There are some materials you will
need to get yourself out there. As an actor you need headshots and as a model
you need comp cards as well as a portfolio. All this can be costly if you don’t
have the connections and patience. However, there are ways to get it for free!
While shooting your picture can be free, the massive printing that you will
need to distribute copies of your cards is not.
As an actor or a model you can
find photographers who will have you work for them in exchange for your time.
It’s often abbreviated to TFP-TFCD (trade for print, trade for CD) in castings.
The photographer is often building or updating his/her own portfolio and will
have you serve as their muse. In exchange for your time you receive pictures to
use for your own self promotion purposes. Make sure you keep their contact
information. It has been known to happen that you work with a photographer and
you never hear from them again but don’t worry there’s a circle in hell for
them.
In the past I have mentioned two easy
sites to find photographers needing to update their book:
www.craigslist.org
www.modelmayhem.com
You can also check at local
photography or art schools. They will put you in their database so that their
students build their portfolios with you.
Before agreeing to shoot with the
photographer, you may want to ask to see a link to their portfolio or samples
of their work. Your time is valuable and you don’t want to waste it if you are
not into what they typically shoot.
As always use your judgment when
responding to people who post on these sites. If the photographer has you meet
them in an area you’re not familiar with at an unreasonable time then don’t go
or take an intimidating friend with you. Or just a regular friend gifted with common
sense will do.
Seriously, be aggressive about
these things. Schedule the shoot in a place that you are comfortable with such
as a public park or a studio. Even if you feel safe always try to drag someone
along. As we say in my native tongue, "Caras vemos, corazones no sabemos."