Modeling is a first impression business. To get work as a model you need to immediately capture the attention of “casting agents” (anyone that makes a decision on you getting an assignment or signed). All casting agents have one thing in common: Too many models, too many emails to open, and too many pictures to look at.

Casting agents rarely look past the first picture or two so it’s very important to show the right ones, and they aren't the type of images you might expect. Coming off too strong or not getting straight to the point can also use those precious seconds up.

Set yourself apart by using the right types of pictures along with immediate information casting agents want to see. Read more about pictures in the "Your Book & Modeling Portfolio" section just below.

Most email are opened by interns who operate under strict guidelines. One of the common instructions is to delete any incomplete emails. You may have the best look, perfect picture and be an ideal candidate and never get seen. Read casting notices carefully!

If you get past the first 5 seconds and pass the intern test, your email will still get read quickly. If's it too long important points you are making may get lost. Use bullet points, especially to outline the requested information!

We've created a free casting guide for independent models that submit for work or audition invitations online. There's no catch or advertising in it, we wrote it only to help you. Yes, really.

You can download the complete guide at the bottom left of any page inside the Model Portal.

The cost is high when you use the wrong images: You don't get the job, you don't get signed.

DO NOT use overly artistic pictures - they detract from the subject (you). Dramatic lighting with strong shadowing may look great, but is ineffective. What casting agents can’t see, makes them suspicious.

No matter how beautiful they may be, don’t send high fashion shots unless it’s a tear sheet. Casting agents don’t want to see what a great job photographers or stylists do, they want to see the real you.

When casting you want simple, crisp, images that only show you off.

A common mistake is too many unpublished images. Before you get signed you get Googled.  Here are things that can work against you: A lot of activity on amateur modeling websites. A big portfolio of unpublished "modeling" images on your Facebook or website. Flyers of you "hosting" nightclub events. Showing up on too many hobby photographer websites or profiles.

Why? Major brands don't like talent in their ads appearing in lesser works. Shooting outside of commercial shoots breeds bad habits and understandings. And if you sign a model release for this type of imagery you can't even control where it appears! Bad exposure is worst than no exposure. Even if you got paid for it.

The boom of amateur modeling portfolio websites has created a dilemma for casting agents. The photographers and stylists on these sites spend inordinate amounts of time collaborating to create highly stylized images. Some of these images look great, as does the model, and the retouching.

This is a problem for casting agents who can’t distinguish real, from contrived. Therefore, these types of images are discounted, as are the people who create them, and the models in them.

Branded images by respected photographers that include copyright dates enhance your credibility. Casting agents want to know the picture is real, and recent.

You may need images to cast for work or send to agencies, but now you know you need different pictures than you probably thought. Un-retouched digital images with little makeup actually work better than images you will get from most photographers (see Get Signed).

So what are all the thousand plus dollar photo-shoots you see advertised about? Profit. There’s no pot of gold to the truth about pictures, and the pictures that come from those expensive photo-shoots rarely get you more work. The same goes for images from workshops, shoot-outs etc. In fact those can be the most damaging when trying to get signed.

This may be somewhat self serving, but there are huge myths on amateur modeling portfolio websites. One of the biggest is that professional models don't pay for pictures. Trade (or TFP) images are for beginners. The reality is that professional models pay for images all the time. Photographers that do trade work usually do so because they need them for their own books.

You may have already understood what we're about to say when we pointed out what images you need to cast with, but think of it in these terms: Images that get photographers, stylists, and makeup artists work, are much different than those that get models work. You need images that get you work!

In certain markets, some agencies will sign you if you are 5'8".

If you are young and still growing, and the agency forecasts you to grow to their minimum height, they may sign you (see more in Teen Models).

That's it. If you do not fall into one of these categories, it's pretty much absolute. You will need to consider another genre of modeling (See more in Get Signed).

You need to have believable pictures and you can take them yourself. In fact, they are far better when applying to fashion agencies than anything you will get at a trade shoot. We explain how to do this in Get Signed.

There are more things that will keep you from getting signed than there are that can help. Appearing in unseemly places. Having the wrong type of pictures show up when you get Googled. Even having signed too many model releases! Except in rare cases, commercial modeling agencies do not want recognizable faces. Fashion agencies want to mold you. The only thing lots of online exposure may help you is if you are a promotional or amateur model doing mostly insignificant work.

Even "implied" can hurt you. The only genre of modeling it helps is adult modeling, and arguably some promotional gigs. If you have done any nudity and are trying to get signed, make sure that when the agency Googles you, they don't run across any of it!

Commercial agencies have large, and often times conservative clients. Aside from finding talent, their job is also to protect these clients from potential embarrassment. Even tasteful nudity can be deemed embarrassing by many clients, therefore commercial agencies shy away from models that have participated in nude modeling.

Fashion models may do some implied work both for advertising campaigns as well as editorials, especially in Europe where even topless can be introduced to the mass market. However, your participating in nude work before you get there will hinder your chances of getting signed.

No, it will hurt you.

There are many types of hosts of course, but almost every model we meet that uses the term really means it as being the host of a television show or segment. This field has become increasingly popular with large influx of reality contest shows and entertainment television magazines.

