Are you looking to get into modeling? If so, that’s awesome.

While trying to get your start, please take into consideration a few tips I have, and avoid a few of these self-sabotaging profile quirks that I’ve noticed a lot of recently on Model Mayhem. When creating your profile, remember:

1. No self-shots

I understand you are getting started, and you may not have any professional photos of yourself. But please don’t post five shots of you standing in front of a mirror with your iphone. If you have a digital camera or an iphone, and you have a friend, then you have everything you need. Have him or her take a few snapshots of you in different outfits and poses. They don’t have to be spectacular, but they should show that you at least know your body and how to pose it.

2. Show me the body

No, not get naked. But nothing gets passed over more quickly than five photos of your face. Sure, you’re pretty, and that’s great, but I need to see your body for several reasons, but one reason alone is extremely important:

Photographers need to know you are comfortable and confident with your body (and I’m not talking nude). Nothing is more important for a model than being comfortable with herself. If you are a plus sized girl, that’s perfectly fine. There are opportunities for ladies of all shapes and sizes, but those ladies have to be confident with their figure. Confidence shows in photos, and likewise, the lack thereof shows as well. Photographers know this, and will most likely pass if they feel you will be difficult to work with.

3. Don’t be a Diva

Unless you are a Victoria’s Secret supermodel, it’s probably not a good idea to put a list of demands on your profile. If you want to list your will’s and will not’s, by all means. But a model that acts like the photographer is privileged just to be in her presence probably isn’t going to get many starting jobs. Oh and if you want to start your modeling profile with a “Paid Assignments Only” with no prior experience, you better look like that VS supermodel I mentioned above.

4. Update your photos

When I look at a profile that has the same four photos as it did a year ago, I pass. And most other photographers will too. It says you don’t take it seriously, and photographers don’t have time for that. If you are serious about it, and have not gotten any offers, look over your profile. There could be something in there that is scaring the photogs away (such as the diva-ness mentioned above). Maybe your photos are not grabbing their attention. Refresh them. Have a friend take some new photos of you. New is always better anyway. Photogs want to know what you look like now, not a year ago.

5. Make yourself readily available

A tight schedule is understandable. Many, many models are juggling a real job with school, their personal life, and their modeling career. But if, for instance, you’re a single mom with an infant or toddler, have a full time job, taking care of grandma, and going to school, it’s probably not a good time to pursue the modeling thing. Nothing will kill a modeling career faster than canceling shoots, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to book them to begin with.