Happy Holidays from Empire West Studios

On behalf of Empire West Studios, I would like to wish all of our wonderful clients, fans and all of our International Talent Showcase Stars-in-Training a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday season and a very successful and Happy New Year.  May all your dreams come true. 

 

Please be sure to go to our Empire West Studios Facebook page and get the free $100 discount coupon by clicking “Like” and becoming a fan if you haven’t already done so.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Clayton Hall

Empire West Studios, Inc.

2209 W 1st St   Ste. 104

Tempe, AZ 85281

480-303-9359 ph

480-303-9369 f

ch@empireweststudios.com

www.EmpireWestStudios.com

AUDITIONING MODELS, ACTORS, SINGERS, DANCERS…CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS

The International Talent Showcase (ITS), one of the top model and talent showcases in the nation, is now scheduling FREE auditions targeting Models, Actors, Singers and Dancers. . .Children, Teens and Adults. . .for the opportunity to perform LIVE in front of the world’s top model & talent agents at the ITS’s annual five star event in Boca Raton, FL, July, 2012.  This showcase allows you to perform in front of dozens of top agency scouts all under one roof and actually meet and talk to them about your career.  You could actually be signed right on the spot!  Your chances of getting a major New York, London, Paris or Hollywood agent and your Modeling, TV, Film, Music or Dance career off to a flying start have never been better!

Auditions will take place at Empire West Studios (EWS), ITS’s Phoenix Director and the leading Model & Talent Photography studio for Children, Teens and Adults, located at 2209 W 1st St, Ste 104, Tempe, 85281, 480-303-9359 on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 7PM.  To sign up for your FREE audition simply go to the Empire West Studios website, click on the red ITS logo and enter your e-mail in the pop-up window.  When you click “Join,” a registration form will appear.  Fill out this form completely and check the Oct. 12th, Tempe audition date, then click “Save Profile Changes.”  An ITS representative will be in contact with you to schedule your audition.  Please make sure you take some time to review our Empire West Studios website at www.EmpireWestStudios.com.

Empire West Studios at National Dance Day

Arizona’s Got Dance!  National Dance Day! will be held this coming Friday and Saturday, July 29-30, at the Nelson Fine Arts Center – ASU Tempe Campus – 51 East 10th Street Tempe and Sunday, July 31, at Tempe Center for the Arts,  700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ.

This event, hosted by Dancers And Health Together, Inc., consists of two days of dance workshops (Yoga, Agility/Endurance, Ballet, Contemporary Modern, Hip Hop, Breaking, Modern, Jazz, Fusion, Contemporary, Zumba/African) closing each day with panels discussing the subjects of dance, health, and career planning.  On Sunday. at Tempe Center for the Arts. the event will continue by showcasing some of the best dance companies in Arizona.

Empire West Studios will have booths at both the workshops and the showcase.  Their display and presentation will specifically target dancers along with other surprises.  Clayton Hall, photographer and president of this top Model & Talent Photography studio, will also be featured on the panel discussion Friday night at 6:30 PM.  Hall will be speaking about different strategies dancers can employ to go from the amateur to the professional level.

Brandie Jacobs, Dancer

For complete information please click on the Arizona’s Got Dance!  National Dance Day! Facebook link above.

New Empire West Studios Tri-Fold Hits the Market

Empire West Studios (EWS), the leading Model & Talent Photography studio in Phoenix and one of the best in the nation, has just released its new full color Tri-Fold Brochure targeting Children, Teens and Adults looking to start careers in Modeling, Acting, Singing and Dancing.  With approximately 80% of its’ clients procuring representation they, indeed, know what they’re talking about.  However, the launch of the new brochure co-insides with another Empire West milestone…being selected as the Phoenix Director for The International Talent Showcase in Boca Raton, FL…the perfect compliment to the EWS mission.  If you as an aspiring model or talent have ever gotten caught up in the “amateur round robin” of running from photo shoot to photo shoot trying to get free pics for your book but find you never go anywhere but around in circles, it’s time to call the professionals, Empire West Studios.

The new EWS Tri-fold brochure:

Outside of Tri-Fold.

