Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome

Hi and welcome to “Fotensity Images”, or “Srdjan Photography”.

This page represents an attempt to answer a number of initial questions that you may have about me. Please read on, but if you don’t find the answer here, do not despair. I am usually a phone call or an e-mail away.

I have behind me a number of photo sessions with aspiring and established models, but most of the time similar questions are raised.

I will try to answer here some of the most frequent questions asked by the models before, during and after the session. These notes reflect my experience in the industry and are by no means complete, may not be accurate, as they reflect my understanding of the industry at a point in time. They are updated from time to time with new information.

So, what do you do?

I provide professional model portfolio production services. Since 2004, I have worked with a number of aspiring and experienced models on their portfolios from 2 hour short sessions, all the way up to providing full 12 – 20 page printed portfolio of images. I also help models assemble the final portfolio from photographs taken by different photographers.

I don’t keep a formal reference book, but most of my clients are coming back to me for additional sessions and would be happy to provide the reference for me.

I am also a professional make up artist (MUA). I have a Certificate IV from Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy (NPMA) since early 2006, and I use Napoleon and M.A.C. makeup, with addition of some other brand products, as needed. I am also a visiting lecturer for the subject “Photographic Lighting for Makeup” at the NPMA in Melbourne and shoot makeup artist final portfolios at the same academy.

My photographic services are personalized to the needs or each and every one of my clients. Fotensity Images is not a ‘glamour photography shop’, but professional model portfolio studio. Every photo shoot is planned to bring the best in you as a model and create images for your portfolio that you can be proud of.

I work mainly in commercial fashion (including clothing design, hair and make-up), and commercial glamor industry. I can be seen with a camera in the media raiser of most major fashion events (L’Oreal Fashion Week, Motorola Fashion Week and others).

What portfolio services do you provide?

I am a photographer. I can work with you in order to create or enhance your portfolio of photographs that you will use to go to auditions and castings with to help you get the modeling job you are after. I am not an agency, although, through my work I have a list of contacts of models I have worked with, as well as list of hair dressers, makeup artists, stylists etc.I can pass on any requests for modeling work that I am aware of, to my list of contacts.

Do you Provide Event Sponsorship?

Yes, I do. I have sponsored a number of local and national modelling competitions with major prizes, such as free portfolio photo shoots.

In the past I have sponsored following competitions:

RALPH Swimwear Model Search
Inside Sport Model Search
Fashion TV Diamond Model
Little Black Dress
Miss World
Model Discovery
Miss Aviation
Miss Swimsuit
Manhunt Male Model Competition

Please contact me for a Sponsorship Information Pack.

My friends mention TFP, what is it?

The TFP (Time for Prints) and/or TFCD (Time for CD) is a session where all the people involved in a photo shoot, or most of them, agree to provide their services in return for photographs, either printed or burned on to a CD. They can then use these photographs in their portfolios while looking for commercial, paid, assignments.

I consider this an important topic, so, for more information about TFP/TFCD, please see this page.

What is a model release?

Model release is a legally binding document that you, as a model, are required to sign to allow a photographer to use the photographs where your image is captured, in any way s/he chooses, if required, for commercial reasons and for their promotion. Although the photographer is a copyright owner of the image, s/he is not allowed to publish it without the model release.

Sometimes a photograph may be usable as a stock photograph or for a particular commercial purpose, and that use is covered with the model release. You are also granted the right to use the same photographs for your promotion as a model.

Please look up model release on the net for more information..

If you want to obtain a copy of my model release(s), please contact me using the contact form on this site.

Where is the photo session?

Depending on the agreement, the session can be organised in the studio, or an outdoor or indoor location. Sometimes, a single session may involve studio and location.

If the studio session is required, the address of the studio is:

Glow Studios
269-275 Abbotsford St
North Melbourne, VIC, 2051

You will be notified well in advance if the location is changed. You should also have received an e-mail notice about the location, time and date details of the location etc. If you didn’t receive it, please contact me to make sure everything is in place.

See the contact details section at the bottom of this document.

How do I prepare for the session?

Think about what you would like to achieve with the session. Usually your goal would be to get the best photographs possible. That obviously requires you to prepare extensively for the session. Here are some pointers.

Usually you would like to complete a session with 3-4 different looks, sometimes even more. These could be a combination of the following: casual look, street fashion look, high fashion look, swimwear and/or lingerie.

If you are under 18, you should not be asked to agree to any type of topless, implied or nude photographs. If you are over 18 you may discuss and/or agree to these too.

So, it is a good idea to employ your friends/parents with a reasonable fashion sense to help you choose the outfits you can use for every one of these types of shots. Internet and printed fashion/glamour magazines are good references to what you find cool and the looks you would like to have in your folio.

Bearing in mind that some commercial fashion shots in these magazines are products of significant time, effort and financial commitment on a part of a whole artistic team, it is still possible for a folio shoot to achieve similar look.

So, prepare 4-5 sets of outfits that are colour coordinated and fit you correctly. This includes accessories, jewelery and footwear. Nothing to stop you exercising your own fashion sense and bringing your own creations.

