Introduction
Instagram and Tik Tok are the new avenues to a modeling contract in New York today. Social is checked by the agencies and the clients.
They desire that they have clean digitals, robust short videos, and natural personality on camera. Open with a basic set of no makeup digitals, a pinned intro reel, a clean walk video, a 360 turn and some brief clips which would correlate with real jobs. Focus on video presence. That is what gets you noticed and arrested.
Contents
- Why social replaced the open call
- What NYC agents look for on Instagram and TikTok
- Turn your profile into a working portfolio
- Your new Polaroids are Reels
- Build the intro reel that wins the first look
- How to record a walk video that passes a casting
- Personality on camera and why it sells
- Posting plan that works in New York
- How to submit to NYC agencies the smart way
- How scouts actually find you on social without spam
- Realities of castings and NYFW now
- Where to record in New York for free
- Simple home setup that looks agency ready
- Video settings that keep skin and motion true
- On camera behavior that reads as professional
- Growth tactics for Instagram and TikTok
- A focused 30 day plan
- Trusted studio help in New York City
Why social replaced the open call
There are open calls, however, the majority of the initial reviews take place on a phone screen. The agents/ casting directors would want to see what you would be like without heavy makeup, how you move, how you talk and how you would appear in natural light. In a minute, they have all that in a Public Instagram and Tik Tok. Brands are now being discovered and sold by short video. This is the reason why agencies are requested by clients to provide them with models who already appear good on video. You jump queues and launch actual conversations when your profiles provide you with definite evidence of that.
What NYC agents look for on Instagram and TikTok
They look for the truth. They desire undistorted skin, skeleton, shape, and motion. They go through your first nine posts, your pinned clips. They test whether you are the same in posts that have been taken in various lighting conditions. They test whether you are able to relax and eyes stare through a lens. They seek a consistent appearance which they can project to clients. They also seek transparency on your bio. Your first line must consist of your name, New York City and height. Measurement of the foot and shoes. Add an email for bookings. Keep the account public. Scouting is not done on private profiles.
Turn your profile into a working portfolio
Be a booker and create your grid to go through quickly. Your upper rows must act like a white comp card. Keep a simple color story. Posts that count can be used on a neutral wall and during daylight. Keep styling minimal. Jeans and a fitted top work. Pull hair off the face. It is aimed at eliminating guesswork. When an agent is able to view your face, profile and frame within seconds, you get more replies.
Your new Polaroids are Reels
Polaroids used to be printed. Thereafter they turned into computer files. The short video is the most convincing format nowadays. One reel in which you can see a relaxed face, a slow 360, a natural walk tells more than ten photos. It demonstrates your appearance in action and your presence. It also demonstrates that you can deliver on the format that the brands work with on a daily basis. Use these reels like your actual polaroids. Make them easy and standardized. Update them every few weeks.
Build the intro reel that wins the first look
In front of a plain wall, stand on soft light in front of a window. Tie hair back. Remove heavy makeup. A natural head and shoulders shot is a good place to begin. Name, age (not uncomfortable), height, New York City. Hold a calm smile for a second. Turn to the left and right profile. Step back to show the full length. Perform front, side and three quarter moves in a beat each. Keep it under twenty seconds. Speak clearly. The power must be easy and natural. No music needed. The clip is also useful in e castings where one is required to provide its voice due to the use of clean audio.
How to record a walk video that passes a casting
Hold the phone camera close to the hip on a firm surface. As much as possible use natural light. Draw a straight line of five to seven steps. Prance at the runway speed. Keep your gaze level. Touch the mark and pause one second. Shoulders relaxed, turn and walk back. Note one pass in heels: when you want to aim at runway or editorials and one pass in clean sneakers: when you want to work commercially. Do not stuff the background. Give a one-take no-cut delivery. Hold it for ten to fifteen seconds.
Personality on camera and why it sells
Nowadays a model is supposed to be a carrier of short videos. Directors are seeking fast power and realness. They desire a face that will make a viewer pause to scroll. You do not need to act. You need to be present. Imagine a friend behind the camera. Allow your micro expressions to stir. Get your eyes in touch with the camera. Keep your hands soft. It is easy to make a five second clip of turning your head, rubbing your hair once and once you are already in a relaxed smile. Clients reserve faces which are capable of doing so at their request. It appears natural and it is sellable.
Posting plan that works in New York
Aim for consistency. Three to five short videos once in a week keeps you on the move. One intro update, one walk refresh, one beauty close up with clean skin, one e-commerce style movement with a white wall, one personality clip with one or two lines. Maintain a fixed stare of a month so that the agents will remember your face. There are rapid cycles in New York that are related to showrooms and campaigns. Stability can assist you in capturing those windows.