Inside of Tri-Fold.

The inside copy of the new EWS Tri-Fold reads:

Industry Overview

 Today, with Reality TV shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, etc. as well as the huge emphasis placed on movies and home entertainment, the thirst for knowledge about the hottest actors, recording artists, models, designers, athletes, etc. is unquenchable.

As a result, celebrity news is the number one human interest story in America today and the tie-in with fashion is unmistakable!  Indeed, top fashion designers looking to promote their brands clamor to dress Hollywood stars and starlets for every TV/Film event and fashion magazines run cover stories on any actor or actress looking to promote a new project.  Not surprisingly, there are as many actors and actresses modeling for the cover stories of fashion magazines as top models and this publicity machine shows no sign of slowing down.  Consequently, If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a model or talent there has never been a better time to begin than TODAY!  However, a career in modeling or entertainment is not an easy one to break into and you’ll need a solid plan if you want to achieve success.  So how do I get started?  Introducing Empire West Studios…

Introducing Empire West Studios

Located in Tempe, AZ for the past 16 years, Empire West Studios (EWS) specializes in outstanding Model & Talent Photography for Children, Teens, and Adults and has over 30 years experience in the field both in Tempe and in New York City.  With clients coast- to-coast, we are the premier Model & Talent Photography studio in the Phoenix metropolitan area and one of the best in the nation.

We specialize in a non-contrived, action packed, studio based style of shooting called Performance Photography which is designed to show off your talent, give your new portfolio the WOW Factor and position you at the head of the pack with agents.  Want proof?  About 80% of our clients procure agency representation both locally and/or nationally.  In addition, we’ve developed a unique variety of photography products such as our trademarked EWS Magazine Covers, The EWS Montage, EWS Twin Sets and EWS Film Strips that will make your book SIZZLE and get the agents talking, smiling and SIGNING.  Nobody Does It Better!

Hair & Make-Up, Wardrobe Styling, Performance Training, Retouching, Custom Printmaking, etc. are all in-house and our list of top agency contacts and talent coaches will save you time, money and stress while producing serious results.  Our work is reasonably priced and 100% guaranteed, we take all major credit cards and we have an A+ rating with the Arizona BBB.

And that’s not all…Empire West Studios is the Phoenix Director for The International Talent Showcase…

The International Talent Showcase

Through International Talent Showcase (ITS), aspiring models, actors, singers, and dancers just like yourself are connected with the world’s leading Agents, Managers, and Casting Directors all under one roof!  As a result, this is a huge opportunity to break into the Fashion and Entertainment Industries.  You could be signed by a major model and talent agency right on the spot!

Following an audition, if you are selected to attend ITS, you’re training and development will be closely monitored and assessed prior to the event by Empire West Studios, ITS Phoenix Director, to assure that you are prepared for the showcase held annually in July in Boca Raton, FL.  Your participation in International Talent Showcase allows you to gain exposure and educational insight about the entertainment industry while also being given the opportunity to appear and perform in the presence of reputable Industry Professionals.  It also allows you to see if you have what it takes to work in major markets in the United States such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago as well as international markets such as London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, and Greece.

For more information or to sign up for upcoming ITS auditions contact ITS Director Clayton Hall at Empire West Studios or simply go to our website at www.EmpireWestStudios.com and click on the ITS icon and enter your e-mail address.  You’ll be contacted by an ITS agent with all the details.

To receive an online copy of the new EWS Tri-fold simply send an e-mail to ch@empireweststudios.com or to receive a printed version include your mailing address with your e-mail.  To send a request by snail mail send to Empire West Studios, 2209 W 1st St, Ste 104, Tempe, AZ 85281.  For all questions on booking a shoot call Clayton Hall at 480-303-9359 because there is no better time to start your career than TODAY.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Empire West Studios (EWS) the leading Model & Talent Photography studio located in Tempe, AZ  has been selected, along with Vitamin Water,  to co-sponsor The Phoenix Fashion Week Model of the Year 2011 competition held in conjunction with Phoenix Fashion Week.  The event will include a series of Model Challenges which will begin in July and run through October at which time a winner will be announced during Phoenix Fashion Week.   Full details will be forthcoming very shortly.  The winner will receive a one year photography contract with Empire West Studios worth over $12,000 as well as an all expenses paid entry into The International Talent Showcase (ITS) model and talent convention held annually (in July) in Boca Raton and worth over $3000.   Model agents come to the ITS convention from all over the world looking for new faces and it’s a huge opportunity for the PFW Model of the Year to break into international fashion modeling.

