I have helped lots of models start their careers and in many cases helped launch them to great successes. Do you have what it takes to be a great model? Are you willing to work hard at it? If so, I can help…
I remember the days when I was starting out in photography. I would work with ANYONE just for a chance to gain a little experience. Over time, my work got better and I started to pick up clients. The more clients I got, the more they would come calling, the more they came calling the more connections I would establish – It’s a snowball effect, to the point where I shoot almost every day!
This put me in the fortunate position of recommending friends and models I like to work with. When I build a professional relationship with the model I know what I’m getting. I know what we can accomplish and I know our goals and boundaries.
Why do I mention this? Because I get so many requests from models wanting to shoot for fun, I just don’t know how to say politely I simply don’t have the time.
This is not to say there aren’t ways around this – Let me give you a few examples;
Anissa Holmes came to a Playboy casting call. After working with her for Playboy and loving our chemistry (Playboy SE Cover and Playboy Calendar Cover), I recommended her for American Curves (Cover and a bunch of spreads) I also took her down to the Caribbean with a few other models to shoot for a week.
Amy Lynn Grover was shooting stills for the Naked News One on One feature when I met her. At the time, she had never been published and was eager to get into Playboy. I tested her the week after and she got the Playboy Lingerie Special Cover. After that I recommend her to American Curves after a model called in ‘tired’ and again, she got a cover. This time with Lisa MacKay. (To be expanded upon below). At the time, I was shooting the covers of Inside Fitness and although she was not a fitness model, I got her a cover there as well. I brought Amy with me to the Playboy offices in Chicago to meet the publisher and recommend her for another cover to coincide with a Special coming out around the time of the next Toronto Casting and bingo – She got Playboy’s Girlfriend Special cover with Elle Patille. (See Below). I had flown Amy down to the Caribbean for a week to shoot for various magazines which she got published in; UMM, MUSCLEMAG, Playboy Calendar, American Curves, Rockstar, 944 to name a few. Two days after returning we flew to Las Vegas where I hooked her and April Ireland up with some work for a weekend. I got her the Full Throttle campaign, as well as the Extreme Fitness Campaign which I think was a huge success. I know there are a lot more we shot for magazines but I can’t keep track of them all.
April Ireland was working in a bank when she contacted me for setting up a shoot. I had no idea who she was but she was paying for my time. I remember when she showed up at my door. I was amazed at her look. What’s more, I vowed I would make her back more money than she was paying me. A promise I kept within a shoot or two later. I got her into Playboy SE. I got her a cover of Inside Fitness Magazine (Sharing the cover with the man she would later marry). I flew her how with a few other models to Panama for a week long shoot and the stuff we got was magical. So much so, it landed her a cover of American Curves. To this day her pictures from that trip are appearing in numerous magazines. I also got her the Full Throttle Campaign, Coquette Line and a few others. I’m sure we’ll see more of her down the road.
Lisa MacKay was a top shelf model in my books when I was starting out. I remember the day she emailed me telling me she was interested in working with me. When I responded, she quoted back her hourly rate. WTF??? To this day I remind her of this and we laugh and laugh. I tested Lisa for Playboy and got her a VIXENS Special Cover. From there, I had her come in with Amy Lynn Grover for a spread and cover shoot for American Curves Magazine. I got her a few spreads since then and a few advertising campaigns most recently a really cool shot advertising Viper.
Rachel Davis was a model I found on Facebook. I told her to come visit me at the Arnold Classic to get a good look at her. This was one of those rare models that come out of nowhere. After meeting her, I told her to come to the studio to shoot a quick 15 minute test to send off to Oxygen. They loved her and countless spreads later, she’s become a staple in the fitness community. At 21, this girl is going to be famous. I recommended her to a supplement company I shoot for and it looks like we’ll be shooting ads for them shortly. On the Oxygen front, I’m still pushing and you’ll see her on a cover eventually.
Claudie Auclair came to a Playboy casting a couple of years ago from Montreal. For some reason, Playboy looked her over but she was definitely not lost on me. I got in touch with her and had her come to Toronto to shoot a spread for American Curves. While we were shooting Lori Fabrizio whom was working with Coquette that day called me asking if I knew of any good Blondes I could recommend for their catalogue shoot. I immediately sent over the pics we had taken and now she’s a staple in all the Coquette catalogues. With a little persistence, I helped her realize her goal of getting into Playboy shooting her for a few spreads as well as the 2010 calendar. I flew Claudie down to the Caribbean for a one week shoot with Sarah Scotford and Laura Michelle Prestin. You can see the pics from that shoot in my SESSIONS Vol. 79
Anne-Krystel Goyer is another French beauty that got in touch to hire me for a SESSIONS shoot. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure about her. I think it was the pics she had sent me that weren’t very good. Either way, once she got in front of my camera I knew I had a star on my hands! During the shoot, we tested for Playboy and she ended up with the cover of Playboys VIXENS Special. A little while after that we flew her down to the Caribbean to shoot along with a bunch of other models and wouldn’t you know it, she landed the cover of Playboy’s Girls of Canada Calendar. Shortly after that we got the green light to shoot her for a spread and cover for American Curves. I made an introduction and she got the Passion Fruit Design Campaign with TV appearance on the Lion’s Den. I know, I’ll be shooting with her for some magazine or other again soon.
Maryse Ouellet, yet ANOTHER French beauty that flew in for a Playboy shoot – Landing the VIXENS cover. We also got her the cover of two of Playboy’s calendars for an amazing two years in a row – 2008 and 2009. I shot her for two separate covers over a one year period for SUMMUM Magazine. Her star grew so fast she’s now the WWE Diva Champion! We still chat and the time will come were we’ll shoot for magazines again.
Elle Patille contacted me for a shoot a few years back. I liked her look and flew her down to the Caribbean for a one week shoot. While there we tested for Playboy and they accepted.
Lana Tailor was chosen to shoot a Natural Beauties Cover for Playboy. It was during that shoot we got to see her real talent in front of the camera. I recommended her to American Curves and sure enough we shot that cover as well. Since then, I’ve shot Lana for quite a few things including the Coquette Catalogue. As I type this I’m slated to shoot her for another spread in American Curves while the TV crew of E.T. Canada records away.
Dylan Fitzpatrick is an up and coming model I have put quite some effort in promoting. While new in the industry, she’s already had two spreads in American Curves and I’m pretty sure she’ll end up in Playboy in no time. I got her the Coquette catalogue and a nice little ad as the Pool Vixen for Venus pool at Caesar’s Palace. I also shot her ad for Viper. Look out for her – She’s going to be big!
I’m going to come back to this list but for the time being you get an idea of how a relationship can help create and even launch a modeling career.
So how do we establish a relationship?
There are a couple of ways I can think of. Firstly, you can get in touch with magazines and ask them if they’re interested in commissioning a shoot with us. If they pick up the tab – You got yourself a shoot and most likely a feature or spread.
OR
Secondly, book me for a day of shooting. I know my rate is steep and I can’t promise any magazines will bite, but if you have what it takes, I can get things going for you.I might recommend booking with a friend, (or a few) to help split the costs.
Hoping to work with you.
Paul Buceta
