
To be a model is glamorous, sexy and easy to be, that’s all people think. However, not everything is as easy as people think. The life is filled up with stitchs and not only flowers. It’s an extremely competitive business that will more likely break you than make you a model. Here are some truths and miths about becoming a model.
1. Be professional. Be polite and always turn up on time to any appointment or shoot. If you’re late or rude, word soon gets around and then nobody will want to work with you.
* Be organized! Models often get called off places at the last minute and have very busy days. You need to be on top of things if you want to succeed. Buying a day-to-day planner can really help.
*Confirm whether or not there will be a make-up artist on site for any work you are doing. 99 times out of 100 there will be one, but there may be the odd occasion where you are required to do your own make-up. If there is a make-up artist, then arrive fresh faced.
* Be truthful about your measurements. Don’t say you’re skinnier than you are just to get a shoot. Once there, the stylist will have problems and you will get found out. Word will get around and you could find yourself without a career!
* Treat modeling like a real job. Girls that don’t take it seriously have small chances of succeeding in their modeling career. Realize that it is harder than it appears and there’s a lot of work behind all that glitz and glamour at fashion shows.
2. Look up the number of a reputable modeling agency. You can find these in your area phone book or by running a search on the Internet. Make an appointment.
3.Be prepared. When you attend your appointment, they might ask you to pull certain faces like laughing, happy, sad, or seductive. Practice in front of a mirror beforehand. It may help to look at pictures of models in magazines to get an idea. Be ready to have a Polaroid close up of your face taken. You really only get one chance for this photo. They’ll use this to compare to your head shot. They will ask you to walk and take your measurements, so be prepared for all of that as well. Learn to accept rejection or criticism politely (see Warnings below). Thank the people for their time.
4. Get some photos done. These don’t have to be professional but they should be created for the purpose of showing your ability as a model. Although agencies say they are happy with snapshots, that doesn’t mean they want to see an out of focus shot of you out partying with your friends with a little note attached saying that you’re the one on the right! As a bare minimum, you will need one head shot and one body shot.
* Get your favorites and take the photos to be printed into 8×10s. Save these in case you are asked to leave a photograph anywhere before you have professional ones done. Don’t force these on people or try to hand them out. You’ll be better off waiting for the professional shots instead of taking risks with an amateur photo.
* Consider getting the photos professionally done. Professional photography, even if it is expensive, will give you a better idea of what kind of look you project. You will eventually need these photographs to snag an interview, so think of it as a worthwhile investment!
5. Decide what kind of model you’d like to be. Technically, anybody can be a model. However, do remember that if you don’t meet certain requirements, the work available to you will be incredibly limited, and you may have to compensate in other departments (reliability, technique, etc).
* If your body is full and curvaceous, you may be able to be a plus size model.
If you’re tall (at the very least 5′7 for editorial & 5′8 for catwalk.) and very skinny but with a small breast size, you can be a catwalk model.
* If you have large breasts but not very wide hips, you can be an underwear model.
* If you don’t fit any of the face or body descriptions, perhaps you can be a foot, hair or hand model.
* Consider your “look”. There is more of a curvy California look, a svelte New York look, a waif-like European look, girl next door, swim suit or lingerie (usually requires the bust to fill out the suits and a very thin waist)…Know what you’re equipped with, but also work to pull off other looks.