At the same time that Empire West Studios procured the co-sponsorship of the Phoenix Fashion Week Model of the Year event, the ITS chose EWS to be their new Phoenix Director, responsible for finding and preparing ITS’s clients to showcase at the convention.  This simply means that now all Phoenix area models and talent that desire the best in Model & Talent Photography as well as direct access to the top model agencies from around the world can find it all in one place…that’s Empire West Studios!   These are very exciting developments, folks!  More info will be forthcoming shortly.  Whew, what a week!!!

Empire West Studios Launches New “Custom” Model & Talent Photography Website

Hi everyone…you may be wondering what’s been going on with Empire West Studios for much of the past year and rightly so.  However, I assure you we were not resting on our laurels!  Actually, we’ve been designing a completely new  custom website at EmpireWestStudios.com.   The new site has a cool modern look that incorporates all of our current Model & Talent Photography including our trademarked covers and portfolios along with sections on Fashion & Beauty,  Face & Body Art and Headshots, which was not the case on our previous site.  The actual image prep and re-design took almost a year-and-a-half to complete.  The site was not built from a template, it’s completely custom and I’m sure you’ll agree that it is indeed awesome.

Shown for the first time are our new image products in the form of montage, twin sets and film strips.  These products are totally unique to Empire West and are designed to show off our clients’ talents with a WOW factor edge.  These specialty images are designed to position them ahead of the competition, getting them noticed and assuring them of agency representation.  So please, click on the links above, review the site and let us know what you think.

Also, we’ve got some very exciting things planned for new models and talent in the coming months…so stay tuned!  Talk to you soon. – Clayton Hall

Molly Makes Hollywood Happen and Justice Prevails!

Folks, it’s been exactly three and a half months since my post, EWS Kids Sign with Major Hollywood Agencies, and it’s already time for an update.  In what is considered an extremely short period of time by Hollywood standards, the exceptionally talented child actor Molly Joy Israel, 9, whom Empire West Studios (EWS) has dubbed “The New Shirley Temple,” has broken through with her first booking with Coast to Coast Talent…a commercial for The University of Phoenix. Her Dad, Rob Israel, who moved Molly along with her brother and Mom to the LA area to make it easier for Molly to get to auditions, e-mailed me today with the good news.  Normally even for a child with star quality it can take much longer to get a break depending on suitable roles, the talent’s availability, the tenacity of her agent and personal manager, her acting ability, her look and perhaps most importantly…if she’s a pleasure to work with.  But Molly, who has all of the above, achieved success in record time.  She attends school during the week and handles about 4-6 auditions on average Monday through Friday.  On Saturdays she studies acting with coach John D’Aquino who also runs Camp Hollywood which Molly has been invited to attend this summer.  Her personal manager at Go Talent is very pleased with Molly’s progress as well as her popularity with all the casting directors she’s met and is currently grooming her for TV/Film.  Way to go Molly!!!  Keep up the great work.

This amazing Roaring Twenties montage entitled “The Show Must Go On” was performed by Molly and photographed for her portfolio at Empire West Studios.  Dancers must be styled properly to allow for freedom of movement.  Everything…from Molly’s 20′s outfit to her dancing tights to her hoofer’s shoes…was thought out prior to her shoot.  The Grizzly Bear in the second image and The Charleston were taught to her on the spot.  The rest was all Molly.

Besides the fact that she can Act, Sing and Dance, this is the reason that we call Molly…”The New Shirley Temple.”

