Modeling can be a fun and exciting career, but it can be a rough road when you are just starting out. There are many things new models need to avoid and some things that will make things easier. Here are the answers to the top ten things I am asked by new models.

#1 There is no reason for anyone to touch you during a photo shoot. (you know what I mean) If for any reason you feel uncomfortable during a shoot, say something; if it continues, leave!

#2 DO NOT PAY to be represented! Any legitimate agent or agency makes their money from the work they get you. It should not cost you anything for them to find you work.

#3 DO NOT PAY for a portfolio. Anyone selling you a modeling portfolio is full of it. You cannot build an entire portfolio from one photographer. Your portfolio is your resume and shows that you have worked and have modeling skills, it needs to be diverse.

#4 Don’t sit and wait! You are not going to be discovered because you put your portfolio on a couple of sites. Get out there and promote yourself, shoot with photographers, go to modeling events.

#5 TFP (Time for Prints) This is best way to build a good portfolio in the beginning. Find photographers that you like their work and ask them if the will shoot you TFP. You get a diverse portfolio, experience and start networking. A photographer referral is GOLD!

#6 Don’t put bad photos in your portfolio. A bad photo makes you look bad. For online portfolios a bad photo will not set you apart from the hundreds of other models. Avoid non-professional photos as well, a cute picture of you in Vegas does not belong in a modeling portfolio.

#7 Nudes will not hurt your career! Never do anything you are not comfortable with of course, but don’t think that a nude photo in your portfolio is bad. Most big name models have done nudes. Just be sure that the photos are in good taste and that you are aware of where and how they are being used.

#8 Ask questions during shoots. It is beneficial to you to know how and why photographers do things. If you have a better understanding about what is going on you can work more easily with photographers which makes you more valuable.

#9 Read the model release. If you know that you have a shoot ask them to see a copy of the model release beforehand. This way you can read it in detail. Most releases are standard but it is good to make sure, just in case. If you see something fishy, ask!

#10 Use your resources. Keep ALL your online portfolios updated.You never know what photo is going to catch that big break.

I often get asked by girls that see my work how they can get into modeling. The truth is that there’s not an easy answer to that one. It does depend on a number of different things.

The first I would tell anyone who has that question in mind is to ask themselves: what type of modeling do you really want to do and also, what type of modeling do you really believe you can do or have the look for?

Many think of modeling as a way to get into acting. Others just don’t really know what they want, except to be famous or appear in the cover of some popular magazine. Others want to sing but they think of modeling because they find great photos of their favorite stars all over and see themselves being there one day.

So, the first step is definitely to identify what type of modeling you see yourself doing: Fashion Print? Fashion Runway? Fitness? Nude…? Or do you really want to act and be in movies or televisioncommercials?

The second question you need to ask is a very difficult one because you need to be really honest with yourself, and that is: do I really have the look and talent for it? This questions is particularly hard to answer when you’ve grown up among friends and family telling you that you are so pretty, so talented and that you should be on tv or the cover of a magazine. The sad reality is that being “pretty” and knowing how to make all these typical model poses in front of your mirror or the camera of a family member does not make you a model or even a candidate to become one.

In February I organized a trip to Arizona as my makeup artist Roberta Duran is based in Scottsdale & where she had set up locations for us to shoot fitness models in and around town in the amazing desert homes there.

Some of the best models I’ve worked with don’t even know how to pose, but they are really good at taking direction because of their down to earth personality and they have such an amazing look that requires nothing more than their sole presence in front of the camera to produce an incredible photograph.

The one thing to be aware of is that many companies are know of this incredibly powerful desire that so many young people have to become famous and which will make them do almost anything to try to get into the industry. So these companies will create schemes hiding behind the face of a “modeling agency” and basically take your money by making you believe you have a chance, even if they know you don’t. Of course there are also many legitimate modeling agencies that are looking only for real talent and not just to take people’s money, but you need to do some research and know who you’re dealing with before you sign a contract or spend any money towards this goal.

Many end up spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars with photographers or photo studios to produce their modeling portfolios before having even been signed with an agency. Then, when they get to one they tell you those photos are no good and they make you get new ones with their photographer, which will charge you an additional little fortune.

The best thing to do in the beginning, even before you go to spend moneyon an expensive “big-shot” photographer is to try getting as many photos from people who are learning photography or are just building their own portfolios and will be willing to give you prints or a CD for your time (TFP). This way you will get some valuable experience and get photos for yourself at the same time. Then, when you go to a studio or freelance photographer that will really make you look like a Hollywood star you’ll know better what to do during the shoot and produce better images..

