Getting Started In The Modelling Business



Posted: Saturday, October 14, 2006

by
Maxwell Sinclair Model Managemnt

Are you interested in becoming a professional model? Are you serious about becoming a professional model? It sounds like the same question but it is not. Many people especially young females dream about becoming professional models but for all the wrong reasons. Many also start the wrong way and end up being the victims of scams or spend far too much money trying to being discovered. This article will simplify things for you and hopefully save you a lot of money and aggravation as well as time.

First of all, very few people are born models but most who are successful are born with the genes to do so. Great height, a thin frame and a photogenic face are things that no one can teach you, so if you start out with them you have a head start. By great height, I mean that ideally you should be 5'9"-5'11" if you are a female 16 or older. If you are a male, you should ideally be at least 5'11". If you have a natural thin build as a female and a good metabolism, you have an advantage but even if you are not super thin but are tall, the fashion world may still have a place for you as long as you have the height since the plus size fashion market is huge these days.

The first thing you should do before getting started, is have yourself measured and have some natural photos taken. Go to see or send your photos to a few agencies for some feedback.The feedback may vary depending on to which agencies you sent your photos but even the owners of local fashion stores can tell you whether or not you actually have modelling potential.

What is "modelling potential"? Modelling potential goes far beyond being lucky enough to possess the physical basics for modelling. Personality and sense of style and attitude also come into play. If you love to be the centre of attention and perform well in front of an audience and can follow direction plus possess all the required physical attributes of a professional model, maybe you are on your way.

Agencies will generally expect you to have or to invest in a bit of training or will train you themselves if they are a large agency. Modelling schools in cities that are not major fashion centres will try to sell you courses that may or may not help you. You may not be a natural but you don't need to spend $2000 on a 6 month course only to be forgotten about when you are finished. Also be aware of overly expensive photo sessions especially when starting out. No professional model ever uses her first test photos after she has been in the business for even a few months. You will learn more working than anyone can ever teach you. Experience is very important.

If you have registered with a modeling school or small agency outside a major fashion market, also be careful when the school or agency tries to convince you to attend a modelling convention. If you are at least 5'8" and extremely photogenic, you may receive interest from international agencies but, if you are not, they will totally ignore you and you will have wasted thousands of dollars. Schools are paid a commission by the conventions or told to mark up the prices by hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars.

Those were the warnings and the pitfalls, the following are the guidelines to follow.

1. Have yourself measured and have someone you are comfortable with take some natural photos of you and submit them to a few agencies.

2. Meet with the agencies who contact you for their feedback and listen carefully to what they tell you. Be careful. Some will be truthful and others not but what they tell you will enlighten you.

3. Learn and practice posing techniques over and over before you invest money in a professional photo session.You want to be comfortable and confident and have a flow to your posing so you will able to work well with any photographer in any setting.

4. Practice your runway skills over and over to develop a style unique to you that will also draw attention to the fashions you are wearing.

5. Make sure you live in or move to an area close to a major fashion market so you can see as many potential clients as possible at a moment's notice. If you live far away, you probably will not even get your foot in the door. Location and availability iare extremely important in modelling.

Follow the advice above and you will have a headstart. Good luck in pursuing you dreams of becoming a professional model.

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