Closer to home, kudos go out to EWS teen model & talent, Justice Haque, 14, who was recently signed by the Ford Robert Black Agency in Scottsdale, AZ.  All the details aren’t in yet but Justice, who has been studying acting with one of our top acting coaches and wants to specialize in comedy, is quite the fetching ingenue and obviously had the right combination of great photos, talent and good looks that hit the funny bone of FRB in exactly the right place.  Congratulations on your success Justice.  However, it’s not really a surprise to us because as we all know that Justice prevails.

At only 14, Justice already shows her grace and beauty in front of the camera in this glamorous headshot.

This quirky little twin set perfectly captures Justice’s sense of humor and makes a great image to promote her stand-up comedy act.

If you’ve been dreaming about getting into the modeling or the entertainment business there has never been a better time to do it.  With all the reality shows discovering new talent on a daily basis model & talent agencies are more open to signing new talent than ever before.  If you think you’ve got what it takes visit our website at www.EmpireWestStudios.com then give us a call at 480-303-9359 and get your new career started, simple as that.  As the Nike slogan says, you gotta “Just Do It.”

Face and Body Art Photo Shoots in Tempe

This is a prototype of our new Face & Body Art Photography ad that is set to kick off next week.  Face & Body Art Photography is a perfect compliment to our specialty of Model & Talent Photography in that almost all of the same techniques are used for both disciplines.  Today,  more so than ever, photographers need multiple revenue streams and various types of product offerings in order to stay competitive and in the game.

The following imagery is just a small sampling of the Empire West Studios (EWS) Face & Body Art Photography Portfolio that you’ll be seeing on the EWS blog.  As we finish production on each group of images in the portfolio a special blog will follow, so stay tuned.

EWS Face & Body Art ad models, Molly & Tasha, age 8, make their debut as The Butterfly Girls.

Alexa, model and talent…age 11, captivates the viewer in a very sensuous performance as Tiger Girl in this Empire West Studios Twin Set.

Alexa and her Mom, Katina, decide to show their fangs as The Tiger Women in this close-up Mother/Daughter portrait.

Tiger Women Alexa and Katina together in a beautiful Mother/Daughter portrait.  Notice how Alexa’s exquisitely
light touch elevates this image onto a whole new level.

Face & Body Art:  Nancy Kartoon
Hair for The Tiger Women:  Barbara Muller
Hair for The Butterfly Girls:  Ivy Esquibel

What is Testing?

Model & Talent Tip #10:

If you are looking for representation and to be booked for paying jobs as a model or talent, common sense should tell you that you should never present yourself to an agent or potential client in anything less than a professional manner.   That means you should have outstanding photographs of yourself showing your creative range along with professional level training and skills if you are a talent.  If you walk through an agency’s front door unprepared or just simply send in snapshots, even if you are qualified, nine times out of ten your canoe will have sunk before you even begin paddling.  There is just far too much that can go wrong with this approach.

However, if you are fortunate enough to actually send in a snapshot, have an agent call you up for an interview and sign you, guess what the first thing they’re going to tell you is?

“YOU NEED PICTURES!”

Jamie did her homework and it sure paid off!  She sent the Empire West Studios portfolio that you see here to Ford Chicago and they recommended to Ford Robert Black in Scottsdale that they meet her.

If you are the type of person that figures…”if they like me that much…they should pay for my pictures”…I highly recommend you keep your day job! This is your career…your business…the agents job is just to help you market and book yourself. It is the model’s or talent’s responsibility to get the best professional sales and marketing tools possible and when you’re starting your career a great portfolio book and an impressive JPEG portfolio for emailing should be considered serious investments.

Once you’ve signed with an agent, they’re going to hand you a list with their “approved” testing photographers. “Testing photographers” are traditionally photographers who are just learning and starting out themselves and looking to build their own portfolios. The “approved” part means their photos are “usable” by the agency but the cost factor will still be in the hundreds of dollars for a session. The problem is that since these are new photographers you may be lucky to get one or two “usable” pictures out of a session…sometimes none. There are some commercial pros that shoot for agencies on the side for extra money, but they still don’t specialize in Model & Talent Photography so there’s no guarantee of outstanding work that shows off the model’s range of abilities and the cost will be, most likely, higher.

