FAQ

"why don't you have a official profile or about me"

The answer to that is pretty simple, I do a terrible job writing about myself and skip between 2nd and 3rd and 1st person too much. So I just decide I'm not going to put one up and let my images speak for themselves.



"I want to get started as a model, and noticed there are some free sites to signup on?"

Yes there are, and honestly in the end it's easier and faster to go out and pay someone to start up a traditional modeling portfolio than it is to go on a site like Modelmayhem and do free shoots. It's not that those sites don't have a place, or you can't get some interesting and beneficial shoots, it's just that the quality of most members there isn't high (everyone is starting out) and more than likely you're not going to be asked to shoot images that will help you in a commercial model portfolio. You can read more about it in the following link - Using internet modeling sites.



"Are online modeling sites safe, I've heard a lot in the news about Model Mayhem?"

I'll do a blog post about this soon, but in the mean time, yes, they are safe. However, as with anything online there are scams out there. It's like asking (in a way) is a email account like gmail safe? Well yes, but still you may get scam emails from time to time and have to weed them out. The real big threats out there are those posing as agents, or trying to promise too much - I'm sorry but no national brand is going to hire a no-name new model from no-where that doesn't have an agency. So if it sounds too good to be true then it more than likely is. Other scams are ones where they want to send you money (and the grammar is usually terrible), again, no one in the real world would send a random model money and then ask them to send some off to others. It really all comes down to using common sense and being safe. I'll write more on this later, and on checking references.



"I'm under 18, is your style right for me?"

Granted I have some images up that wouldn't be suitable for someone underage, but being a model doesn't mean you wear skimpy clothing or do implies - there are plenty of outfits and things that can be done which are fine for you. I just happen to put up a bit more edgy work at times. That said, this would be a discussion I'd like to have with your parents (phone or email) so we can all get on the same page if there are any questions.



I'll add more later, getting close to brunch time!

Headshot Photography and Printing

I've been getting more calls lately of not only headshots for professionals and talent in the area, but also new models who need them for a upcoming meeting or event. I'm going to try and go over a bit on what is involved with shooting headshots and getting prints either locally or online. Unlike comp-cards headshots are pretty easy, don't take too long, could be expensive ($1-2 a piece), but can be done same day at most printers.

So first off, a headshot is your business card if you're a model or actor. It's what you leave with potential clients, agencies, put online, and use to represent yourself. Now I'm not going to get into what kind of looks work best for what, but they need to be professional and give a honest representation of you. Unlike comp-cards they are normally pretty quick to shoot, with studio time lasting anywhere from 1-2 hours, and they can be quicker to retouch. Where as I don't really like doing last minute comp cards and retouching 25-30 images in a day or two, I don't mind doing that with 5 images that are just headshots. So, if needed, it's not a big deal to get files out within a few days of the shoot.

From there, you have a few options to get them printed. Locally, I would suggest going with National Camera, but costco, target, or just about anyone will do a decent job printing them and all be around in the same ballpark of price. If you can wait a few days and want to save more I would suggest www.adoramapix.com/ as post office shipping to me here in downtown Minneapolis only takes a day or two, and 8x10 or 9x12 prints are usually around a dollar or two each. Cost is going to be around there no matter where you go, and although per piece they are more expensive than comp-cards, you're more than likely not going to hand out 50 of them in a day, so it's not like you're going to need 100 or 200 of them at a time.

That's really about it, they are straight forward photo prints, anyone can print them with decent quality, and within the same week you should be able to do a shoot and get the prints. Again, it's not a great idea to sit around and wait until the last minute, but if you do they are something easier to work with and get done in a tight deadline.

This is something where if you had a photo printer you could more than likely do them yourselves. Personally I don't have a printer - I don't do prints for clients, and ordering online is easier for me than keeping ink stocked and printer heads clean - but if you had a good or decent printer this is something you can do at home and it should be just fine to hand out if it looks good.

If you have any more questions please contact me though my website! Andrewthomasevans.com

Comp Card Photography and Printing

Lately this year I've been getting a few more replies than usual about comp card photography and printing comp cards (or zed cards, same thing). This post here is to try and go over what a comp card is, how they are printed, why they aren't really cheap to print, and why they take longer to get than regular photo prints. Also, I'll explain why it's not a good idea to wait until the last min with these, as (again) they do take some time to get done and get printed.

So first, what is a comp card. Talent usually have a few things to help promote themselves, the first being a headshot - which everyone has, even top name actors and models, and the next would be a comp card or demo reel. On the comp card side, it's usually a post card sized, double sided, handout that would include the talents name and headshot on one side, then their stats, contact info, and a assortment of images (usually 4-10ish) from their portfolio. This is left behind in place of their actual printed book, so the clients can go back from a casting and remember who they were talking with, or so the agency has something to send out to clients so they can pre-screen talent for a casting. Either way they are like business cards and every working model needs them.