How to submit to NYC agencies the smart way
Use the official forms of each of the agencies. Fill it in when your profiles are ready. Add Instagram and Tik Tok accounts. Post the same clean digitals that you have posted before. Provide your walk video or a link where it is possible. Look in your inbox and respond fast in case an agent requests updates. Do not submit daily. Write two weeks of updates in your profiles and resubmit in the case of actual improvements. This intelligent game is gradual, apparent advancement.
How scouts actually find you on social without spam
Scouts follow certain hashtags and destinations. They double the tagged posts that are in their agency. They check on New York tags of local photographers and makeup artists. You do not need to spam tags. Your best pinned reels must have one or two correct tags on them. You should also geotag New York on your key posts. Collaboration posts help. You also appear before their audience when a local creative posts with you and uses the Collab feature.
Realities of castings and NYFW now
Most shows and jobs have first rounds that are digital. Photos and short videos are viewed by producers prior to them inviting go sees. Will receive a walk clip and 360 as a self tape. Anticipate to capture fast fit videos on e-commerce. Personal fittings and call backs are still important. You need a simple bag ready. Walkable clean heels. A hair tie. Minimal undergarments that are invisible under sample clothes. You do not need full glam. You must be on time, well-dressed and prepared to move.
Where to record in New York for free
The side streets of SoHo provide flat walls and low shade in the early morning. The West Village is clean in stoops and peaceful when not at peak times. DUMBO has large light along the waterfront but it is crowded so go early. At midtown studios, the corridors or elevators lobby tend to be white in color with equal lighting. Any north facing window is gold in any apartment. The goal is morning or end of the day. Midday sun operates during cloudy days. The winter light is more gentle, and it may be employed more.
Simple home setup that looks agency ready
You do not need a studio. A tripod phone held at eye or hip level is sufficient. Put it some distance away and center on your face. Sludge two or three feet before a clean wall. Light: Softer light should come through the window, and the overhead lights that produce harsh shadows should be switched off. Keep the room tidy. The background is alright, a plant or a chair is alright, as long as it does not distract. Talk into the microphone of the phone. In any noisy room, you can record voice intros in a closet or hallway where sound is not as loud.
Video settings that keep skin and motion true
Record vertical. Use the rear camera. Locke resolution to 1920 or better. A natural look is 30 frames per second. Do not use filters and beauty modes. They alter the texture of the skin in a manner, which agents do not like. Keep exposure fixed in place such that you do not flick your face as you move. Wipe between shots. Keep clips short. It is best to allow between ten and twenty seconds to go through and reread. You should save clean copies to your camera roll in case you are requested to send files by a casting director.
On camera behavior that reads as professional
Stillness is a skill. Wait a whole second and then move. Inhale and then begin to loosen the jaw and shoulders. Keep your chin level. Look through the lens with your eyes then jerk to the sides to make a reset. Smile with your eyes first. Speak in a low, distinct voice. Get yourself counting to count slowly. No rapid head turns and sweeping body motions. In the shorter video, they appeared disorderly. Keep hair controlled. Product shots are sold by a mere tuck behind the ear and reveal the buyer the structure of the bone.
Growth tactics for Instagram and TikTok
Make use of your pinned content as your storefront. Pin the intro reel, walk and the 360. Update them once a month. Keep it simple with captions of your stats and city. Use the geotags in New York to demonstrate locality. Backgrounds of test shoots with New York stylists. Make collaborators tagged to cross audiences with your work. Reply to real comments. Store your best videos under story highlights with such titles as Digitals, Walk, Beauty, Personality. Regular sorting assists agents in locating what they require without having to scroll through.
A focused 30 day plan
Week 1 is a cleanup: Make your accounts public. Write a clear bio. Filter off and cluttered edits on recent posts. Develop a new set of fresh digitals on a white or light wall during daytime. Recording of the intro reel, the walk and the 360. Pin them.
Week 2 is submission: Send in digitals and post to New York agencies using their official on-line submission forms. Post three videos of short duration throughout the week. Keep the look consistent.
Week 3 is collaboration: Hire a basic test with a local photographer or makeup artist. Seize a business e-commerce trend. Capture a voice recording that displays your voice. Post and enable the Collab option such that the content is posted on both profiles.
Week 4 is a follow up: Alter your intro reel with a minor change such as smooth eye contact or better turns. Forgive any agencies which you failed during week two. Keep posting. Keep track of what is saved and re-played and do more of those.
Trusted studio help in New York City
Want to get a quick and professional base, book a session at a studio who knows agency digitals and short video. In New York, an agency such as CEOportrait is a good choice of headshots of models, clean polaroid, short videos aimed at Instagram and Tik Tok. The crew understands how to illuminate natural skin, frame a basic 360 and direct a walk that translates into display on screen. Request a package that provides unretouched digitals, a pinned intro reel, a walk video, and some movement clips that will fit the requirements of e-commerce. That will include the majority of submissions and the majority of first rounds castings.
##
