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When you are preparing for photoshoot you need to consider what you, the model, need to take along with you. What you need will depend on whether you have a full styling team, what the style of the shoot is and also what is already provided at the studio or location.

If you do not have a styling team you will need:

• The most important item to take is skin coloured underwear. It works much better under clothing than coloured or black/white. Also have a strapless bra and thong.
• Good quality make-up. Eyeshadows should have a very high pigment content and foundations should be an exact match to your skin-tone. False Eyelashes are very useful for photoshoots too.
• Hair styling products, primarily straighteners and/or curlers (if you cant curl with straighteners), hairspray, hair pins, bands/bobbles.
• A wide variety of outfits - from jeans, to smart clothing to lingerie and swimwear
• Lots of accessories. You can never take too many necklaces, beads, bangles, headbands etc
• Shoes - flats, heels, trainers

If you are attending a fully styled shoot you will not need half as much:

• Skin coloured Lingerie
• A few items of clothing - just in case
• A few accessories - just in case
• Shoes - just in case

When the shoot is fully styled you should not be expected to take anything along barring suitable underwear. However, it is always useful to take a few items as you never know what may work. It is better to have too much choice then to not have enough.

Always liaise with the photographer and styling team prior to a shoot and get a good idea of the "theme" and direction you are going to take. That way you will be able to prepare effectively and arrive with a good idea of what to expect.

Essex Photo Studio Press Release

In today’s society it seems that everyone wants to get rich quick or be famous just for being famous. This has never been truer than in the modelling industry. With the allure of a glamorous lifestyle full of photoshoots, celebrity parties, being spotted by the paparazzi and the potential to earn thousands of pounds from a campaign. There is an abundance of aspiring models hoping to get their big break and many are willing to do what ever it takes to get there.

However, the industry is not as glamorous as many may think, it is rife with fake agents and unsavoury characters who are looking to scam people with a dream. People advertise their “model agency” and organise castings in bars, hotels and other public places, they then meet with girls, many who are very young and potentially vulnerable, promise them fame, contracts and an amazing life – but there is one catch, they have to pay a fee to join the agency and have to have professional images taken by their own photographer. They put pressure on the girls, making them feel as if it is their only chance. These aspiring models then pay the money and never hear form the so-called agency again. Girls dreams are crushed and they are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds out of pocket.

Luckily, recent legislation should help put a stop to these kinds of scams. It has been illegal for employment agencies to charge upfront fees for many years, however, due to pressure from various groups and organisations as of 1 October 2010 it has become illegal for employment agencies in the model and entertainment industry to charge upfront fees. Agents are therefore only permitted to earn a fee for finding work through taking a commission. Therefore, if a model isn’t found any work by an agent they will not have to pay anything for being registered with them.

Unfortunately those who are new to the industry are not always aware of the latest legislation or guidelines in the industry. Some of the known scam agencies are still conning people out of money by backdating their contracts. Therefore if the model is not vigilant they could potentially be signing a document that is out of date and could be faced with charges.

In light of this situation and due to her own experiences in the industry, first as a model and then a make-up artists and photostudio owner, Natasha Worby, Director of Worby Ltd, has set out to educate aspiring models. After being a victim of scams early in her career and then seeing so many others conned or mistreated within the industry Natasha has set up a unique course for aspiring models. The course can also be adapted to help educate everyone from photographers to scouts and aspiring stylists. The course is held over 5 days and is completely different to any other model training events out there. Worby Ltd.  does not merely focus on walking and posing for images, they go into immense detail on legislation, accounting, taxation, latest trends and how to keep up to date with the industry. They also give in-depth information into the various sectors of the industry, from high fashion to plus size and petite modelling to glamour modelling. The course has been designed to be fun yet informative and the week ends with a professional photoshoot to help the models start their portfolios. The course is held at Natasha’s professional studio in Southend-on-Sea, The Essex Photo studio.

