Modeling can be a lucrative and rewarding career, but in all honesty it’s a longer and tougher road than most individuals think. For those who want to model professionally, there are two ways to go about it: signing with an agency or freelance modeling. The two paths entail totally different plans of attack.
It’s 2017 and the standards for the ideal model are changing and becoming more progressive. The industry is starting to realize that for their campaigns to be successful, women and men of all shapes, sizes, and races must be represented in advertising - as they should be.
Signing with an agency is a difficult task for most. I personally know models who have searched for agency representation for years, and didn’t get signed until they were almost ready to throw in the towel. However, I also have friends who are signed with 4-5 agencies across the globe and model for designers such as Saint Laurent.
One could say being a freelance model is easier with less hoops to jump through, but that would be a lie. As a freelance model, you are your own brand, your own agent, and your own publicist. Juggling all three of these jobs is very possible - as long as you have the drive and dedication.
Before you choose your career path let’s go over the basics of getting into modeling. These four tips will get you ready for the big leagues:
Find your niche. You have to sit down and weigh out your strengths and weaknesses. Is your look more commercial or more runway? I had a teacher in high school say to our class, “Your parents say you can do whatever you want when you grow up, but you can’t be a basketball player if you’re 3ft tall.” This applies to modeling - for now, as the industry continues to evolve. You can find out what works best for you by going out and trying it all. If you enjoy high fashion more, then make that your goal. If you enjoy lifestyle work, then find lifestyle photographers to build your portfolio with.
Build your brand. Like anything else, your brand plays an incredible important role in your career. Who do you want to be? Are you the posh, all designer everything model? Or are you the edgy, activist model, maybe? You could be both. You can be anyone you want. You just have to decide what you want to stand for and what you want to be known for. If your career takes off suddenly, you could be a well-known public figure and you’ve got to make sure you know what you and your brand are all about. This also includes designing your social media in a way that exhibits your vibe. People want to look at you once and feel as if they can relate to you or know you. This is why some of the best models and influencers are so popular. They let people in and show them who they are through their media.
Take care of yourself and take digitals. When you meet with an agency for the first time they will want to see digitals. Digitals are raw representations of how you look on camera. Most models will take photos on a little, no-frills digital camera or even an iPhone these days. The images are to show what you look like without the editing, styling, and makeup. Just you in all of your glory. Taking care of yourself is very important leading up to this and after this. You want to have clear skin, a toned body, and a happy mind. I say you also need a happy mind because if you feel good, you look good.
It’s a long road from here, but nothing worth having comes easy. Choose the path for you and hit the ground running. It’s never too early or too late to pursue modeling and there will always be opportunities available for you, just waiting to be taken.