If you’re interested in acting or singing, then the best thing to do is go directly into it and look for an acting or music school or coach. Don’t get confused and waste time with modeling agencies. Acting and music require full time dedication and a lot of hard work if you want to be serious about it. An acting class will also help with modeling since it is in fact a form of acting. But again, it depends on what direction you want to go.

Many models who happen to have a great body also believe they can get into fashion, when their physical structures are shaped more for fitness or nude modeling. There are looks that just don’t work for high fashion but will be perfect for men’s magazines, where models can do really well if they have the right personality for it and an open mind. In that particular case you must also be over 18 years of age.

You must also be aware that large tattoos and piercing make you less likely to get serious modeling jobs, specially in fashion. It only makes it harder for a photographer when a body has been altered with ink or odd pieces of metal coming through your skin. In some cases it can look beautiful, but it is rare, unless you’re posing for an specialty publication.

Serious models take really good care of their bodies, drink a lot of water and watch their diets very closely. Amazingly, a few I’ve come across eat fast foods and don’t even exercise, but somehow they manage to keep the most incredible bodies and faces you could ever find. So it seems like nature can sometimes be unfair and give great genetics to some people and not to others.

So, those are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about getting into modeling. Probably the most important thing I can say is: Don’t stress over it and don’t ever do it for money or fame. Do it only because you enjoy it or have a passion for it and let the rest come to you. If you can handle that, you are already a model and you can keep being for as long as you want. It is like most things: a simple state of mind. Forget about the magazines, the television and fame and trying so hard to get into it. Many of the top models are found by scouts that work for large agencies and never even thought about becoming a model. That’s just how life works. If you are prepared and have what it takes, things will always come to you.

She has the most incredibly beautiful eyes you have ever seen.
This young super model will steal your heart. She not only possesses
all kinds of amazing physical attributes, but also has the greatest personality.

Alyssa grew up in Arizona. She recently graduated high school
and is already extremely independent but very family-oriented
at the same time. A rare combination to find among most of today’s
young models. She’s also lucky to have a very supportive mother
with whom we had the opportunity to talk from the very beginning
and who’s clearly the source of Alyssa’s great character.
She understands her daughter’s dream and gave us the opportunity
to work with Alyssa without hesitation, something we’ll always be
very greatful for.

At only 18, Alyssa Nicole comes across as a very seasoned model.
On camera she’s both: innocence and seduction. It’s hard
to stop looking at her photos. And even though she’s well aware
of her extreme beauty, she’s the most down to earth young lady
you will ever come across.

Loves tatoos, piercings and keeping her toe and finger nails
done with some extremely elaborate designs that are
a remarkable work of art. Yet, she looks classy and very unique.
She has a magnet that will grab your attention immediately
even if she’s standing 100 feet away. And that is exactly
what happened when she showed up on the set
of her very first photo shoot.

We knew at first glance she just had it, and we had
to get her on camera right away. We had the privilege
to shoot her for the first time during production
of a project for an Arizona-based modeling firm.

We remember Alyssa being somewhat shy at first, not realizing
that there wasn’t anything she could do wrong in front of camera
because of how amazing she looks even when she’s not posing.
But very quickly she let ‘the supermodel’ come out and produced
some of the greatest images we’ve ever seen.

It was interesting to try some fashion-style photos soon after
her first shoot and learn she didn’t feel so good wearing
every day outfits. Alyssa was born to wear lingerie and any
other type of sexy clothing. There’s a transformation in her
face expression, her eyes and overall attitude that happens
when she’s wearing something that trully reveals
her heavenly figure.

You may not realize it by looking at her photos, but Alyssa is only 5′2″.
Because of her amazing body proportions and perfectly shaped legs
she appears to be much taller. We once asked her what she’d been
doing to keep herself in shape. We were shocked when she responded:
“I don’t do anything”.

Ironically she enjoys eating a lot of fast food for lunch
and dinner every day, but somehow is still able to maintain
a perfect figure. She’s a great example of how genetics play
a major role on the development of a seemingly perfect human body.
This may be really unfair to lots of girls working out everyday
to try to stay in shape, but Alyssa Nicole has certainly been blessed
by nature.

