Model guide

We don't expect SuicideGirls to be professional models, and we love the "girl next door" vibe in a set. However, we want you to look your best in every picture, so we have put together this guide to help you out shooting your set. Have this page up before you shoot and while you are shooting - there are lots of good examples in the next sections that will break down exactly How to Look Good in Photos Without (looking like you are) Really Trying.

Before you shoot your set, you should practice making faces in the mirror. Make happy faces, sad faces, sexy faces, angry faces, mysterious faces, all of them! See what looks interesting and works with your face. Scrunch up your face really tight, then relax everything. When your face is relaxed, your lips will naturally part a little bit in the middle, which is super sexy... way better than pursing your lips. Whoever decided that "duck face" is sexy is wrong, definitely do not do this. Practice smiling with your eyes - Tyra Banks likes to call this a SMIZE, and it makes you look fierce and you should definitely learn it.

Have you ever seen America's Next Top Model? You can watch pretty much all of every episode on YouTube here- it's an incredible reference for learning how to look good in photos. Here's a good old fashioned smize:



Tilt your chin down slightly - this defines your jaw line and gives your face a good shape, all while making your neck look slimmer. Practice different angles on your face - slightly to the right or to the left looks the best on most people rather than straight on, although some straight on shots can be really strikingly beautiful too.

Always try to find the light when you're shooting a set - your face should be facing the light source so there aren't any weird shadows cast over it, which can be unflattering.

Your facial expressions will set the mood for your photo set, so do more than just make the same blank expression in 40 photos - that's boring. Be sexy, happy, sad, mysterious, a bitch, whatever you want to be, but be interesting!

Here are some great examples of different facial expressions.

Posing is the hardest thing about shooting a set that is interesting to look at and captivates the viewer - just standing there won't do the trick. Just like facial expressions, practice posing in front of a mirror! Try poses standing up, sitting down, laying down, kneeling. Practice holding things in your hands, practice holding nothing and where you will put your hands - on your hips, on your shoulders, playing with your hair. What are you doing with your feet? Try everything and see what it looks like.

Try to have at least one piece of furniture at your location, especially if you have never modeled before. Having a chair, a bed, a railing on a staircase, a table, a ladder or any other item will give you a lot more options for a variety of poses. Sit, stand, kneel, climb, drape yourself off of it, whatever feels natural. Interact with it - take something out of a dresser drawer, reach up for a book on a bookshelf, bend down to turn the channel on the TV on the floor, lean over the couch to answer the phone - be creative!

Here are some super useful tips for posing that even Tyra herself would approve of:

DO keep it classy. Yes you must be nude, but we discourage spread shots, and definitely no penetration for any reason ever, do not even think about it.
DO create curves. Instead of standing straight up, move your body into an S shape. Your body will look the best and the resulting photo will be visually appealing when you maximize your natural curves.
DO make eye contact. The sexiest sets are when the viewer feels like they are right there in the room with you. You don't have to stare down the camera in every photo, but direct eye contact in at least a few shots create the most intimate vibe.
DO request to have your favorite music playing when you do a shoot! The beat will kick your poses up 10 notches and make you feel way more comfortable.
DO NOT lose your neck!! Try to elongate your neck, it makes you look taller and leaner.
DO NOT be a limp noodle. Always pose with tension in your body, from head to toe.
DO NOT just stand there. Boresville. Mix it up with innovative poses!
DO NOT slouch! Arch your back or at the very least, stand up straight.
DO NOT be comfortable. If you are comfortable, it doesn't look good on camera. Your entire body should be tense head to toe - if you're doing it right, you'll be sore the next day.
DO NOT be forgettable. Make an impression by showing your distinctive personality.

Here are 30 of our favorite poses from sets on SuicideGirls.com. Pull up these photos when you shoot your set and try to recreate the poses - many of these are tried and true and work for pretty much every body type.

We favor light makeup and hair. We want to see YOU and appreciate your natural beauty!

HAIR: Please wash and lightly style your hair for your shoot. You do not need to have a stylist come to your shoot - you wear your hair every day, so you know how to style it best! Simple hairstyles work the best on camera, but always try a couple test shots with your photographer before you get into the set. If you wear your hair down, make sure that it's not obscuring your face. If you wear it up in a ponytail or in braids or a half ponytail, make sure it's not pulled too tightly. Your hair should look touchable, and be recognizable as hair, not a helmet of hairspray. Think about how you'd wear your hair on a first date - do that.

