Model Photo Shoot - Tips for Beginners

Start Your Modeling Career with Pictures

Because the world of modeling has opened up and more American women are finding their way into the world of glamour and fashion, it is important to understand how to get your start.

Model

Getting a Photo Session

A few steps are needed for the first model photo shoot and to begin the new career. As a beginner, your focus needs to be on practice and getting the first shoot under your belt. Once this is done, the next steps will fall into place.

First Time Beginners

For a girl brand new to modeling, getting through the first shoot can be more difficult than it seems. Typically, beginners are much more nervous than necessary. One main reason is not being prepared or knowing what to expect during the time in front of the photographers camera.

How to Prepare

When preparing for the model photo shoot, you will want to practice poses with various outfits to give you the ability to stand, sit or lie in various positions without feeling uncomfortable. Look through fashion or glamour magazines to see how the professionals look natural and fluid in their posing and expressions.

Movement

The idea is that a stationary pose often needs to look as if it were in motion. Many shots are taken as you move from one dramatic position to the next, often over exaggerating the pose positions for effect. After you practice for a while in the mirror (not just an hour or two), schedule a shoot with a photographer you are comfortable with and start getting your portfolio together.

The Must-have Picture

Along with the portfolio, you will want to be able to pick an excellent head shot. This photo is preferred by many agencies as clear, shot outdoors, with little or no makeup, and good lighting. A professional photographer should easily be able to accomplish this look for you and guide you to the right expression. Work on other pose ideas also to round out your portfolio with a variety of pictures from your model photo shoot to put in your book. 

Selecting the Best Pictures and Comp Cards

Once your model photo shoot is complete, you will want to select the photos you are going to use for the portfolio. First, as stated above, find the best head shot so you can put together a comp or composite card.

The main photo will be the full size of one side of the card. On the front (with the head shot), you display your name in bold letters. On the back, you may want to have additional information including your physical statistics (including bust, waist and hip measurements) and other smaller photographs in poses ranging from full length to 3/4 to close up images as examples of your work. This will be your professional business card.

Turning Your Dream Into a Working Model

Having gone from aspiring to be a model to this point, you have stepped into the world of professional modeling. As you become more comfortable and develop your talent, you will find that confidence goes a long ways to growing your career.

So, don't take your first model photo shoot for granted. Get it right and you'll be ahead of 80% of the females getting started. Yes, it's work but, when you walk past the billboard with your photo on it, you'll find it's well worth the trouble.

Model Photo Shoot - Tips for Beginners

RC Helicopters - A Flying Guide For Beginners

After you have mastered the skills of flying an RC airplane, and you still feel the need for an even greater adrenalin rush, you may want to consider the RC helicopter next. If you do, then here are some very important pointers to keep you from becoming discouraged with the complexity of helicopter flight, and some recommendations that will keep the hobby from blowing a hole in your wallet.

Before you get started and even before you purchase your first RC helicopter, you will find that it is very important to learn everything you possibly can about how the helicopter works. What mechanisms surrounding the main rotor cause it to go forward, backward, left and right. What makes the helicopter body spin clockwise or counterclockwise? What happens when the main rotor blade pitch changes? Then, once you understand these characteristics, you will have removed a few crashes from your future.

Papercraft

Keep in mind that once you commit to RC helicopter flying, you will not settle with just one craft, so you may as well start simple with a 4-channel model having counter rotating main blades and an artificial, nonworking or nonexisting tail rotor. Even then, you will save yourself numerous crashes by learning on an RC flight simulator that connects an RC radio-type device to your computer. (The most common brands are Airfly Pro Deluxe, RealFlight, and ClearView). With a simple craft or a simulator, you will be able to train yourself to stay oriented. Staying "oriented" with the helicopter is one of the most challenging aspects of learning this type of flying vehicle.

One thing is for sure, when you start flying the real thing, you are going to crash, so don't blame the manufacturer for your crash. Helicopters are mostly beyond the flying skills of 96% of people in this hobby, so accepting the facts of your future may save you some anger and heartache. Some folks crash a few times and give up, but it takes a lot of practice. Did I say "a lot of practice"? Well here it is again if I did, it takes a lot of practice!

Like I said, learn on a simple helicopter. Don't even think about adding accessories and upgrades to your helicopter unless you are advancing in your skills and are able to fly for a reasonable amount of time and number of times without crashing. The accessories and upgrades WILL NOT cause the novice to fly better because its takes skill and practice. Generally, an RC helicopter is fairly easy to fly as long as you can see it and stay oriented. Plus, you have to understand how the control sticks on the radio affect the movement of the helicopter.

