Modeling as a career has become a much-vaunted choice now with thousands of aspirants chasing the dream of becoming the next supermodel. To become a model, takes discipline, effort, and perseverance. You need to plan, prepare, and follow a strategy to stand out and get noticed.
How to become a Model?
Here’s a list of tips below that you must follow to break into the modeling industry and kickstart your modeling career.
1. Practice model poses in front of the camera
The supermodels you see in gorgeous magazine photos did not just sit in front of a camera and get lucky when a highly skilled fashion photographer took a picture of them. They worked WITH the photographer to create a masterpiece. Both equally skilled in their respective trade, a model will use her posing, facial expressions, and artistic intuition to help create the photographer’s vision. Having the right posing skills is an essential requirement for becoming a model. The photographer will use his knowledge of lighting, aperture, framing, etc. to bring everything to life on his end. It is a choreographed dance, and you need to hone your skills the best way you can.
2. Develop your modeling skills
Practice runway walking. What separates a pretty model from another model is going to be their posing ability and their walk. Modeling is an art. Here is a modeling tip for you: Have a friend shoot photos of you to get comfortable with posing, both in front of a camera and another person. Or start smaller and put a camera on a tripod and practice by yourself until your confidence grows before you start your journey to become a fashion model.
3. Get a killer modeling portfolio
One of the first requirements from a model that agencies and clients will look at to make a great first impression is the modeling portfolio. Making a stable career is to have a well-rounded modeling portfolio that showcases your strong points through high-quality, stunning images.
It helps to have both an online version (your modeling portfolio website) that you can send to anyone via an email and a printed version that you can show when you meet someone face to face. You need all the exposure you can get to move up the ladder in the modeling industry.
4. Find the right modeling agency
The first step to getting signed by a modeling agency is getting seen by a top modeling agency in your area. Getting seen requires a very simple submission: snapshots of yourself. These snapshots are commonly referred to as ‘digitals’ in the industry (or occasionally ‘polaroids.’) Modeling agencies are looking for the most simple and natural photos possible so that they can see you for YOU. Submit snapshots of you wearing little to no makeup: a light sweep of foundation and mascara at the most. Take the photos using natural light; a friend can easily play photographer for you. If you have any friends currently learning fashion design than make sure to take his or her advice on your wardrobe selection. Your digitals should include the following images: smiling (with teeth, without), non-smiling, up-close headshot(s), left and right side profiles, and a full-length shot (both facing the camera and turned away from the camera). Don’t overthink it: simple and natural is the first impression modeling agencies are looking for.
5. Learn to embrace rejection
Rejection is part of the territory. The sooner you not only understand but accept that, the better off you will be. You MUST be able to handle having doors shut in your face without a second thought. Even the most stunning supermodels to ever walk the planet were told “NO.” They were told “NO” multiple times, many ways, by countless people. Start practicing the ability to let all criticism roll off your back! But don’t worry, everybody is capable of learning this skill with enough practice.
6. Make yourself constantly look better
Take care of your skin, hair, body, and health. Like it or not, modeling is an aesthetically-driven industry, and beauty/appearance is undeniably essential. (That being said, you can still make it as a commercial model regardless of physical beauty or body type.) To become a model, you must adhere to your thorough beauty regimen. Many supermodels use the following habits as part of their beauty routine, including but not limited to the following: drinking water like a fish throughout the day to stay hydrated and keep skin supple, not smoking, and, keeping alcohol to a minimum. A model who takes care of her appearance is much more of an asset than a lazy one with poor hygiene and no motivation to look her best.
7. Be Professional
Getting into modeling is not an easy task. You have to be a professional through and through. Answer phone calls. Return voicemails and emails promptly. There is no excuse to be 30 minutes late to a meeting, casting call, photo shoot. If anything, you should always be 15 minutes EARLY. This takes planning and time management skills.When you book a job, you are representing both yourself and your agency. When you are on set, treat EVERYONE with respect. Produce some killer photos, regardless of your makeup preference, and without saying mean things about the makeup artist to others. Respect and courtesy will take you a LONG way in your modeling career!
8. Commit to work
Modeling may seem easy and glamorous, but that is by no means the reality. It will take a lot of commitment on your part to become a model.Are you prepared to maintain a diet, fitness, and beauty regimen, even when you are having a dry spell and not booking any work? Are you willing to do a 12-hr photo shoot in freezing and windy conditions, while wearing a wardrobe that offers no warmth, while still getting the shot and not complaining?These commitments are not meant to scare you by any means – modeling CAN be fun, rewarding, exciting, and glamorous. Just make sure you are aware of the possibilities on both sides, good and bad, and you are ready to commit no matter what!
9. Build your social media following
Building a following on social media is a very new phenomenon. These days, modeling agencies will take a model’s online audience into consideration when weighing whether to sign them or not.As mentioned before, submit your digitals, practice posing and walking, develop a beauty regimen, etc. while you wait for responses from modeling agencies.Advertisers use models all the time, but more and more so they want to use models who already have a built-in audience to promote to. A large social media following is not a requirement to be a fashion model, but it is an important attribute.Know what you stand for, show your followers your authentic self, engage with them regularly, and post great photos! You can even take it a step further and start a blog, a YouTube channel, etc.
10. Never let your pride down
You have seen most of the steps on how to become a model, but not letting your pride down is not less important. No matter what you are still a valuable person with feelings, thoughts, and opinions. You are so much more than just a pretty face. Most fashion models accept the jobs they are booked by their agency, which is fine and quite standard. But if anything ever crosses the line or makes you feel uncomfortable, you need to learn to speak up and voice your opinion before it’s too late.
© Pixpa/Gurpreet Singh-2022