Don’t forget that you are trying to achieve a commercial looking, not a snapshot, photograph, which means you will have to practice how to move and how to pose in front of camera for a maximum image impact. I am happy to provide guidance on a set, as this is not a commercial shoot where you are expected to perform your job as a model. Still, it makes everybody’s job easier, if you can prepare by looking at the commercial photographs and try to understand how and what the models had to do to achieve a particular look. Practice in front of a mirror is always good.

If you are a glamour model, or have a session where you are expected to have swimwear or similar shots, you may want to ensure your tan, or fake tan, is applied evenly and professionally. It is very difficult to ‘photoshop’ irregular colour patches. Minor corrections can be applied, but they take time and are usually chargeable items.

Check that your finger and toenails have even, fresh coat of nail polish. It is preferable that the nail polish is neutral so that is doesn’t clash with any outfits you will be wearing. If any outfit requires a particular colour nail polish, it is easier to put it on the set rather to remove it.

Make sure your hair is washed and can be straightened or curled on the set. Hair extensions are fine as long as they are easy to maintain and/or remove if necessary. Undergrowth should be preferably covered, but sometimes it is not possible.

If you prefer your own hairdresser, unless by prior arrangement, let him/her create a simple style, as more elaborate styles tend to require specific type of outfits that we may not be able to match.

As TFP is not paid assignment, it is difficult to organise a make up artist who would do the makeup for free, unless they are willing to work for photos as well. I am a qualified makeup artist and I usually do makeup for my TFP shoots, but you may prefer to get your own makeup artist. If you do, make sure you check out their credentials so you know that the makeup will not damage your photo shoot.

If you decide to come without makeup, make sure you have moisturized your face about one hour before so that your skin has a chance to absorb the moisturizer. Also, if you have a foundation that is matched to your skin tone, you may want to bring it with you.

If you want to do a specific type of shots with fancy clotting/props, please bring the clothing/props with you.

What do I need to bring?

We already discussed that in the preparation section but… Your best clothes including accessories (hats, boots, belts, jewelery etc). If you are after some glam or feminine lingerie shots, bring that too. The selection of outfits depends on the type and style of the planned photo shoot. For high fashion photo shoot we will need to plan for appropriate styling and appropriate high fashion outfits. For glamour sessions lacy underwear, corset, stockings and anything else that creates nice ‘sexy’ image, and swimwear of similar appropriate single colour or simple patterns is preferred.

What happens during the session?

The session usually takes 3-4 hours. Sometimes it may take longer than that, so you may want to make arrangements for drop-off and pickup if you are not driving.

First hour or so we usually prepare for a shoot by looking through the outfits and creating styles that we would like to shoot. This includes makeup/hairstyling time.

For a first time, or inexperienced model, another 30min to 1 hour may be allocated for a practice run, so they can get used to the camera and start getting a feel of how to pose for maximum effect. This is again a training session.

We will then usually go through a number of planned sets with some time allowed between for lighting and set changes as and if appropriate.

At the end of the session, we allocated about 30 min to go through the images and select the best 20 for the folio. I like to take this time to walk through all the images with you to discuss what works and what doesn’t to help you in the future.

The graphic artist or myself will then work on these images to ensure they are technically good and edited to satisfaction before your photos are burned onto a CD and mailed to you.

Can someone be present with me?

If you are under 18, a presence of an over 18 person is required, as they will have to sign the model release on your behalf. For over 18, it is optional. It depends on how safe you feel. Either way, it is expected that the person accompanying you will be spending the time in the waiting area, as their presence at the session itself can be counterproductive. They will have to be ready to spend 3-4 or more hours waiting for you, so some sort of entertainment is probably a good idea.

When can I expect my photos to be ready?

Usually you are expected to receive up to 20 photos as selected about a week or two weeks later. If you are in a hurry for some reason, we can arrange e-mailing of the best photos within a couple of days. Some agencies will require photos for comp card so they can get them printed.

Please refer to this page for the current list of photo shoots and photo delivery times.

Do you do test shoots for magazines?

Yes, but this is a separate discussion. Please contact me with your specific questions and ideas.

Do you supply photographs to magazines?

Yes, but this is a separate discussion. Please contact me with your specific questions and ideas, as there are no guarantees.

Where Can I find More Information about modeling and portfolios?

There is a number of agencies and specialized model trainers that will be able to provide these services. Also, internet is full of advice for young aspiring models, but as usual, all this advice should not be taken at a face value but discussed with more experienced person.

Google for “model portfolio”, “modeling agencies”, “modeling web site” and similar.

Can you recommend any agencies?

Modeling agencies differ significantly in the type of work they provide, the agency fees, requirements for portfolio images and the ‘class’ of work. Here is a list of some major modeling agencies operating in Victoria/Melbourne. Please check with them directly what they require and if/when they have open days. You may want to organise a ‘presentation’ meeting or ensure you show up on one of their open days and bring your folio ‘book’ with you.

In no particular order:

What are Your Contact Details?

My contact details are:

Srdjan Nikolic
Fotensity Images
c/o Glow Studios
269-275 Abbotsford Street
North Melbourne, VIC, 3051
Melways Ref: 2A-G8
Mobile: 0411-109-334
e-mail: srdjan@srdjan.com.au
web: www.srdjan.com.au
Office/fax: 03-9329-0090