That's what they are, now let's talk about what goes into making one. First, the images aren't all the same, or the same outfit. Usually it's about 4-5 different looks, and we try (weather and location permitting) to get a range of shots and backgrounds, or maybe for fashion a single background (white wall) or something, either way it's not a simple as a few shirt changes for a headshot. The shoots usually take anywhere from 3-4 hours, and that all depends on makeup and hair. It's not a quick in quick out type of deal. Then, I usually have clients pick the top 25 images from the shoot (about 4-5 per look) and retouch them. Retouching normally takes me a business week starting when I know what the selections are. Sure, I can get them done faster, however I don't like to be rushed if possible. So already you're out a week from the date of the shoot before you're going to get images.

It's time to order the prints once you have images. Now yes, you can go to websites that specialize in headshot printing, and they will be faster, however they will be about twice as expensive as a normal online printer. As I said before, you're ordering what is pretty much a postcard. I like to use www.gotprint.com and for a 5x7 color two sides, coated two sides, online proof print it comes to about $80 with shipping (at 04/13/2013) for 250 of them. In the long run that's not a lot of money, and a person may be paying that much anyway on headshots, but it's not like they are $20 and you get them in a hour. The last time I ordered business cards it took about a week for it to get printed, then a short week in the mail. So now you're about 3 weeks out from the date of the shoot before cards will come in, unless you pay double or more and have them done faster.

Lately some of the calls I've been getting are from parents who's children are interested in modeling and they have appointments for shows, conventions, contests, and other places where they may need a comp card. If this is something you want to do, and if you really do need printed comp cards, then it's best to start arranging a shoot and get ducks in a row sooner, since again they do take a while, and again they aren't like headshots that you can just get locally and pick them up same day.

I have thought about what would happen if you try and print some yourself. The issue with this isn't the printing, any normal printer made lately should give the color quality - however it's the gloss coating and paper that will be an issue. Comp cards are so standard, that you're better off getting them done professionally so they don't stick out (in a bad way) in a pile, or that the ink doesn't rub off and stuff.

If you have any more questions please contact me though my website! Andrewthomasevans.com

Tim's Custom Exhaust in Coon Rapids

I was looking for a custom exhaust on my old motorcycle, and did a quick google search to try and find someone or at least get a few quotes. The first place I came while looking for exhaust around Minneapolis was Tim's. I called on a Saturday and the call was answered with a "he loves bike exhaust", went up there to drop off what I had, and got a great quote the next week. The work was done within a few weeks, which being fall/winter, was just fine, and it sounds great. I would totally recommend the shop for any bike related exhaust needs.

Fast forward a few months and the muffler/tailpipe of my Jeep fell off. First off I thought it was going to be more expensive than what it turned out to be, so I tried to fix it myself - with mixed results. I did fix it, and it lasted a month or so before my fix failed and it fell off again. This time I did what I should have done and brought it up to Tim's shop. I brought it in on a Monday morning around 10, and by 11 I was out with a new muffler and my problems were solved. It really didn't cost all that much, and the Jeep sounds better than it ever did. Again I would not hesitate to recommend this shop for anyone needing exhaust on a vehicle.

If you are in need of exhaust please check them out and give them a call.

Eldo-Glide runs!

Finally got my bike running, sounds good, now just have to wait until winter is over to figure out the battery issue a little and polish things up a bit.





More pics and videos to come!

Business cards!

So I was on a forum this evening and ran across a discussion about business cards. And this can be a touchy subject, not because of any feelings involved but because of how important they can be. Sure, most of the time they aren't the persons first impression of you, but they are something you leave with them for later contact - so they carry on that impression. They also need to fit in with your website, marketing, logo, and any other public image of yourself. Along with fitting in and the above, they can't distract from your image, yourself, or your marketing, in other words they can't try and do too much.

A good example of this would be the scene in American Psycho where they talk about their new cards. We laugh and make fun of it for many reasons - how serious they are taking this, how little the cards actually differ, and how they get into every small detail. However, there is a point that can be taken, and it's that their cards are exactly what they need to be. Simple, to the point, no frills (other than the font/paper), and provide contact info.

Those elements are what a card needs to be, professional, an extension of your business and yourself, and something that's not distracting.

I posted a image of my card for this reason, although it's not a great example, it's to the point, has my info, I did include a image on one side but the image is a good example of what I do, and it's not trying to do too much. Some others I've come across try to be everything to everyone, almost a mini flyer, which in some cases work but a lot of the times they are just too much and may put people off.

So my advice to photographers and businesses is the following. Keep the card simple, make it an extension of your current marketing, and make it specific or tailored to your audience.

This is why I ride a older pedal bike...

So this morning I was all ready to get to the day job, even on time for once in a while (or at least my usual time in). This was surprising, at least the on time part since I was up really late working on the motorbike, but that's another story. So I walk outside and notice my pedal bike was tipped over, ok, no big deal, it happens. Then I noticed that my tires were off, and the tubes were missing! Both rims were off the bike, I'm pretty sure all the nuts and stuff are there to put it on, but really... Who just takes tubes and not the whole thing? This is why I drive a cheap bike and keep my good ones locked up inside.