Norma Schrieffer | Top 10 Tips for Aspiring Fashion Models
Modeling Agencies Every fashion model needs a modeling agency. The first step to getting signed by a modeling agency is getting seen by a modeling agency. Getting seen requires a very simple submission: snapshots of yourself. 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. Do not style your hair (but do make sure it is clean), and include photos of your hair down, and also of your hair up, pulled away from your face. The background needs to be plain and not distracting (standing against a plain wall works best).
Modeling Tips Your digitals should include the following photos: smiling (with teeth, without), nonsmiling, up-close headshot(s), left and right side profiles, and a full-length shot (both facing the camera and turned away from camera Your outfit should consist of a tshirt (solid color) and jeans photos, etc. Don’t get a fake tan, don’t wear fake eyelashes, don’t do any crazy contouring with makeup.
Do Your Research About Modeling First, and most importantly, is this agency legit? Can their business be easily verified, and do they have any bad reviews? Is this modeling agency currently accepting models with your look and stats? What is the modeling agency’s submission process (specific guidelines vary by agency, but you should be able to find this info on their website)? Who are the agency’s past and present models? What are the modeling agency’s most recent campaigns? Are they working with established brands and companies? Do you WANT to have this agency represent you, meaning you will be representing them in turn? Once you find the modeling agencies that you feel confident to be a good fit for you, submit digitals to your top picks.
Learn To Embrace Rejection Mentally prepare yourself for rejection- a lot of it. 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.” In fact, they were told “NO” multiple times, many ways, by countless people. Rejection is part of the territory. Don’t base your self-worth on appearance or anybody else’s approval of you. Start practicing now: challenge yourself to shrug off any and all criticism you receive this week. See if it was easy or difficult. The harder it was, the more you need to grow a tougher skin. Are you offended that you were just told to grow tougher skin? If so, that’s exactly the point! Start practicing the ability to let all criticism roll.
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 important. However, for fashion models, the height/weight standards are more rigid and inflexible than with any other genre in modeling. 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, keeping alcohol to a minimum or abstaining, moisturizing face every morning and evening, wearing never going to sleep in their makeup, regular manicures and hair appointments, taking a multivitamin, working out 4-5 days per week.
Practice posing and walking Practice runway walking, What separates a pretty model from another pretty model is going to be their posing ability and their walk. Modeling is an art. The supermodels you see in gorgeous magazine photos did not just sit in front of a camera and get lucky when the photographer took a photo of them. 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. The photographer will use his knowledge of lighting, aperture, framing, etc to bring everything to life on his end. Whether it’s bingewatching season upon season of America’s Next Top Model, watching YouTube tutorials, reading modeling books, or finding a favorite model to emulate just do your homework.
Be Safe As a fashion model, you’re vulnerable, especially when you’re starting up. So have your guard up and be safe. My most important tip for aspiring fashion models: Don’t fall for phony modeling schools You shouldn’t have to pay for any photos to get started. Your agency should be the one taking care of setting up test shoots. There are many other scams out there: modeling contests, unscrupulous “modeling agents” or “casting directors” or “photographers”, fake casting calls which promise thousands of dollars in compensation and a photo shoot in another country, etc. Have a good support system in place. The modeling industry can be an overwhelming place, and it can be easy to fall prey to many other dangers (party scene, eating disorders, etc.
Be Professional 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. “Well, I’m pretty enough to be a model, so I will just skate by with my looks alone and minimal effort.” Many up-and-coming models of the past never worked another day in their life after their unprofessionalism, bad attitude, and reputation began to overshadow their beauty. There are plenty of other beautiful girls in the world who WON’T be snotty or rude. When you book a job, you are representing both yourself and your agency.
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 make it as a successful fashion 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 prepared to do a 12-hr photo shoot in freezing and windy conditions, while wearing wardrobe that offers no warmth, while still getting the shot and not complaining? Have you accepted that it may take years once signed to a modeling agency to garner success (if ever) while your agency develops you as a model? Are you willing to travel internationally on long trips, family, friends, and the comforts of home for an extended period of time?
Build Your Social Media Following If you are an aspiring fashion model, it is likely that you are seeking modeling agency representation. As mentioned before, submit your digitals, practice posing and walking, develop a beauty regimen, etc. while you wait for responses from modeling agencies. In the meantime, build up your social media following. It may actually help get you signed to an agency, believe it or not! This is a very new phenomenon. These days, modeling agencies will take a model’s online following into consideration when weighing whether to sign them or not. 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, but it is a huge attribute. This trend does not show any signs of slowing at current. So jump on board as soon as you can.