Please do not wear a wig. If you think you can wear a wig and we won't be able to tell, you are wrong. When there is no visible part in your hair, when your hair is unnaturally shiny, when it is perfectly styled with no hair out of place, trust that we know and just don't do it. If you normally wear wigs due to a health condition, e-mail the model coordinator prior to submitting the set: modelcoordinator@suicidegirls.com

MAKEUP: The most universally flattering look is a little face powder on any shiny areas, a little blush on your cheeks, a thin line of black liquid eyeliner on your eyelids (top only), and mascara. Apply your makeup as you wish, we just ask that you keep it somewhat minimal - really just a little face powder, mascara, and blush would do the trick. If you normally draw on your eyebrows, we find that it looks best when they look like natural brows as opposed to super thin, super arched drawn on ones.

Here are some great examples of minimal yet sexy hair and makeup:












We understand that sometimes a little smoky eye or a red lip can essential to the theme, especially if you are emulating a character, but all over caked on makeup and drawn on eyebrows is pretty much never necessary. Here are a few instances of too much makeup:

Your wardrobe should express who you are. Dress how YOU feel sexiest! Casual and classy never go out of style, so try to pick outfits that are casual but cute, or a little sexier but still classy.

Casual wardrobe includes: cotton t-shirts/tanks, denim shorts, sundresses, tall socks, cotton panties, track shorts, blue jeans, cardigan sweaters, chuck taylors, etc.

Classy wardrobe includes: nice lingerie (lacy, satin, sheer, etc), bodysuits/one pieces, tights, thigh highs, garter belts & garters, sexy shoes (vintage, stilettos, boots), corsets, etc.

Have fun with your wardrobe choices! Its entirely up to you and a representation of you. Now, there are a few wardrobe items we ask models to stay away from:

- Stripper heels and stripper attire (neon colored fishnets, anything crotchless, metallic/sparkly two piece sets, etc). Although they might look hot on stage, it doesn't transfer well in photos. If you wear stripper shoes in your set we will ask you to shoot again without them, so please do not even put them on your feet.
- Top hats. These are for Abraham Lincoln and that is it.
- Angel or fairy wings. No.
- Old timey burlesque apparel - Bettie Page was certainly an inspiration, but your set should be a modern take on how you feel the most beautiful, not an ode to ye olde days of yore.

Here are some examples of casual but super cute wardrobe choices:
















And here are a few examples of very sexy, classy wardrobe choices:

The location you choose can be simple or visually intriguing - just make sure it isn't cluttered! There is nothing worse than seeing a gorgeous girl posing in a untidy bedroom, surround by piles of clothes and bags/books/what have you.

Sometimes you have to put a little work in to find a great location. If you don't have a cool room in your house, maybe a friend does! You can even ask local boutiques, coffee shops, bars, etc. if they would allow you to shoot in their space. The only place that we ask that you DO NOT shoot is in a studio, in front of a plain backdrop - you are much more interesting than that! We will not accept any sets shot in front of a plain studio backdrop. Lose the backdrop and try a different area of the studio, now you're onto something.

The following photos are examples from sets with great locations!













If you don't have access to a really great location, that's okay too! Some of our favorite sets are shot on a bed with crisp white sheets, or in an empty room.

Here are some examples of very simple locations that made for some wonderful sets:











Some girls are able to shoot at their house or a friends house in different rooms, like the kitchen, or the bathroom. There are plenty of ways to use different rooms creatively!

Here are some examples of sets shot in different rooms:

Bathrooms:






Kitchens:







In front of a window:





On a front or back porch:

Set themes are fun and add a narrative quality to your set. Themes can be simple - focusing on one of your interests, hobbies, or even your favorite shirt. They can also be complex and tell a story, or pay homage to a favorite movie, book, character, etc.

Here are some of our favorite sets with simple themes:

Sash in "Nirvana" - the theme is mostly, "how good do I look in this shirt?"


GoGo in "Wolfie" - Adorable GoGo in an adorable hat.


Casanova in "Nostalgia" - Casanova used her interests in old cameras and old photos for a great set.


Patton in "Hyacinth House" - One of Patton's hobbies is painting and she did a wonderful job of incorporating it into a sexy set.


Here are some examples of sets that are much more complex and tell a story throughout.

AnnaLee in "The Princess and the Pea"


Discoquette in "Detention"


Radeo in "On Call"


Vana in "Diana Prince"