Student Success Story: Daunea Foster, Atlanta

by Daunea Foster

I enrolled in the Fashion Styling 101 course under the instruction of Kim Maxwell and it was by far the best decision I could have made in my career as a stylist.

I am a freelance fashion stylist in Atlanta, Georgia and like any profession I knew that I needed to learn the ABC’s of being successful in this industry. Taking Kim’s course not only taught me the basics, it exceeded my expectations and taught me the essentials, the in’s & out’s, what I need to make it, and how to make sound decisions!

I feel so much more confident on how to pursue my dreams and that’s more than what any book could’ve taught me. Kim Maxwell has also been a mentor during and after the course ended which is to be commended. Through her mentorship and referrals, I have been booked to style a music video for 2 artists here in Atlanta. That was a success and through that music video, I gained an ongoing client!

I have also been booked to style for models in the area. One of the greatest opportunities was being hired as a head assistant stylist for STYLESbyMAXX. I had the chance to assist in styling an event titled “Memoirs of a Fashionista” in honor of Kim Maxwell, which was also a huge success! The doors continue to open, and more projects begin to come to me which I am truly grateful for. I give KUDOS to Susan Cox & Photo Styling Workshops for offering this course, and a HUGE thank you to Kim Maxwell for being such a wonderful, resourceful, and kind instructor! This course has provided me with the tools to birth my vision.

Photo above: Hip-Hop Artist Young Que

Please Vote For Our Essay!

We just found out - Photo Styling Workshops was named as one of the finalists in the Business.com What Works for Business Contest which aims to identify the best solutions to business challenges. Our entry was selected as one of the best in the Web Presence category from hundreds of contest entries by a panel of business expert contest judges.

Winners for each of the 10 categories, and the overall winner, will be chosen by popular vote at The What Works for Business Contest Voting page from Wednesday, Dec. 10 through Friday, Dec. 19. The final contest results will be announced on Jan. 12 with each category winner receiving $2,000 and the overall contest winner receiving $10,000. If we win, a good part of the winnings will be reinvested in Photo Styling Workshops to offer you more great classes! (I'm also going to have a nice cappucino.)

You can help by VOTING for us with a quick click.

Sponsored by Business.com, the leading business search engine, directory and pay-per-click advertising network, the What Works for Business Contest is open to all North American businesses and is designed to help shift business focus from what’s wrong with the economy to what small businesses can actually do to survive and thrive in 2009.

Here is the entry I wrote.

Challenge:
My book about the career of photo styling had been published and was the only comprehensive guide to the profession on the market. While I had given several weekend career workshops in San Diego it was always a challenge to get the word out and find enough attendees. I made presentations at local colleges, posted the workshops on my stylist site, and sent out press releases but still did not have the turnout I would have liked.


Solution:
A photographer who attended one weekend workshop suggested the format of online classes offered on several sites for photographers wanting to improve their skills. I immediately did some research and established the Website www.photostylingworkshops.com. With a team of colleagues in various areas of the photo styling profession, such as food styling, a curriculum of online courses was developed. By setting up the site as a resource for photo stylists with articles and information, I made sure the search engine ratings took off quickly. Students from all over the world signed up for classes such as Food Styling 101, Photo Styling 101, and Producing Photo Shoots.

In just two years, the e-commerce site has grown to sell books (mine and others), videos, T-shirts for stylists and other crew, tote bags, and aprons. We have a related blog site, Photo Styling Forum, which provides a place where styling professionals - and those learning about the career - can communicate, ask questions, and network.

Last February we held a national food and prop styling workshop in San Diego with attendees flying in from throughout the U.S. This will now be an annual event with this year’s workshop being held at Macy’s Home Store and focused toward photographers in addition to stylists. And I am writing a new book, "Fashion Off-Figure," which will be marketed primarily through photostylingworkshops.com.

Please VOTE for us! Thank you!

Understanding Model Agency Rates

This week I recieved an inquiry from Natalie Fletcher, a former student in Producing Photo Shoots. PSW instructors love it when students keep coming back to ask pertinent questions - then we know they are continuing to develop their careers!
"I took your producing class last year; I really enjoyed the class. I am refreshing my estimating skills and have a question for you regarding modeling agency rates. For example, an agent mentions their rates for a 2 hour minimum ($150/hr.), one year print and web ($1,200), and a 20% agency fee. Is the model making the $300 and the $1,200 or just the $300? If so, the only profit the agency is making is the 20% from the usage?
"I also have seen an agency mention a 20% agency fee with the 2 hr. minimum in addition to a 20% agency fee with the usage. Is that common or more rare?"

Here is my answer to Natalie:
Generally agencies charge 20% to their clients for any booking they do, including the hourly rate and additional usage fees. This is paid in addition to the model's fees. This is the income for the agency, for overhead, expenses, and profit. It is also a motivation for the agent to negotiate a good rate for the talent, as their percentage increases, especially when the talent does a commercial or ad with long usage and more residuals. The talent benefits obviously when this is well-negotiated, plus they don't have to deal with the negotiations. The client prefers when they can negotiate a smaller fee of course, but they also want to be fair. When the talent is less experienced and recognizable it is possible to agree to a lower rate but sometimes the successful face is what is best for the campaign. And therefore, worth it.
In addition, the agency takes a 20% fee from the talent's rate. So you can calculate that the model will be recieving $240 of the $300 and $960 of the $1,200. The agency recieves in total 40% of the amount that is agreed for the model.
Be sure that you or the client representative who will sign the model's voucher understands the conditions so they can be written into the form. Sometimes the talent are not aware of these conditions but the producer is. This serves as a legal agreement between the client and agency. Be sure a copy is provided to the client or photographer. Susan Linnet Cox