Get an instructor. Beginners can't tell if a certain problem is with you or the helicopter like an instructor can. It is highly likely that there is an RC flying club nearby, and experienced helicopter flyers are very happy to lend you a hand. So, do some asking around before you go off alone to tackle RC helicopter flying.

When it comes to actually flying, don't try to trim Electric Tail Rotor Motor(ETRM) helicopters to make it stop spinning on the ground. They have to be trimmed at eye level(in the air). This is another good reason to have an instructor. Also, you will need to have training gear installed on your skids. This gear is the sticks in the shape of an "X", most of the time with brightly painted foam or plastic balls on the tips. This training gear is like training wheels on a bicycle, to keep your helicopter from tipping over so easily when close to the ground.

When learning to hover, keep the nose pointed away from you, and practice at eye level. Never watch the tail rotor, watch the nose. Staying oriented relies on you concentrating on the position of the nose, because moving the rudder stick to the right causes the helicopter nose to go right (clockwise).

Never fly away until you learn how to hover. Get the art of hovering perfected before you attempt lateral or forward movement. Compared to an airplane, the helicopter ailerons, rudder, and elevator movement are basically the same during normal forward flight, however, the helicopter behaves different than an airplane in that you additionally experience "slide". When making turns with a helicopter, you must keep the nose down, otherwise it will slide out of the turn, disorient you and crash. The transmitter is your helicopter cockpit, so you can re-orient yourself by pointing the transmitter antenna in the same direction as the helicopter nose. However, never fly behind you; always keep the helicopter in front of you unless you are getting yourself re-oriented.

Always use both the index finger and the thumb on the left stick of the radio. On the right-hand control stick, just a thumb is ok if you are comfortable with it. Slight movements of the control sticks cause drastic movements with the helicopter and keeping two fingers on the left stick will help you avoid quick stick movements.

Don't let people watch you when you are learning to fly the helicopter. You need to have full concentration on the helicopter at all times without folks trying to talk you into doing a maneuver that you are not comfortable with.

Never drop the throttle stick or let it spring back for the landing (or any other time for that matter) because the rotors will spring down and hit the tail boom and break it. Always land gently. Never use quick movements on the controls, every move needs to be slow and stable.

Always remember your last move on the controls, because you will get lost at some point and need to reverse your last move until you see your helicopter again or become oriented again. Always keep the helicopter within a comfortable viewing distance, not too far to see, and not so close that you risk hitting something.

Finally, when you crash (and you will), throttle off immediately to save the motor and the rotor shaft. Other broken parts cost less to replace than the motor and the rotor shaft.

RC Helicopters - A Flying Guide For Beginners

Using Freezer Paper For Crafts Is Fun And Inexpensive

People often think of freezer paper crafting. The most popular and widely accepted use for this fantastic innovation is for stenciling onto fabric. Affordable, and very easy to do, it is a safe and fun way for the whole family to get creative and turn an ordinary t-shirt into a work of art.

Just thinking about all of the different styles, designs, colors, shapes and looks anyone can add to a t-shirt makes it a tempting alternative to purchasing new ones. Best of all, people can save a ton of money by making their own decorative shirts or accessories. All that is needed is a little flair for creativity, some time, an iron and some fabric paint or ink.

Paper Craft

Stenciling is a tried and true method to adding designs to a wide range of fabrics, and using freezer paper crafting should always take steps to do the ironing in a well ventilated area to minimize exposure and risk of breathing in harmful gasses.

But, aside from wear and tear and ventilation, using freezer paper craft oriented websites online that offer tips, tricks and methods that others have found useful and easy. Learning from others and following their examples can provide some creative inputs that can help you to come up with the perfect t-shirt. Perfect for gift giving, organizations, or just to have something unique and fun to wear, freezer paper is the perfect way to stencil designs on a wide range of fabric.

Using Freezer Paper For Crafts Is Fun And Inexpensive

Making a Fun Submarine Craft

It can be a daunting task to spend an abundance of time indoors during a stormy or snowy week. A wise caretaker will have a handy list of indoor activities for such times. It will certainly help them to keep everyone's sanity intact!

Although there are many activities one can engage in during such times, many have been done time and time again. Who hasn't put together a couple dozen puzzles, or spent an entire day watching movies and baking cookies. Well how about trying something new? Think outside the box and stimulate the imaginations of your kids by setting out for an imaginary adventure underwater. It will be a time they just may remember more than you will even know.

Papercraft

While it could, creating a model submarine doesn't have to require expensive and complicated kits. Older kids may do well with a plastic model they can snap together, bought at a local hobby store. They may even have something that the older child can paint themselves, giving them an activity that could occupy a good portion of their day. Who know, it may even spark an interest in a new hobby!