At the same time, Jamie also sent her portfolio to The Leighton Agency.  Their immediate interest in her created quite a competition between the two agencies.

Even after you’ve secured representation, you’ll need to prove that you can do the job before a client will book you for serious money. You do this by showing outstanding photographs in your portfolio and performing in person for the client’s casting director if you’re a talent.   To start getting work you’ll need at least ten to fifteen great shots in your book. With “testing” photographers, it could take you more than a year to put just a “usable” book together let alone a great book, with the cost factor now spiraling beyond your means. The other side of the coin is if you take too long putting an impressive book together, the agency itself will lose interest in working with you and eventually drop you. Getting an outstanding selection of photographs pulled together in a timely manner is of utmost importance if you’re serious about a career as a model or talent.

At Empire West Studios with the completion of your portfolio book and JPEG portfolio for emailing, you will not only be ready to get an agent but you will be ready for client bookings…what we call “client ready”…and we have the success stories and references to back that up!

So make sure you do your homework and are professionally prepared to make your best first impression.  If you do, chances are your success is simply waiting for you to walk through the agency’s front door after all.

Leighton finally won with a slightly different contractual agreement and Jamie broke into the business.  Not too long ago I heard from a source that she had been offered a $100,000 modeling contract.  For this 17 year old, being properly prepared sure did pay off .

Models…Get It Right From The Start!

Model & Talent Tip #1:  “Start with you!  In the world of modeling YOU are the product and you can’t go to market until the product is right, tried and tested and ready for sale…you could potentially save thousands and thousands of dollars by making sure you are “ready to go to market” before you even walk in the door of an agency…Nothing is worse than meeting someone who is unprepared…” ~ Marcia Rothschild Moellers, Model Agent and Author, “So You Want To Be A Fashion Model?“

Bobbi, age 14, 5’9″, 120 lbs. A model’s “willowy look” adds to the illusion
of height and makes clothes look great.

Bobbi’s hotteen cover in full performance mode shows how great clothes
look on a model type frame.

Marcia’s absolutely correct, folks!  In today’s competitive climate of model conventions, portfolio websites, over solicited model agencies and American Idol reality talent shows it is more important than ever to give yourself the winner’s edge before ever approaching an agency or attending a convention for representation.  First do a self-assessment.  Do I physically have what it takes:  For men and women you must be in good, toned shape.  For a couture fashion model in one of the major fashion centers like New York, London, Paris or Milan a good starting point to begin your career is to be between the ages of 14-22, be 5’9″ (barefoot) or taller, about 125 pounds (size 2-6 max), clear skin and good bone structure.  A fashion model can be slightly shorter (5’8″) in the secondary markets like Phoenix.  Petites 5’4″ to 5’8″.  For female catalog models it’s sizes 4-8.  For plus models it’s size 10 and up but the model must be toned and in good shape!  Men 5’10″ to 6’4″, jacket size 38 to 42.  Men’s starting age can vary upwards.  However, a talent such as an actor, dancer, vocalist, etc. need not worry as much about height and weight requirements except for the fact that a good look certainly helps.  However, a talent must have proven professional level ability in the performing arts!  Secondly, you should have or develop an outgoing, intelligent and inquisitive personality.  Be polite to all you meet and learn how to probe and converse with people.  You must be a pleasure to work with!  Thirdly, have the best photographs made of you by an established photo studio that specializes in Model & Talent Photography.  The photos should show closeups of your face and full lengths of your body in action not just standing still. We call this Performance Photography at Empire West Studios and that’s all that we do.  Combine your self-assessment with a portfolio that looks like it came right out of a fashion magazine and you’ll be far ahead of the pack when you walk into that agency or convention.  Their only question to you will be…”Wow…where have YOU been?”

“Movement attracts!” goes advertising’s rule-of-thumb…no wonder
Bobbi’s action packed montage caught the eye of an agent in Dallas, TX,
one of the largest junior catalog markets in the country.

Chinese model Xin Zhang, 22, 5’11″ is perfect for runway (5’10″+)
and edgy editorial fashion.