Frustration and Rejection
Two words and events that happen in not just a model's but almost everyone's career. Is it necessary? How do we deal with it? How can we control it?
These were some of the questions while talking with a model earlier this week. She is a model in a relatively small market and is trying to find a way to "break out" but on the same note, does not have the funds as yet to develop her portfolio the way that she wants to. She is interested in not only modeling but acting as well, so she applies to castings and auditions, but often gets rejection because in her market, she may not be what they are looking for. Or if she does get a gig, often because of her look, many of the MUA's are not experienced enough to style her, so the images of her, may not be the exact look that she is looking to portray.
Now, lets see, she is roughly 5'10, 115ish, small bust, beautiful skin. Perfect for a market like NY/LA/Paris, but not the best for others.
For example, when I was living on the gulf coast, models that were between 5'4-5'7 were highly sought, because they had great dimensions for glamour and swimsuit photography. In markets like those fashion work, wasn't as strict as others. The competition would be greater.
Frustration may set in, because your plan and the market's plan may be two different things. My suggestion in cases like this is to evaluate what the market is missing and find a way to add to it. If you are a darker model in a pale market, find a way to use the market's ideas in your own, but add a twist. Can you imagine Grace Jones advertising Sushi? Or if you are a fairer skin model in an area that has a heavily dark skin population, you can do the same. I would love to see Cameron Diaz do a "Soul Glo" commercial.
As for rejection. It is often a necessary product of success. This is an industry of winners and losers, as such is life. Some people hate losing more than they love winning, do you? Do you thrive off of rejection and use it as one more no until a yes, or do you let it take control of you and view it as simply another no?
The biggest thing is for you to have a plan of action, and be able to work from there. If your goals are quantified, measurable, and attainable, then you will see that you can begin to get the shoots that you have always dreamed of.