This craft, however, is geared towards the younger child. It is a simple craft that they can take their time with, but will love doing so because it involved clay and lots of color. You will need the following list of materials:

White modeling clay such as Crayola

Washable Markers

Cardboard roll, optional

Chenille stems in silver

Construction paper model submarine hull. You can use an empty toilet paper roll as a form and roll the clay around it, or even a paper towel roll for a jumbo sized submarine. Bend chenille sticks into a T shape and press into the hull. These will be your propeller.

While the clay is fresh from the pack, add stripes, rudders, a conning tower, porthole windows, and a periscope. Using fresh clay ensures that it will stick together.

Cut the top out of a box and make a diorama. Encourage kids to create an underwater scene fresh from their imaginations using crayons, markers or paint. Air-dry the scene. Glue your background and submarine into the box. When the weather outside is frightful, make inside delightful! Get the materials needed and stash them away in a box so that when the rain comes, so will the fun. You'll be at the top of your kids list of favorite people, and rainy days will no longer hold doom and gloom for your household.

Making a Fun Submarine Craft

Free Craft Books to Download on Kindle

Free Knitting and Craft Books

Finding books online: You should check for free versions of older books before buying older ones to download, as many are now in the public domain (the ones people charge money for have often been reformatted in some way). Searching for specific terms, like "embroidery" instead of "sewing or "knitting" instead of "craft" is often necessary, as there are few keywords in free books descriptions to help you find them!

Papercraft

Kindle Books- You can download a kindle app to read these on your computer, phone, and iPad. Kindle books might not work on the Nook, Sony, or other ebook readers. These book can all be found to download for kindle or can be read through the Gutenberg website (which often has the pictures for the book, if available).

Exercises in Knitting
No pictures for most of the patterns. Includes patterns to make finished items and patterns to design your own (lace patterns, etc). Patterns do not tell you what abbreviations mean (for increases, for example), so it is hard to tell if the patterns are correct.

Handbook of Wool Knitting and Crochet
Includes instructions for sweater, hats, gloves/mittens, scarves, etc in knit and crochet.

The Ladies' Work-Book Containing Instructions In Knitting, Crochet, Point-Lace, etc
Includes both a large number and wide variety of patterns, from childern's clothing to housewares.

The Ladies' Work-Table Book Containing Clear and Practical Instructions in Plain and Fancy Needlework, Embroidery, Knitting, Netting and Crochet
Variety of patterns, limited instructions (old patterns did not include as much information as patterns do now)

Embroidery and Tapestry Weaving
Includes information on tools, set up, and weaving.

Vegetable Dyes Being a Book of Recipes and Other Information Useful to the Dyer
This book needs a review all by itself. Suffice to say, like most old dye book, the information may not be completely accurate (this book contains information on dyeing with dandelion root, which people have not been able to duplicate the color of). Vegetable Dyes is, however, an interesting read, and unlike many of the natural dye book on the market, is chock full of text and information, not just pictures.

Embroidery and Needlework Books:

Beeton's Book of Needlework
Tatting, knitting, and embroidery patterns. Keep in mind that written patterns often use different language and make different assumptions than we do now.

Art in Needlework
No pictures, but describes various embroidery types and stitches.

General Craft Books:

Things To Make by Archibald Williams
Geared more towards the home inventor than crafter, it is all about building models and useful things for the home (shed, bench, rain gauge...). However, there are no pictures in the free version.

A Course In Wood Turning by Otto K. Wohlers and Archie S. Milton
Exactly as it sounds. Gutenberg version of Wood Turning includes detailed pictures.

Wood-Block Printing A Description of the Craft of Woodcutting and Colour Printing Based on the Japanese Practice by Frank Morley Fletcher
Both history and how to.

How to Make a Shoeby John Parker Headley
About making shoes, though not really actual instructions, more hints and tips in, dare I say, poem form?

Craft History:

The Scholfield Wool-Carding Machines by Grace Rogers Cooper
Includes a history of wool carding from hand cards to early drum carding machines. Interesting (short) read if you are untested in sheep, spinning, or fiber processing.

Jacobean Embroidery Its Forms and Fillings Including Late Tudor
Jacobean embroidery is an English embroidery technique. See the Gutenberg version of Jacobean Embroidery for the pictures. Some people call it Crewel, and it is worked in wools. Examples are often ornate, with floral and animal motifs

Aboriginal American Weaving
Sadly, the pictures do not come through in the free version (for kindle).

Prehistoric Textile Fabrics Of The United States
Extremely short, no pictures, but a quick read for people looking for a view of how people started studying weaving (looms and baskets)

A Study Of The Textile Art In Its Relation To The Development Of Form And Ornament
A look at weaving (baskets, embroidery, etc). The pictures the book is referring to are not present.

Arts and Crafts in the Middle Ages
including history on metals, embroidery, sculpture, mosaic, etc.