This is the only course of its kind being offered in the industry. No other organisation offers such crucial information and guidance. The Essex Photo Studio is somewhat selective in who they accept onto the course, however all sectors are covered. Worby Ltd. does not wish to give false hope to anyone and will always offer free and impartial advice to any person they come into contact with.  Their websites are full of free advice and guidance and they continue to work with various organisations to help protect those in the industry.

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Further information

Contact: Natasha Worby            07595733584            natasha@worbyltd.co.uk

Background: Natasha Worby began modelling part time in 2002 to follow one of her dreams. Early in her career she was stung by 2 different agencies, she was out of pocket by just under £1000. This did no stop her. She continued to pursue a modelling career and was signed to a very reputable agency. As her contract was non-exclusive this allowed her to continue working with other agents and photographers. Whilst modelling she came across several photographers who tried to put pressure on her to go down a different path. Although Natasha thoroughly enjoyed modelling she found she had far more passion for the make-up side of things so trained as a make-up artist and started a new career. This lead to Natasha working with fantastic photographers, many who did not have their own studio or who found there was a lack of quality studios in the Essex area. This was when Essex Photo Studio was born. With her industry knowledge and ambition Natasha felt she could make an impact with her “eager to educate” attitude and constant need for the perfect shooting location.

Websites: www.worbyltd.co.uk

www.essexphotostudio.co.uk

FREE Make-up Artist!

When booking over 4 hours at The Essex Photo Studio you will be offered the chance to have a free make-up artist for the session. You will get 2 looks, TOTALLY FREE!!!

Limited time only!

Essex Photo Studio Backdrops

As the studio works progress you will find more and more sets and backdrops added to the "Essex Photo Studio" Blog.

One of the feature walls

Colour Splash Backdrop/floor

Record Backdrop/Floor

Gold Glitter Backdrop/floor

Marilyn Monroe Backdrop/Floor

Student Discounts

Worby Ltd is offering a 20% student discount across ALL services provided. This includes everything offered by Blushing Boudoir, Essex Photo Studio and Make-up by Natasha!

You need to have a valid student ID in order to qualify.

Model Agency Regulations

The world of modelling is rife with scams. The best way to avoid being duped by any of them is to know as much as possible about regulations, legislation and keep up to date on the lists of known scam agencies or individuals.

Charging upfront fees

Agencies are NOT permitted to charge upfront fees for finding work. This is one of the biggest scams in the industry. Many "agents" will tell you that you need to pay a registration fee, a fee for inclusion in publications and many more reasons, however an if an agent wishes to charge for finding you work hey will need to take the fee in a form of commission which is deducted from your earnings (usually around 20%). They are only able to charge you a commission if it is placed in your contract and you agree with the contract terms.

It has been illegal for employment agencies to charge up front fees for many years, however, due to pressure from groups from 1^st October 2010 it has been illegal for employment agencies in the model and acting industries to charge upfront fees.

If you wish to clarify any fees you have been charged, please contact Employment Agency Standards Directorate (020 7215 5788) or Institute of Modeling

Cooling off periods

Any agent offering you a contract has to give you a 30 day cooling off period and must not insist that you sign the contract at your initial meeting. The 30 day cooling period allows you to review the terms of the contract, to ensure that no upfront fees are charged and to generally ensure you are happy to enter into the contract. If you feel pressured into signing or uncomfortable with the contract then you should seek further advice.

Many agencies try to get around this regulation by pre-dating the agreements before asking you to sign. Ensure that all dates on the agreement are current dates and if in doubt ask someone.

Age Guidelines

If you are aspiring model under the age of 18 you should be aware that you should not be asked to do topless, glamour or any form of modelling that could be seen as provocative. It is not illegal and can be a somewhat "grey" area, but it may potentially lead to future problems, so be cautious at all times. You will also need your parent or guardians consent and they should be present at photoshoots and jobs. It is also advisable that you check to see if the person you are working with is CRB registered. If a person is in regular contact with minors they may be required to have regular CRB checks undertaken.

