get dressed and adjust your shape to a pose when necessary), you'll have to spend a fair amount of Lindens, time and effort to set up an avatar of 'model quality', you'll need an expansive wardrobe, getting sponsors is difficult as just about everyone has a Flickr and a blog and want free stuff - the best way to get reach the views and follower requirements is to blatantly whore yourself out and spam-follow and spam-comment on every picture you see to hope that they'll follow you in return; some people even snipe photography groups to trade a follow for a follow - you'll also spend about as much time putting your shots in relevant groups and tagging them to hope more people will see them, a 'pro' subscription on Flickr and spamming every group you can get into is how 'some' people do it. You'll also have to actually PAY YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER, unless they're offering to do a free shot of people for practice purposes or out of plain boredom - when it comes to photographers you'll usually get what you pay for; some will do you a photo for L$25, some studios will do you high resolution shots with real life magazine quality photo-shopping for a couple of thousand Lindens per picture. 

   You 'usually' have to have a portfolio to get into galleries and most certainly for any sponsorship to begin with. 

   You'll also want an avatar who both looks good (which is a matter of opinion to begin with), and also stands out if you want to be recognisable. Judging by your profile picture, you look like yet another millennial brat in a Deadwool suit and a bad hair day and too many earrings. That 'niche' was over-saturated a long, long time ago. No offence, it's just that look or 'shaggy hipster with testosterone gone haywire' that makes up 98% of the meshed male population in SL. 

   Next problem is that there isn't really all that much in the way of men's fashion to cover that isn't already being covered by anyone with a male avatar and a Flickr account, whenever Deadwool releases a new piece of apparel it's going to be in every man's wardrobe within days and apart from that every men's fashion event is flooded with tattoos, poses, that same jacket that's been at every event for the past six months, some lewd pants with the contours of a male reproductive system the size of a forearm snaking its way down the leg, maybe some eyes, and a bunch of stuff that has been rigged and textured with the skill and effort of a kindergartener with a cold. 

[Chic Aeon]

I just wanted to add a little historical background to the modeling activities topic in SL.

A decade ago when SL was at its most popular there were modeling jobs (both store and runway - both gals and guys).  But even then only SOME garments were supplied. Models needed to have fairly deep wardrobes in order to accessorize the garments they were showing off. Most store models were "paid" in either the goods they modeled, or store credit (or both).  Runway models made lindens but they also typically had to buy expensive runway AOs and other specialty items. 

Store modeling was in truth a more glamours way to 'camp'. That was all about people leaving their avatars on and usually unattended to make TRAFFIC. Traffic was what got you to the top of search back then.  

Honestly if you really want that modeling experience I WOULD go the role play route. There is VERY LITTLE modeling going on now. That is easy enough to see simply by visiting stores. Now and then there are runway shows but those are mostly at charity events and mostly to make money for the charity.

Also keep in mind that very few people in the fashion industry will hire anyone NEW. So that may be a problem.   

Good luck!!!!!   But most have fun. 

[NorthKoreanSwag]

Firstly, thank you for your replies. I didn't actually have high expectations going into this, but I figured I'd test the waters, and I still intend to.

@Orwar Yes, I have read that modelling schools are a ripoff, though I suppose I should have mentioned that in my original post. I'm also aware that I'd more than likely need a portfolio to start and that will take paid shots, which is why I asked for pricing requirements in my original post. Free clothing is more a secondary, possibly tertiary benefit for me, as I have a moderately well-paying job IRL and can buy my own clothing if need be. 

I am going for the more mass-media route and events, though. Making connections and being 'busy' in the game is how I'd like to spend my SL time. I'm not new to social media grinding, so those activities are more or less unsurprising. If it boils down to it, I can just take my own photos and edit them, as I have a high-end computer and mild experience in Photoshop and Lightroom (photography is a light RL hobby).

As for your critique on my avatar, thank you. I'll take it into consideration. He's my first avatar so I wasn't expecting any miracles to happen with him. I'm sure as I learn more about the trends of SL and what's considered tacky, and what's considered fashionable, he'll be tweaked. In regards to the last problem you mentioned, I don't think that really has anything to do with me since I'm not aiming to be a designer or innovator in the industry. I will say though, that IRL, men's fashion hasn't changed much in the past 50 some odd years. I can still wear the same Gucci suit I bought five years ago once every two weeks and it'll still be relevant in the office- not to mention that men's clothing is pretty uniform, unlike women's clothing.

@Chic Aeon Thanks for the input. I guess I am catching SL and its fashion industry microcosm on a steep decline, so I'll see how it turns out for me. If it all goes bust, I'm sure I can find other ways to amuse myself here, as I have a myriad of other hobbies at my disposal.

Edited January 21, 2019 by NorthKoreanSwag

[Orwar]

   Men's fashion has seen some changes throughout the late 1900's and early 2000's, but I agree - a high end suit is pretty much the peak, and at the same time it is what some people will wear in an office setting. In SL it's much the same, in my opinion; I mentioned Deadwool and, in my opinion, the newer Hart suit or the Peak suit of theirs, are simply the best quality suits in SL at present. Yet, most clothiers do offer a suit of some description, and about a year ago my most common complaint was 'how many suits can we really need?'. These days it's about board shorts and tank tops, because we get so many of those.

   Of course, different suits would be interesting if they had different cuts and different fabrics, but the vast majority of suits are 'just another tux or smoking' black tie sort of thing. Next problem with men's fashion in my opinion is that whilst women can get away with showing some stomach, wearing a high-cut top, men generally can't in the same way - so even if you find a nice shirt, and a nice pair of trousers, you can't always wear the two together. For photos there are some work-around tricks that can work, like doing two shots, one without the shirt, layering them, masking, and then hand-shading along the edges.

   In the end though, if you have an interest in SL fashion, I think that you'd be better off aspiring to start a blog than being employed as a model. I've hired a few models on occasion and as a photographer (and, a fairly antisocial person, perhaps) I find it can be extremely hit or miss. Personally I ended up just making a female alt, as I can instantly tab over and adjust whatever needs fixing, rather than trying to instruct someone how to adjust their necklace or earrings so that they don't defy gravity too much. Most of the time I don't even have to have my main present during the shoot, unless I need some textures for the backdrop.

   I've been saying I'm starting a blog for well over a year now - but then, I never can be bothered to. I enjoy the photography aspect, and it's fun to socialise in the photography and fashion communities. Trying to get people to go on my blog to hear what I have to say though, that doesn't appeal to me that much. And looking at 'most' blogs I come across through Flickr, it's just the same info they already put in the description. Few blogs have any interesting discourse or commentary to engage with, and I don't know if the fashion bloggers have any real impact on the creators. 

[Bebe Bunny]

Maybe you'd be better off being a blogger. It's basically a modeling job, you just usually need good views to apply to a big store.