Free Craft Books to Download on Kindle

How to Papercraft Paper Toys

So you curiously stumbled upon a type of paper models you thought were cool, cute, funny etc. For those of you new to paper models of paper model will not stand on its own. Also make sure that the paper model and putting it together using some kind of bonding agent. The example image is a good example of how cut out fragments are cut out separately and then glued together at the specific joining points.

I've found that using regular school glue (Elmer's or a generic brand) and a toothpick is more that enough when working with paper craft. The toothpick is a really useful took when trying to apply a thin layer of glue to a small tab that needs to have glue applied.

Papercraft

4. Time, Practice, and Patience

Like all activities you do, making paper craft models will take some time, practice and definitely some patience. Although a lot of PAPER CRAFT models are just made out of one big cutout piece, it still takes some precision and accuracy to get the model the way you want it. Of course the first time, your model wont look perfect, but you'll definitely feel proud that you completed it and will want to tackle on much more difficult, modular models to add to your elaborate PAPER CRAFT army.

How to Papercraft Paper Toys

Tea Bag Folding: A Cornucopia Of Style

The increase in health awareness and organic living has helped spark the resurgence of tea drinking across the globe. In the United States alone, tea sales almost tripled from less than two billion dollars in 1990 to over six billion dollars in 2005, according to the Tea Association of the United States.

At present, you will surely find a variety of tealeaves, such as oolong, rose, vanilla, jasmine, mint, and even fruit teas, including lychee, lemon and mango, in local supermarkets and coffee shops. Even tea bags have evolved from the common rectangular shape to the new circular or pyramid-shaped tea bag that is infused with long tealeaves instead of dust, which are indistinguishable tealeaf particles.

Papercraft

Along with the rise in the popularity of tea drinking over the years is the emergence of tea bag folding. Tiny van der Plaas, a woman from Holland, was the one who created this tea bag envelope inspired paper craft. She came up with the idea of tea bag folding, which is commonly known as Miniature Kaleidoscopic Origami, when she started to fold up a fruit tea bag envelope while thinking of a novel way of creating a birthday card for her sister.

Tea bag folding basics

Tea bag folding can be compared to origami, a popular Japanese paper craft, in the sense that both hobbies make use of paper to create various designs. However, tea bag folding creations are usually just used to decorate cards and are made using small matching paper squares. In contrast, the Japanese origami cannot only be used as decorations for cards and gifts, but also to produce paper replicas of different animals, flowers, and almost anything under the sun.

In the past, only tea bag envelopes were used for this paper craft technique. As more and more people all over the world learn of this paper folding art, however, paper manufacturers have started to produce specialty papers exclusively for miniature kaleidoscopic origami. Tea bag folding aficionados all across the globe have also modernized this paper craft art by coming up with more magnificent and intricate geometric designs and innovative and unique materials.

Kaleidoscope papers come in various colors and designs, such as flowers, stars, musical instrument, snowflakes, dragons, spirals, and even soccer balls. Most tea bag papers available in the market are printed in 90-100 grams per square meter paper.

Uses of miniature kaleidoscopic origami

Tea bag folding was traditionally used to decorate birthday cards. Now, you can use this colorful and wonderful paper craft as decorations of greeting cards for all occasions. Some people utilize tea bag folding to decorate photo frames, wall frames, wall clocks, and even scrapbooks. With just a bit of imagination and creativity, you can make use of tea bag folding to decorate almost anything and everything.

Moreover, tea bag folding can be considered as a relaxing hobby. If you feel that you are on the edge, stressed out because of too much work, try creating tea bag folding designs, and you will definitely loosen up a bit.

Tea bag folding materials

The most important material of this craft is tea bag envelope - if you want to be traditional - or colorful paper. For a more intricate effect, you might want to choose paper with geometric designs and elaborate patterns.

Other essential materials of tea bag folding are cutting mat, scissors, ruler (preferable metal edged), knife or cutter, and paper adhesive.

Popular tea bag folding designs

For people who are interested in starting a miniature kaleidoscopic origami, you can find a lot of materials and reference over the Internet. There are also some scrapbooking stores that carry tea bag folding materials and books that could help you learn this paper art. If you are on a tight budget, you can even just print tea bag folding designs that are available on the Net.

If you are a neophyte tea bag folding practitioner, you might want to start creating tea bag rosettes. This is a colorful flower-shaped design that can be used to decorate gifts, cards, and even bookmarks. Another beautiful tea bag folding design that has caught the hearts of many is the starburst design. You can use glitters so that your paper star design will look more brilliant and vibrant.

Tea bag folding is an easy and inexpensive hobby you can take on. Once you have started tea bag folding, you will surely get instantly hooked.

Tea Bag Folding: A Cornucopia Of Style