Aaron Marcus explains why commercial modeling matters for actors and identifies the biggest mistake newcomers make: generic test shots that don't look like real ads. He shows how to research actual ad concepts, plan distinct scenarios with props, and use acting technique to create believable expressions that casting directors recognize.
Hi, in this video you are going to learn the one mistake that both actors and models make that really hurt their chances of getting commercial modeling work. So watch this video until the end and you're going to learn more about commercial modeling, how actors can benefit by doing commercial modeling work, and some of the techniques and strategies that you absolutely need to use to have success as a commercial model. Okay, let's get started. Hi, I'm Aaron Marcus, and welcome to the Acting and Modeling Quick Tips channel and the Actor Career Center, where I help people get started in the industry and also help people take their career to the next level. I try to create new videos at least twice a month, uh, just depending on my schedule. If you haven't done this yet, Don't forget, subscribe, click the little bell, the notification button, and that way every time I upload a new video, you will be notified. And if you like the videos, please give it a thumbs up. That's really helpful. So the very first thing that I want to do here is share with you information about what exactly is commercial modeling. A lot of times I find that actors think when they hear commercial modeling that they're thinking of TV commercials. That's not it. TV commercials are commercials that you see on TV, but commercial modeling ads are simply still photos that you see in magazines, in newspapers, in brochures, on websites, on billboards, on sides of buses. You will find commercial modeling work Everywhere. And here's the really cool thing about commercial modeling work, and I do a lot of commercial modeling jobs. I really like it as an actor. I really enjoy it, besides the fact that it pays a lot and it's really enjoyable work. No lines to be memorized, and I get a chance to use the same acting skills that I use for on-camera work, except this is in front of a, a camera, a still camera with a photographer. The key thing is here in that in the fashion world— and normally that's what people think of, fashion modeling, which has nothing to do with commercial modeling. Those are men and women who are walking runways. They are promoting high-end designer clothes. Commercial modeling has nothing to do with that. These are all different types of people. There are infants. There are people in their 80s and 90s doing commercial modeling work and everybody in between. Unlike the fashion world, there are no height restrictions, there are no weight restrictions. They hire all different types, whether you're tall, you're short, you're in great shape, you're not in great shape. So that's why I love doing commercial modeling work. So let me share with you the biggest problem that people have that really hurts their chances of getting commercial modeling work. So typically, when you are ready to create some what we call test shots, these are sample shots that either you are going to be submitting for commercial modeling jobs or your agent. What people do is the very first thing is they hire a photographer. And by the way, in the notes below, I'm going to share with you a link to a really helpful quick tip video that I created, the 8 Questions That You Have to Ask a Photographer Before You Hire One. You definitely want to watch that to learn more about how to find the right photographer for you. So typically what happens, you hire the photographer and you go into a session. And I'll tell you what I did for my very first session, which was not a very good one because I just didn't know. You know, how am I supposed to know? I've never done this work before. So I walk in and I said to the photographer, You know, what do I do? And he said to me, make faces. I said, all right. So we spent the entire session and I was making faces, and it was a horrible shoot. It really was. I was able to salvage one shot. But, you know, what normally happens, I find that if there's an adult male who goes into a session, the photographer will say, hey, you know what, I see you as a business guy. So Put on a suit. Why don't you hold a cell phone and smile? So that way you look like a business guy. Or if it's an attractive woman, they'll say, okay, do something kind of sexy. Just look beautiful. Have this gorgeous smile. That's not what you want to do. It's not. What you want to do— and I'm going to show you samples and you'll get a chance to see them. You want to actually create shots that look like ads, not these generic photos of yourself. They don't stand out. It doesn't grab the attention of photographers, the art and creative directors at advertising agencies, or agents if you're trying to find representation. You want something unique so that when you look at it, you think, oh, that could be an ad for this product, this product, or this product. So it's, it's a bit of a process, but you want to spend some time preparing before a test shot. And, and by the way, I wouldn't recommend getting too many of them done on the same day because each one of them might take quite a bit of time to actually pull off. So What you want to do— let's just say, for instance, it's a pharmaceutical concept. And so let's say I'm sick, you know, I'm a patient, I don't feel well. This is an ad for a new kind of thermometer that is very accurate, and in seconds you'll know whether you've got a fever or not. So what I need to do is look sick. I have to look like I feel miserable. And there are many ways that you can get ideas, borrow ideas from other people. And one of the things you can do is go to some stock photography websites. I will list those below as well, uh, so you get a chance to see them. These are generic photos that photographers are hoping to rent or sell to companies. So look at tons of these photos, and if you see one that it actually looks like an ad— because for some of the stock shots, you actually have to add in the, the words, the headlines, the copy, you know, the text that goes along with the lines, or maybe the product itself to actually make it look like an ad— you want to create this shot so it looks like an ad with no words. Just strictly through maybe some props that you're going to be having in the shot. Let's say if I feel miserable, maybe I'm going to be lying on a sofa. I've got blankets. Maybe I'm blowing my nose, so I have tissues around, you know, things like that. Those would be props in a shot. So you might want to bring in some props. No logos, no brand names, because that could cut you out of working for competitors because they might think that you actually did a shot for another company. And then you've got to use your acting skills to create believable expressions and show a wide variety of expressions and emotions. That is how you create powerful, eye-catching commercial test shots that can give you your best chance for having success. And the other trick is, you know, have a wide variety of different kinds of shots. You know, maybe you have one where you feel sick, maybe you have You can have one where somebody just proposed to you and you are feeling love and, and you look great and there's this surprise in your face. You know, there are lots of different kinds of shots that you can put together depending on your type and depending on the types of jobs you are going to get. So the trick is don't just do these generic test shots. Create shots that actually look like ads. Listen, if you have done some commercial modeling work or you've created some test shots, please leave a comment below as to how you prepared. What kind of shots did you do? Did those photos actually help you either get representation or book jobs as a commercial model? Because once again, look, the whole purpose of this channel is to have fellow actors and models help each other by sharing information. Or if you have follow-up questions, leave them below. I will personally answer them for you. If you haven't done this yet, don't forget, subscribe, click the notification button. If you like the video, please give it a thumbs up. And the other thing too is share this link. Share it with your colleagues, with your other actor— acting and modeling friends. So this will help spread the word and we can bring in more people who are out here trying to help each other. I'm Aaron Marcus, and I can't wait to talk with you again soon. See ya.
