How do you get into acting and modeling?
Photographers (from left to right): Austin Berry @jaustinberry, Naivys Rodriguez @nrphotoandfilm, and Alessandra Sierra @sierraheadshots. Featuring actress/model Jessica Tanir @jessicatanir & yours truly @juliejberry.
This is probably one of the most common questions I get.
How do you do it? How do you become an actress? How do you get into modeling?
They are tricky questions. There is so much mystery to these industries, isn’t there? And it seems like no one wants to share their “inside scoop” of how to get there. It must not be easy though, cuz more people would do it then, right? Unlike so many other professions, there is not a clear track to start an acting and/or modeling career. If you consider yourself a perfectionist, this can at first appear to be a daunting feat—especially if you have a profession that is very degree-driven. You go to this university, you take these specific courses, get your degree in x number of years, apply to these jobs, get the job. Done!
With acting and modeling- that’s not the case. Training is important no matter the profession you’re in, but you don’t need to have a degree in it to be successful. Will having a degree in it help you? Probably. But there is no black and white way to approach these professions. So with that, the ideas I provide here— they are ideas. You don’t have to go about it this way to “make it”. Ultimately, each person’s journey is going to look a bit different, but my hope is that this will give you a good starting point to launch you into this thrilling industry.
Photos!
Photos are an absolute necessity in this industry, whether you are an actor or a model. For actors, it’s a headshot. For models, it’s usually a comp card and portfolio. A comp card has a single photo on one side (usually a headshot/portrait shot) and then four photos on the other side, all with different angles, emotions, and themes. Although printed out comp cards are significantly less common than they used to be, I still take them to some in-person auditions, and some clients and agents have asked me to send them the digital copy of it. But most of the work I get from modeling comes from the client seeing the variety of photos from my portfolio and then sometimes asking for digitals. Digitals are unedited photos usually taken same-day or same-week of the request. The purpose of them is for the client to see what you look like without professional retouching and to ensure that you look the same as your photos (since they don’t know how recent the photos in your portfolio are). No matter which industry you are in, it’s good to regularly update your photos, especially if your appearance has changed at all (whether your figure, your hair, etc.).
Comp Cards
Here is an example of what the front of a comp card looks like and the information that is included. If represented by an agency, I’d recommend you put your agency’s name and their email address in the bottom right instead of your own. I cannot tell you how many castings have asked me for social media handles (so make sure to show off your work there, even if you have to set up a separate business account!) so I have included my IG as well as my website. Portfolio/Website links have also been a common, surprising request from casting directors… More to come on this! Stay tuned!
The back of the comp card usually displays 4 different photos with varying looks. I like to include at least one smiley photo, especially with Florida being as commercial as it is. It’s also nice to include both portrait and full body photos with at least one swimsuit photo so they can get an idea of your figure. Although there are several comp card services out there, they can be pricey, so I personally like using the “Unfold” app to create mine since I can easily change the text and photos and customize the photo selections to the particular casting. Then I will just crop the two photos to a 5x7, have it printed locally, and adhere them onto each other.
An example of a photo from a TFP shoot I did with my amazing photographer friend, Cheryl Coleman @chacoleman.
If you are an aspiring model, there are two great ways to get started: hiring a professional photographer to capture you and doing TFP shoots. When you hire a professional, naturally the quality tends to be more guaranteed, and you have more free reign over the photoshoot as a whole.
TFP shoots, or “Trade-For-Print” shoots are agreements between the photographer and the model to exchange services with each other for the purposes of portfolio building. When I have done TFP shoots in the past, usually a photographer would reach out to me via social media about a concept they have in mind. I would scope out their social media profile to see if they are someone I would like to work with or not, and then if I agree, we’d shoot together. (If this is someone I don’t actually know, I make sure to bring my husband along with me for safety reasons of course, and the shoot location should always be in a public setting. Never go to a stranger’s home!)
My personal conviction about TFP shoots is that if the photography is for a particular brand or product and they would be financially profiting from your work, you should get paid for it—that should not be a TFP shoot. The best TFP shoots I’ve done have come from great photographers I found or found me who are just looking to show off their photography skills and me- my modeling skills. Although it’s common etiquette on those shoots that both parties always tag each other on social, make sure to confirm with your photographer ahead of time to ensure you are on the same page.
Headshots
Headshots are an absolute must as an actor. It is usually the first thing a casting director sees when they are selecting talent to audition for a role so it’s imperative that it stands out and that you make a good impression! I would recommend you have at least 2 headshot photos: one smiling (with teeth) and one not (with a captivating look in your eyes).
If you’d like to take it a step further, try to get character headshots. With character headshots, you ask yourself, “What types of characters can I play?” and you represent those characters with those different looks. If you’re not sure where to start, a good place to look for inspiration is the castings you have already received: Are there any common themes? Adjectives? Another way I like to approach it: What is your age range? What characters would showcase either age extreme?
Having a variety of character headshots is a great way to stand out in the crowd and show your acting range. It can really expand your castability because you are showing your agent(s) and casting directors some of the different characters you can play. When you set up your headshot photoshoot, make sure to do your homework ahead of time and think through each role: What would their hair and makeup look like (or lack there of)? What clothes would they be wearing? Set it up like a scene: Who is this person? What would they be feeling right now? I have lots more ideas and inspiration on this… Keep yours eyes peeled for my upcoming post about character headshots!
