Newbie Models always wanted.

I'm always looking for young new potential models that are genuinely serious about giving it a go. Modelling can be a very rewarding career both financially and artistically. There are a lot of photographers out there, both amateur and professional who will pay models good money to do shoots with them. But there is a lot more to it than just standing in front of a camera looking pretty.

You'll be aged between 18 and 30 and ideally a size 6 - 12. You will need to be enthusiastic, a good listener, keen and willing to learn and have no, or very little, previous modelling experience.

I will tutor you through posing techniques including flow posing, show you how to get modelling work etc and direct you through several pro shoots with myself. You will receive a set of fully graded and edited images from each shoot to get your own portfolio started. This offer is 100% free and is open to just one model only at the moment. You may be wondering why I am offering this. Two reasons. 1. I love mentoring and seeing what was once, a shy, nervous newbie flourish and blossom into a confident high-class professional photographic model. I have tutored several girls in the past and they are now earning some really good money doing one or two shoots a week only. And 2. Obviously, I will get some nice images for my own portfolio. So if you think you might have what it takes (and you probably do) then do get in touch.

If you can see this then I'm still looking.

Guide to spotting 'dodgy' photographers

There are a lot of photographers out there, some good and some not so good. Sadly, some of them are doing it for all the wrong reasons. In the trade we call them GWCs or 'Guys with Cameras'. Another name for them is 'Hobby Snappers'. These are the people that give our industry a bad name. These guys aren't really that interested in getting great photos for you. To put it bluntly, they just want pictures of women in their underwear and the chances are you will never hear from them again and never get to see the photos. One of my clients told me that she once booked a photographer, and she couldn't believe what happened. She did say she wondered why he was so cheap. On the day of the shoot he arrived at her place as arranged. She was expecting him to go get his gear out of the car and set up while she was getting changed. When she walked back in he was just standing there with his phone. That was his camera. He was just going to use his phone to take the photos. He had told her that he was a professional photographer. Needless to say, she kicked him out immediately. And rightly so. Sadly, this sort of thing is a lot more common than you might think. However, in saying that, there are a few very good, genuine, amateur/hobby photographers out there and you may well get some very nice shots. But if you really want to be certain then go for someone with experience and who can back up his/her claims. Yes, you may pay a bit more but at least you can be sure of getting exactly what you want.

If you are currently talking to a photographer but something doesn't feel right, then here is a list of helpful tips to help you weed out the dodgy ones.

* Find out if he/she has a website? All professional photographers will have their own website.

* Ask them to meet up for a coffee and a chat somewhere public before you commit to having a shoot. This can serve two purposes. 1. It helps to break the ice so that on the day of the shoot you're not meeting a complete stranger and 2. You'll get an idea of what sort of person they are.

* Beware of people that only advertise themselves on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or other social media. This is where the vast majority of dodgy photographers are.

* Ask to see their portfolio. If they show you a lot of stunning photos but there is only one of each model then there is a strong possibility that they have just taken their images off google or someone else's website. Don't be fooled. The origin of their images can also be checked by looking at the metadata.

* Ask them for references. Tell them you'd like to contact a couple of models or clients they have worked with in the past.

* Ask them what camera and equipment they use (lights, backdrops etc) Then google it to see the cost of it. A pro photographer will have invested a lot of money in their equipment.

* Make sure they use MRFs (Model Release Forms) for their shoots and ask to read it before the day of the shoot. This is a legally binding photographic agreement that covers both the model and the photographer. It doesn't commit you to having a shoot if you change your mind but it does cover you in regard of what happens with your images.

* If you can only do your shoot on an evening or weekend that is absolutely fine. But most true professional photographers will be available all day, seven days a week. Test the water. Ask him or her what their availability is.

* They ask for selfies or nude shots of you. NEVER send photos of yourself unless you know you can trust them. They may make up a reason like 'I need to see your skin tones' or 'it's just nice to see what I'll be working with'. Don't be fooled. They want selfies or nude shots for one of two reasons. 1. They're creeps or 2. They want to see how attractive you are first so they can decide whether to work with you or not. If they insist then send them a picture of an overweight elderly lady. If he disappears or turns you down then there's your red flag. A true professional will do a photo shoot with any client regardless of age or looks and treat all clients equally.

Now, I'm not saying you should do all the things mentioned above, although you can if you want to. These are just a few suggestions that may help you and give you peace of mind. Just for the record I am perfectly happy to supply any information you may want before you book a shoot with me. I've been doing this for a very long time and I take great pride in the fact that I have never had a bad review.

Don't be afraid to ask whatever questions you might have. There's no such thing as a silly question.