While most hosts are exceptionally attractive, they don't often come from modeling When they do they usually carry credentials and experience. Common backgrounds are as entertainment news reporters, actors, or experts in a certain field. Hoping to get discovered as a host from modeling, unless you are already a very successful model, is a bad approach.

There are many schools that specialize in hosting and acting, but the overwhelmingly most important asset is to have a college degree, ideally in broadcast journalism. A normal career path is to intern at a local TV station - move up as an assistant - and to get experience reporting at times few people are watching. From there you may move into becoming a reporter is a small market and continue upwards from there. Shortcuts are rare.

Of course this means the wrong exposure but these days almost anything you do sticks on the Internet. A successful hosting job means working for a big corporation. Big corporations have HR departments and they are going to research you thoroughly before you get hired. Don't give them the ability to come across things that will be embarrassing!

It's never a bad idea to address the person casting and include a short paragraph about why you would be good for the job. But keep it short. Two or three sentences max. Links to your work or modeling portfolio can be a good idea, but never substitute that for any pictures if they were requested. Remember that links are not always clicked on and when they are its only because there was initial interest to begin with.

Do a completely new submission. Emails are not put together so if part of the info is one email, and other info is in another, both would likely get deleted for being incomplete. Most clients won't consider an incomplete submission.

Some things can be damaging with many clients. For example, staged magazine covers. Pictures from shoot-outs, images Logoed with adult brands. Also, never include pictures that are old, dated, or of a look different than your current one.

You should always submit a recent un-retouched picture with every submission of your CURRENT look. If you have anything like a tattoo to disclose, be sure to do it in each submission. Tattoos are rarely a problem unless coming to us for agency submittal.

Full paperwork is generally sent once you have been selected for the shoot. You are given a couple days to review your contract before you need to commit.

Every shoot and client is different. At a minimum, when we say travel is paid it means at least air and lodging and usually ground and some food on location . We usually describe it in the opportunity and it will be very detailed in your contract. Expenses in your home city (like airport parking, taxis etc) are rarely covered. Same with miscellaneous food, sundries, phone, internet etc.

Clients may prepay your airfare. If you have not worked with us before its usually limited to Southwest Airlines. The reason is that Southwest is the only airline that if you don't show up gives the travel credit back to the ticket purchaser. If you are not in a Southwest city other arrangements are made.

Hotel stays are prepaid but most hotels will require you to put of a credit card for room charges.

Every client is different. The bigger the company, the stricter the policies. Some will bring a check to the shoot, others may process a voucher through their accounts payable department. Expect to fill out a W-9 form.

Yes. Our clients to not engage in illegal activities.

Anything you may need to bring will either be listed in the casting notice, or when you get the 1-sheet for the shoot. Wardrobe is usually provided or shopped for, usually by one of our wardrobe stylists. The exception is shoes, we ask all talent to bring comfortable heels because shoots that do not show feet do not have footwear at them. Also, unless told otherwise always arrive with little or no makeup (or be prepared to wash your face) and your hair washed and dry.

We need to know you are who you say and your age is correct. There are laws about age, for example you cannot be in a liquor ad if you are under 25. Or beer under 21. And of course if you are a minor we need to know that you parents approve and sign off on the shoot.

No. And we never take a commission or cut of your pay. The only time we get any fee from talent is if they book a CAT-shoot with us and it's never required. Most our income comes from publishers, advertising agencies or corporate clients.

Yes. Most our clients book talent through agencies. However, f you are with an agency and submit for work directly on shoots that are not booked through agencies we ask that you collect all the information, follow our normal procedure and then after your phone interview, if selected, you can have it reviewed by your booker.

We respect all parents and will speak with them. But we will need direct access to you and do not treat parents as managers. In cases where the talent is under 18, a parent or guardian is treated as the legal entity for the talent.

For the privacy and security of the crew, equipment and other talent no one but you will be permitted on set or in studio. The only exception is a parent of a minor under the age of 18. For the privacy of other talent that may be present, we ask this be a female parent or guardian.

Sorry, but no. We do have many opportunities though.

Unfortunately, no. If the job is for a print ad you may be able to get a tear sheet once the publication it's published in is out.

When we shoot a resorts or public places we almost always have security present. We do ask that if a resort guest causes any issues that you bring it to the attention of the crew or security and not take any matters into your own hands.

The most obvious reason is that it takes less of our time. However, more important is that we need to know you are reading everything. We have had talent show up at airports the wrong day  and even show up at the studio the wrong month. Details are important.

FHM will not shoot anyone without being seen in person. Castings are the obvious method but if you have attended any shoot with Laurens, or others with an editor present, that can count as a casting after you finalize an application.

For everyone's privacy, no cameras or recording devices are permitted. If your cell phone has a camera, it will need to be off inside the studio or on set.

For everyone's security and privacy absolutely no visitors are permitted on set or in studio.

No alcohol is permitted to be consumed before or during a shoot. You may not be under the influence of any drug or alcohol.

No drugs of any kind are permitted without a prescription. On international shoots, all prescriptions must be registered with the location coordinator.

Please be respectful of the client. This may be in the form of an art director who can be quirky or demanding at times. If you have an issues with a client, please see someone on our staff and address the issue with us first.

Your privacy, comfort and security is important to us. Feel free to address any issues that may compromise any of these.