Casting Databases
Once you have a portfolio of work to showcase, it’s time to get yourself set up on some casting databases! You don’t even need to wait for an agent to set one up! I would recommend setting them up ahead of time so it’s that much easier for an agent to sign you. There are a lot of databases out there: Backstage, Casting Networks, Casting Frontier, Actors Access, Project Casting, etc., many of which you have to pay monthly or annually for. In my professional opinion, the most worthwhile casting databases are Casting Networks (for actors and models) and Actors Access (for actors). There are also some good castings on Backstage (for actors and models). Both have free regular membership options, but I would recommend getting the plus membership for Actors Access and the premium membership for Casting Networks to get the most out of the platforms. Click to set up your profile!
Plus membership is $68/year or $10/month!
Premium membership is $260/year or $26/month!
Annual membership is $150/year!
What’s great about both of these platforms is that you don’t even need an agent to submit for castings! Although having an agent is invaluable of course (they have access to castings that you would not have access to otherwise), you can still self-submit for various projects. I self-submit all the time, and I have booked from self submissions. A great way to set yourself up for success is to set up a separate email account just for acting and modeling and then set your casting profile up for automated emails about castings that you would be a potential candidate for. And then submit away!
Agents
After gathering your materials and setting up your casting profiles, it’s time to submit to some agencies! I highly recommend finding working talent in the area you are looking to be represented in and asking them about their experience with their agent(s). Some agents will require you to be exclusive with them, and although there are benefits to being exclusive (simplicity and lack of overlap of jobs which can make things complicated if not handled wisely), it may not be in the best interest of the actor/model. As someone who has multiple agents, I can tell you that I have financially benefited from declining work with exclusive agents in Florida, which is a right-to-work state, since different agents can have access to different castings. Some also seem to have better communication than others, so make sure to ask your friends for their honest feedback!
One of the best ways to apply for an agency is to visit their website! Many of them will have a submission portal on their website where they will ask for photos, resume, demographic information, etc. so make sure to follow their instructions, and if they provide an email address, don’t be afraid to follow up with an email! Keep the email clear and concise since they tend to be very busy. I’d also suggest adding a headshot if you’re an actor or a comp card if you’re a model in the body of your email. If your friend is already represented by an agency, a referral is also a great way to get signed!
Building Your Portfolio: Actors & Demo Reels
One of the most daunting feats of a new actor can be creating a demo reel to show off your acting chops. Although having an acting reel can be a valuable asset, do not let the lack of one keep you from applying for an agency or going after a casting. I did not always have a reel when I applied to some of the agencies I am with now, and they still took me in. Ultimately, your reel will grow with time and experience, and your audition(s) will be the most important part of you landing the job. Since the pandemic, self tapes have become all the more common in the audition process, so make sure you deliver your best on tape and that your setup is as professional as possible.
My advice on how to grow your acting reel is two-fold: look into acting classes that provide such services and get involved with the film community where you are. Several acting programs offer to film scenes that are worked on in class. If creating a reel is one of your goals, ask them if that is a service they provide before signing up. Although the local indie film community sometimes has very limited budgets and therefore can’t pay their actors very much, those scenes can still be valuable assets to your reel. Plus it’s a great way to network within your market and open up more acting opportunities for yourself!
So much helpful advice! But what photographers do you recommend?
I highly recommend Sierra Headshots!
Alessandra is the photographer and co-founder of Sierra Headshots. She is an actress who's been in the industry for over a decade. Her work motto is "for actors by actors". She understands how nerve wracking it is to take a photo that will be a casting director's first impression of you, and the pressure to have it embody the best version of you. While living in Los Angeles, where she continued her acting training and obtained her theatrical representation, Alessandra not only learned the ropes behind the headshot process, but also learned the importance of having the right content to obtain more opportunities. When she moved back to Miami, she brought her vision, along with all this knowledge and experience, to life and now takes joy in helping fellow actors further their career with headshots, modeling portfolios, polaroids (digitals), and even audition slates.
Alessandra has even offered an exclusive discount for readers of my blog! When you book a photography session with her, she will email you a questionnaire to fill out on what your goals are for the shoot. Just include promo code “JULIE” at the bottom of that questionnaire for 15% off all shoot packages!!
Hope this has given you some practical steps on how to start your acting and/or modeling career and that you feel inspired in going for your dreams! Stay tuned for my upcoming posts where I will be sharing valuable insight on how to increase your booking potential!
Questions?
I am now offering one-on-one consultation services for aspiring actors and models as well as working talent who are looking to grow! We can discuss any questions you have about getting an agent, setting up your profile on casting databases, portfolio photos and videos (headshots, digitals, lifestyle and fashion photography, demo reels, etc), and strategies to best set yourself up for success. Phone consultations are $50 for 30 minutes, $100 for an hour, or $250 for in-person 2 hour appointments at a local coffee shop. I’ll tailor each session to your needs and questions so it’s the most valuable for you! Message @juliejberry on Instagram or click the button below to book your appointment!