While she loves the idea of modeling, Alyssa’s main aspiration
is to become a medical doctor, something she’s had in mind
since she was a little child and she realized she wanted
to do just help other people. The magic in her eyes
and the profound feelings they inspire are something
that modern medicine could certainly use to cure any disease.

After posting some of her first photographs on a popular
online modeling directory she’s been contacted by many
renowned photographers from around the world
and has already started getting paid projects.

Last April she was flown to Jamaica for over a week to work
on a Calendar shoot. We know she’s currently pursuing
bigger dreams in modeling and is only a matter of time
before she turns them into a reality.

The spirit, the amazing youth and unbelievable beauty
of this country music lover could have been the inspiration
of a many recent hit songs by Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts,
Emerson Drive and other great artists in this genre we now
often listen to, because of her contagious singing during
photo shoots.

You can be certain you’ll be seeing much more
of Alyssa Nicole’s stunning beauty in the near future,
as she becomes another success story that started
with the exquisite photographs she produced with us
and which we have the exclusive privilege to share
with you here, on HiddenAngels.com

Nature will never cease to amaze us. Just when we thought we’d seen it
all, something new comes along. Laydy has all the qualities of what
inspired us to start HiddenAngels and make us want to keep doing
what we do. Her beauty is beyond real and she acts as though
she’s completely unaware of it… What an unbelievable quality that is!

Being originally from Cuba, Laydy Diana is the first hispanic model
we’ve had the privilege to work with. She represents the best
of the latin pool of potential models but we don’t get to see
very often, specially on the West side of the US.

Cuba and other Central and South-American countries have some
of the most beautiful-looking people on Earth, and we in the US
have just started to really focus on them in very recent years.

Laydy was discovered while working at a popular night club
in Scottsdale, Arizona by a local producer, then brought her to work
on a television pilot where she modeled next to some amazing
and very expensive sports cars.

We happened to be there during that production and just
like with other models we’ve found in the past, we knew right away
she had to be on HiddenAngels.com.

We were amazed by her performance in front of the camera
shooting stills and also doing some takes as a TV hostess.
She is extremely talented and was really able to memorize
lines and improvise without any problem. Not to mention
the charisma that makes her shine and just grab your attention
when she’s delivering her lines.

Even thought she claims to be very shy, we were able
to capture some incredibly hot photographs during her photo shoot
for HiddenAngels.

Laydy is absolutely flawless. She is beautiful and elegant
at the same time Not only in the way she looks but also how
she carries herself and the way she talks. She has the qualities
of a classic movie actress of from the 50’s and the incredible figure
and sexyness of today’s top supermodels. There’s so much innocence
in her eyes, but her lips and the rest of her perfect body are extremely
seductive, and she has a smile that will melt your entire being.

Laydy loves to exercise daily and keep herself in shape.
She loves sports in general, but football and basketball
are her favorite. One of her dreams has always been
to become a cheer leader for a professional sports team.
We believe she has the potential to do that and a lot more.

The experience of working with Laydy is addictive. We just
couldn’t stop shooting every angle of her as she filled our studio
with the sweetness of her angelic voice during our conversation.

There aren’t enough words to describe her. She is the perfect model.
She has it all. She’s a very hard worker, she’s down to earth,
she’s creative in front of the camera, she’s easy to work with,
she’s full of dreams and ideas…

At 23 we can only see amazing things starting to happen very soon
in her new career. Television and film are definitely in her future.
We want the world to admire her talent and stunning beauty
and we are very happy to be part of this new adventure.

Aneliese’s stunning beauty keeps leaving many with their mouth open. But since her first appearance on HiddenAngels.com her career in acting has really taken off and landed her a few large projects incluging feature films, tv commercials and national television shows.

Finishing the Game, HBO’s Entourage, and 20 episodes on the hit hispanic television show, Estudio 2 are just a few of the major acting projects Aneliese has been working on for the past year. Other feature films include:
Deep In the Valley, The Virgin Murders, and At Best Derivative, all coming up later in 2008.

Aneliese took her acting career seriously and started training with a highly respectable acting coach in Phoenix, Arizona. Her notorious talent quickly helped her get into a play and two short films, but her ambition took her almost immediately after to the next level and started working on feature length productions and national television shows. All in less than a year.

Her busy schedule has kept her from doing modeling work but we have been lucky enough to capture enough images to keep her HiddenAngels.com fans very happy. We can’t wait to see her on the big screen, but we also can’t wait to do another sexy photo shoot.

The camera and your fans love you Aneliese!