However, remember that a CRB check only checks if someone already has a criminal record, this does not mean they are not a risk, remember to observe all safety pointers.

If at anytime you are pressured into doing something you are not comfortable with, or you feel you may have come across a potential scam then you can contact various organisations.

You should always alert the police of any person who tries to push the boundaries with a minor or any person who may have abused your person.

If you are concerned that someone is acting as a scam agent you should seek advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau, they will be able to inform of the best route to take.

In all situations ensure you do your research thoroughly. If you are unsure about something seek further advice. Business Link can offer great advice on contracts, legislation and anything relating to who a business or organisation works.

Remember, any genuine agency will not charge any fees upfront, instead taking commission from your earnings, they will allow you time to consider your contract, they will not force you to get a professional portfolio by their own photographer, instead providing you with a list of recommended photographers but also letting you know that you can have images by any person you wish - however they should offer to get your portfolio done for free by them if they wish to offer you a contract. A legitimate agency will see you off the back of natural snap shot images. If they like your look they will invite you into meet them and then discuss your potential. They may advise you to go away and get some experience, but the above points should still apply.

Important Links

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

www.bis.gov.uk/policies/employment-matters/eas

Institute of Modelling www.instituteofmodelling.org

www.businesslink.gov.uk

www.met.police.uk/

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Wedding Make-up Ideas

When talking to my brides about what they want to achieve from their wedding day make-up look they often say "I want to look like me...but a little better". To me this means enhancing their best features and keeping looking natural but as though they have been on a long relaxing break and have returned refreshed.

When choosing a make-up look i always advise brides to look at a mixture of magazines and find models or real women with similar colouring to their own. There isn't much point telling the make-up artist that you want to look like the model in the picture if she has olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes and you are an english rose complexion with blonde hair and blue eyes. Yes you can take a little inspiration from the the look, but it will look totally different on you.

When thinking about your wedding make-up look at your face in detail and decide what you think would be best enhanced or what you would like to cover or distract from. Most brides want "perfect skin". An even skin tone can most certainly be achieved to help give that flawless look, one thing that make-up can not change is the skin texture. I advice my brides to take great care of the skin everyday and especially in the run up to the wedding.

In order to achieve the polished look:

• ensure you get a good quality foundation to match your skin tone perfectly. It should look totally natural, even your tone out and not look like obvious make-up.
• if you have blemishes, dark circles or anything you wish to cover up, opt for a good concealer that exactly matched your foundation. Check the concealer as some are created especially for spot overage and other for under-eye circles. Highlighting concealers are fantastic for under the eye area, but don't use them on spots!
• to enhance your eyes use a soft eyeliner, smudge the liner with a smudger brush or cotton bud to give a softer look. You want to try to avoid harsh lines around the eyes. If you don't want to use and eyeliner a deep brown or soft charcoal black eyeshadow can look amazing when smudged under the lower lash.
• try to use 2-3 different colours for the same colour palette for eyeshadow. Starting with the lighter colour on the inner corner of the eyelid, the medium shade from the inner edge of your iris (the colour part of your eye) and then create a C or backward C (depending on the eye) on the outer corner. Going one third of the way into the eyelid, in the socket and along the lash line. BLEND BLEND BLEND, the colours should appear seamless.
• opt for natural shades to help keep the look soft.
• Use a soft peachy-pink blusher to give a naturally flushed look.
• Pinky browns are great for lips, natural but a hit of colour without looking too obvious.

Hollywood starlet glamour is huge in bridal make-up at the moment, think Marilyn Monroe's sexy pout and alluring eyes.

This look is very simple to create, it is almost the same as the above look however you need to create a flicked line with liquid eyeliner (or a cake liner or pencil or the new felt tip style liners, whichever you find easiest) and apply red lipstick, not forgetting the lipliner to prevent bleeding.

It may take a few practices to get the eyeliner right, but it is worth it. Keep the rest of your make-up very fresh and natural looking, making sure emphasis is on the lips and the subtle flick of liner.