Mina Salome | VIP Member | Verified Credits (36)
Model: Mina Salome; Photographer: Bob Hoffman Photography
Where are you from? Where are you based now and do you travel for shoots?
I started out modeling while I was living in Santa Cruz, CA, but am currently living in Long Beach, CA. In 2016 I started taking baby steps towards traveling as a model, so I’m pleased that 2018 will be the first year that I travel throughout the US for modeling.
Who or what inspired you to become a model?
As a teenager, I would make sense of the world around me by coming up with these images which were surreal, fantastical, and deeply personal. I’d try to express them through drawing and painting, and I worked on this near daily for years, but it was a frustrating experience because I never felt like my skills were up to the task of representing my ideas in the way that I wanted. At the time I wasn’t modeling…I’d been interested in modeling for some time, but didn’t allow myself to actually try it. When I finally tried it, even in my first shoot, I was so relieved at how much easier it was to express my ideas as photographs than as drawing, so it quickly became a major passion in my life.
Model: Mina Salome; Photographer: Craig C Photography
How and when did you start modeling?
I first started kind of by accident about three years ago. I had been performing as a belly dancer for a little over a year at that point, and had seen some nice photos of my dancing, but then a week came where I danced two shows back to back, and I was really blown away at how good I looked in the photos from those shows. I found out that both shows were photographed by the same local photographer, so I contacted him to see if I could use some of the images for my own promotion. He said yes, and also invited me to do a studio shoot with him if I was interested. It was an easy choice to say yes, given how happy I was with the initial photos he has taken of me, and I loved the experience of my first studio shoot. I started networking with more local photographers, and pretty quickly I felt confident enough with the quality of my work to start charging for my modeling. Less than a year later, I had left my 9-to-5 to pursue modeling full time, and I’ve never looked back.
What type of modeling do you enjoy most?
This answer to this question varies week by week… I don’t really have a comfort zone that I hang out in. I’m constantly in a process of reinventing myself and trying out new and challenging things, and I like shooting a lot of variety. At the moment, I’d say I’m really into portraits with dramatic makeup and styling, as well as exploring metaphor and surrealism through modeling.
Model: Mina Salome; Photographer: _daev
What do you look for when deciding to work with a photographer?
I shoot with a really wide variety of photographers as part of my job, with a range of personalities, levels of experience, and styles of shooting. I try to connect as much as possible with the vision of the photographer, so that I can bring it to life in the way that they were hoping for. I often find that my best shoots are the ones where the photographer and I can establish a good artistic rapport and can collaborate to get really great images.
Which models or other artists currently inspire you?
There are so many it’s hard to list! Currently my biggest modeling inspirations are Kelly Eden, Kato, Ophelia Overdose, and Lillias Right.
Model: Mina Salome; Photographer: EricAnderson
What would be your dream shoot?
A zero gravity glamour shoot, possibly with retro costumes in a nod to the opening scene of Barbarella. I love incorporating futurism and science fiction concepts into my shoots as much as possible!
How important is social media in your success?
I occasionally get work through my social media, but in general, I get the majority of my work from Model Mayhem and in-person networking. I do think that having social media is important, but it hasn’t brought a lot of money into the bank for me. Mostly, the benefit that I get from it is having the chance to network with other creatives, find inspiration, and connect with people who like what I do. I also use it as a tool to hold myself accountable. Often, when I set a new professional goal for myself, I’ll announce it all over my social media first. That way, people are expecting to see results, and will ask me about it if I’m not delivering. It eliminates the option to just give up on my goals!
Model: Mina Salome; Photographer: Bob Hoffman Photography
What else do you like to do outside of modeling?
Aside from modeling, I belly dance professionally, was recently certified to teach yoga, and own a handmade jewelry store. I also enjoy blogging and sewing costumes in my down time. I am really excited about new places, people, and ideas, so I love getting out there and having adventures, which brings a lot of inspiration to all aspects of my art.
What’s the best career advice you can give to new models?
The first is to reflect on what makes you who you are, and create images which showcase that. In this line of work, much of what you create will be the ideas of other people, but I think it’s important to fill your own portfolio of the kind of work that you like to see. It can be easy to lose sight of why you started modeling when you get to the point where you’re mostly getting hired for other peoples’ projects, so keep your passion and authenticity alive to stand out from the crowd, and to avoid burnout.
The other piece of advice is to educate yourself on the business side of modeling. Find books, webinars, and your local business groups, and start learning the fundamentals of running a business, which is what you have to do to be a successful freelance model. Set goals for yourself, and have a long-term plan. A lot of new models have trouble making enough money to support themselves, but if you can educate yourself about techniques for running a profitable business, you’ll get there a lot faster.
Model: Mina Salome; Photographer: Glenn Fidler
Instagram: @minasalome | Twitter: @mina_salome_