Is it your turn in the Spotlight?

on Jan 15, 2011  

Could be. Did you get a message from me asking you a bunch of questions? If so, your turn in the Spotlight could be coming. Yes, it is for real. No, I'm not just some weirdo trying to be creepy and get info from you.

I'm sure you've seen the Model Insider Member Spotlight by now. It's featured on the front page and is updated with a different Model Insider member on a regular basis. We've already featured a bunch of members and we're looking for more! You could be the next Model Insider Member Spotlight. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out!

Model Insider has asked me to be the Spotlight Czar. Well, ok, perhaps not the "Czar", but I have been tasked with patrolling the ranks of MI members and gathering up information to use. Having been working on the project now for several months, I have been surprised at the number of people that either didn't know about the Spotlight, didn't understand how it worked, or just flat out ignored my message.

As such, I thought I might pen a few words on the subject.

To those who've ignored the message:

You have a portfolio on a networking site dedicated to models, photographers and all the allied professions that support the modeling industry. Why are you here if you aren't trying to increase your exposure (pardon the pun)? You've put up contact info, uploaded images and generally "hung up your shingle". Why would you do all of that if you don't want the world to know you are here?

Model Insider is a useful tool when used properly. In my (not so) humble opinion, using it properly means that you check in and participate. As I review profiles and consider prospects for future Spotlights, I've been more than a little amazed at the number of members that don't log in regularly. If you don't want to log in regularly, at least turn on email notifications and make sure you're receiving them so that if someone does try to contact you, a month doesn't go by before you see the message.

Log in, read messages, read forums, perhaps post. Add some casting calls. Read the Spotlight and learn about other interesting members.

Believe me, I know you are busy. I run a full time studio and a full time electronics consulting business. I know all about it. With the features MI offers (like email notifications) though, there's no reason you can't participate.

If you got the message but didn't respond, or are considering if you want to participate, all I can say again is: why would you go to the trouble of setting up a profile if you don't want the world to know you are here?

On the other hand, perhaps none of that applies to you. Perhaps you want to make the most of the site and all it has to offer. If so, great!

Hopefully you've already gotten the Spotlight message from me. If you did and you responded, thank you. In case you're wondering, here's the process:

1. I maintain a list of prospective Spotlight members. This list comes from profiles I've found that are interesting as well as suggestions from other members, Team Insider members and Model Insider staff.
2. I send out a proposition message with questions, details and a request for an image.
3. Once I receive the requested information back, it is edited and added to the Spotlight que.
4. From the que, proposed Spotlights are chosen, edited and added to the site.

I'm very careful about the members I choose, but please keep in mind that I do not have the final say. It is conceivable that a Spotlight I have prepared isn't used for whatever reason. Model Insider has the final say on the choice of Spotlights. For the record though, my track record of accepted submissions is very good!

Keep in mind also that timing varies. We try to keep an overlap going of Spotlights in progress to Spotlights posted so as to allow for unexpected situations. Much of the time Spotlights are on general members, but there are also cases where they are done on special features such as contest winners and such. So.. please don't ask me when you'll be featured. I don't know. Best I can do is guess. Along the same lines, a suggestion: because of the timing, when you submit an image, I'd suggest one that isn't seasonal. The season may be over by the time you're featured.

Did you make it this far? I apologize for being a bit long winded. If you've gotten a Spotlight request, I hope you've answered it by now.

We'd also appreciate your help. Spotlights are of members we find interesting. If you know of a member we should feature, please send me a suggestion. With your suggestion, please tell me what's interesting about the member. Don't suggest yourself. We all think we are interesting. I want to know about someone else you think is interesting. If you go to the trouble of making a suggestion, I promise I'll consider you too :)

Looking for suggestions on what might interest me in considering you for a Spotlight? I can tell you that I look at a number of things:

- A diverse image gallery. I don't care about your image genre(s). I care that you have a number of good quality images in your port. It's not my place to judge their content. Cell phone and similar poor quality images turn me off. If the only image in your profile is your avatar, forget it. Make sure that your images have credits too. Not only does that help me find other candidates, it shows me that you are being a team player and using the site properly.

- A well written and interesting profile description. I like details and links to your other works and such. Go look at mine if you want an example of what I like to see. When you get done with mine, you should have a pretty good idea of why I'm here, what I want to work on, and hopefully what it would be like to work with me. If your profile isn't at least a couple of good paragraphs I probably won't bother.

- Active on the site. This should really be number one in the list. I rarely use the search function to find prospects. I click images, follow image credit links, look at posts in the forums, and watch activity on the home page. People that post, write blogs, actively share images, vote or otherwise participate in contests get my attention. In general, be interesting.

There it is. My Spotlight stream of consciousness :) Hope I didn't loose you. Questions, feedback and Spotlight suggestions welcome. And hey... if you need a picture to use for your Spotlight, come shoot with me. I'm always up for a shoot!

Steve