Article: Before getting out there as a model, you should research available photographers in your area. It is best to find a photographer that does headshots and can handle makeup. You will need to have a mild layer of makeup applied for your headshot.  Look online for photographers who meet this criteria. You might also have luck finding a good photographer through an agency you’re in contact with. Yes, you will need to pay for a good photographer to do your headshots. It is a vulnerable part of the process, but being a model is a vulnerable job. You want the highest quality you can afford. It is best if your photographer or agency can do make up.  A good photographer will take several photos, sometimes up to a hundred. Then they'll communicate to you which one you'd like to use. Some headshots are taken outside, and others are shot indoors at a studio. Both of these can be effective, if done by the right photographer. Talk to friends in the modeling world to find out if they have any connections to a modeling agency. If not, go online and research nearby modeling agency. It is better to pick an agency that is close to you as opposed to commuting over an hour.  If the closest modeling agency is an hour or two away, consider if this is what you truly want for yourself. If you do, then go for it. Distance cannot stop dreams.  Many times your photographer will have contacts with a modeling agency. Some agencies will even look through your photographer's headshot portfolio if they need someone urgently. Go into the modeling agency if it is convenient. It is best to make physical contact with a modeling agency. Go into their office with your headshot in hand. Be confident, but open for what type of advice they may give you. Send a few emails as well to agencies you think might sign you to do a few gigs.  Seek out an agency that is known for parts modeling or other types of modeling that are more open to different body types. Be professional when contact the agency. If you are drafting an email, be sure to include an attachment of your headshot. Include any relevant information about previous jobs or something associated with acting/theater. It doesn’t hurt to contact multiple agencies. There several websites that act as databases for models and businesses looking for models. You can join one of these websites, usually for free. All you need to provide is some basic information about what your modeling goals are and physical descriptors. Be honest about your height and proportions when creating a profile.  You might feel as though you are limiting yourself by including information about your height, but this agencies will appreciate your honesty. There is always work to be done for a variety of body types. Check out http://www.modelmanagement.com/ for a good interface and an abundance of resources. While it might not be convenient, big cities are the epicenters of the modeling world. This is where you will have your “big chance,” if you will have one. You don’t have to move to L.A. or New York to become a model, although it doesn’t hurt. If you live in a small or rural town, research the nearest city. For example if you live in Carbondale, Illinois, you could move to St. Louis or Chicago. While you’re first starting out, it is important to take modeling jobs to add to your portfolio. Unless the job offends your moral outlook on life, you should take the job. Having modeling experience will also show future employers that you know what it means to be a model.  It might be easiest for you to start as a parts model. Parts modelling focuses on a zoom in of a part of your body like your hands. Another popular form of modeling that is open for different models is catalog work. Catalog modeling is becoming more popular to represent multiple body sizes to represent the common person flipping through a clothing catalog.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Connect with a photographer. Pay for headshots. Research modeling agencies. Contact a modeling agency. Create an online model profile. Move to a big city. Take any job in the beginning.
Article: When opening a durian, gloves are important for several reasons. For one, they’ll protect your hands from the spikes on the outside of the fruit. They’ll also keep your hands from smelling like the fruit, which some people find unpleasant. Finally, the gloves will also help you hold the durian steady as you cut into it. You can use thick rubber gloves, clean gardening gloves, a baseball mitt, or even a clean towel to protect your hands. Turn the durian on its side and hold it firmly in place with one hand. With the other hand, use a sharp knife to carefully slice the stem from the top of the fruit. Cut off the stem and a small sliver from the top of the shell. Turn the durian over and rest it on the cut edge. Cutting a sliver from the top of the fruit will give you an even edge to rest the durian on as you cut into it. The fruit inside a durian grows in pods, and the shell grows in sections around these pods. As such, the durian will have seams where the shell comes together, and you can open the fruit easily by locating and cutting the seams. The seams of a ripe durian will actually start to tear apart on their own, so you may not even have to cut into the fruit. For durians that aren't perfectly ripe, use a sharp knife to carefully cut along the seams of the fruit. Start with a shallow cut, and then cut progressively deeper until the sections of the shell start coming apart. Cut the entire length of the seam. Repeat with each seam in the shell. Cutting in progressively deeper slices will ensure you cut deeply enough to crack the shell, but not so deeply that you score the fruit underneath. Once you’ve made cuts deep enough in the seam that you can open the shell, put the knife down. Pick a seam to start and stick your thumbs or fingers on both sides of the opening. Pull the seams away from each other to open the shell and reveal the pod of fruit inside. Repeat with all the seams to reveal all the pods of flesh.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Put on gloves. Cut off the stem. Locate the seams. Make deep scores in the shell at the seams. Pry the shell apart.
Article: If your subject feels nervous or self-conscious, it will show in the picture. Start with an ice-breaker, like making silly faces or standing in exaggerated poses. Try this while you’re shooting your lighting test. Be positive. Most people aren’t used to having their pictures taken, so keep your tone encouraging, and keep the conversation going through the shoot. Everyone has gestures and facial expressions which are unique to them. Animated expressions are best for headshots, so talk to your client about different topics to see what they’re passionate about, then shoot the results.  Ask questions about what the subject likes to do in their free time, as well as their job, their family, and their pets. When you hit on a subject they seem interested in, ask them more about it. For instance, talk to a dog lover about which parks in the city are the most dog-friendly, or ask a music lover about any shows they've seen recently. Share funny stories from your photography experience to put your client at ease. Just be sure to never badmouth a former client - that always comes across as unprofessional! If the energy in the room seems to drop, suggest a wardrobe change or come up with a new pose to shake things up a little. In general, a top-down shot is the most flattering, as it eliminates the look of a double chin. Have the client tilt their forehead slightly forward, which strengthens the look of the jawline. In some cases, shooting up from the bottom can convey strength and authority. Practice a few shots to see if you can find the angle you like. Sometimes, subtle changes can make a big difference. Make slight adjustments to the subject's posture and the angle of their head as needed between shots.  Folded arms can convey strength, but it can also look very stiff, especially in women. Try asking them to drop the shoulder closest to the camera for a more natural look. Action shots can demonstrate a person’s profession. Show them holding a prop or acting out something they would do at work. Try turning the body to a 45 degree angle with the subject’s head facing directly at the camera.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use an ice-breaker to make the client feel comfortable. Try to capture what makes your client unique. Shoot from above the subject for the most flattering angle. Try sitting, standing, and leaning poses to see which look the most natural.