I have been asked by a lot of girls lately to do some modeling for me. Of course, I am an asshole so I shoot most of them down. Then they cry.  Here are the Harsh Realities:

It's one thing to get some photos done that make you look great, but it’s another to want to do this professionally. A lot of you are satisfied getting artistic photos done are you local photographer that make you look great. Some of you may even get paid to get into a photographers portfolio. It’s all good. That doesn’t make you “super”

If your goal is to get into the mainstream public eye, get paid to travel, and pose for calendars around the world, appear in cover magazines you’re still way off. If you think you have an edge, you’re dead wrong.

Once you face the truth that you are competing against MILLIONS of other girls to get into the biz, you should also accept the fact that many of them are better looking than you are. More importantly, if you have no dedication, you’re way at the bottom of the list.

Here are some rude, but yet serious tips on what is required to get in front of the lens

Rahim’s personal modeling tips:

1) Being skinny does not make you a model. This does not make you any closer to being a model than the next person.

Work out. A lot. A good model has visible lean muscle mass. Professionals religiously look after their bodies in the gym with cardio training and weights. Being skinny is one thing, but having tight skin and a tone body is everything. Stand in front of a mirror and pinch. If you can grab more than a few centimeters of skin, you need toning. Put your curves in place with muscle rather than baby fat and get rid of arm flab with proper weight training. Consult with a qualified weight trainer every few months its not expensive, and it will do your body good.

Watch your diet. Eat healthy foods but don’t starve yourself. Eating right does not limit you to eating rabbit food - most diets that localize your food intake to a certain type of food like salads are harmful to you body. It can cause you to be weak, and is harmful to your skin and overall well being. You need protein to maintain muscle. You need muscle to burn calories. Consult with a qualified nutritionists every few months its not expensive, and it will do your body good.

If you are serious, there should be no thoughts, discussions, excuses, required. To hell with your allergies, and what you prefer to eat and what you don’t prefer to eat. I don’t give a damn about how much time you have in your day that you can’t make it to the gym. I could care less about your food budget. If you don’t fit the profile, there are unlimited amounts of others who have the dedication. Get off your ass and do it.

2) Skin hair and nails. Take care of them. Moisturize at least once a day, if not more. Compare products don’t take the companies word for them, look up and compare. Ask other successful models what they use. Always have your nails ready for each shoot; One of the biggest downfalls of a shoot is bad/ordinary nails. You’ll go from trash to class.

3) You’ll have to spend money, and you’ll have to do things for free. You’ll have to pay for your head-shots, meetings, body care, diets, gyms, trainers, agencies, lessons, the list goes on. Design a website (yes, you need to learn non model related things too). Self promote and follow through. Think of it as tuition. Tuition for a career you may never get.

Now that’s not good enough for some girls. They want to have things handed to them on a platter and breeze though life. Unless Daddy’s a rich man, it’s not gonna happen. It *IS* a great way for sexual predators claiming to be in the biz to try and take advantage of you though. They’ll see a lazy ass girl who is willing to do anything but work for a shot in front of a camera. I wonder how many of you have been promised great things for little to no work.

Those who are really in the biz are more concerned about using you to promote to make their organization money, and not so much in treating you like a princess. If you’d rather be a princess, go to great lavish parties and lead a pampered lifestyle where there is little work and no stress, then I suggest a career as a high class call girl.

4) Confidence. If you follow all of the above, you will be in the running and confidence will come naturally. If you still don’t, then you’re not a model and you never will be until you learn. Until then, get off the floor

5) Arrogance. If you want to be an arrogant fuck, then by all means be one. I’ll still work with you if you pay me. Keep in mind that like myself, other photographers only refer their favorite models to paying jobs. If you play a part, you’ll never get referrals. Photographers usually do a lot more for the girls they think are nice.

6) Dating: Don’t do it. Be prepared to give up your social life. The last thing you need is a jealous boyfriend trying to steer you away from your dreams. Behind every failed model who went on a short trip to nowhere, stands a insecure man. Then there are the friends who have you ditch work or rush your shoots for a night out or what ever peer games they have in mind. I’m not saying dump your friends, I’m saying don’t let them interfere. If they’re really your friends, they’ll understand and help you instead of trivialize your dreams.

Now if you think that I am harsh, and the rules are harsh, you don’t need to be in the business. If you think all models get discovered off the street, then you’re in dreamland. Modeling isn’t a free ride and you’re not Paris.

Multiple publications, various dates.