How to get started
Getting started in modeling is not based on luck, but on hard work and dedication! Modeling agencies do have scouts that travel around and seek out potential models, but you could be waiting forever to be found by one. You must take the steps to get started! In this area of the web site, I outline some basic ideas that you should consider when planning your entry into the modeling industry. Albeit, it is not an all inclusive guide, but it should get you started down the right path. If you are under 18 years old, then seek the help of your parents. They will have to represent you when contacting agencies, etc…
- Dress and look the part: If you want to be a model, then you should feel comfortable looking like a model. Modeling is more than sitting in front of camera and smiling. Modeling is how you carry yourself around the public (and potential employers). Make it a point to dress nice for all occasions (don’t wear baggy clothing, baseball caps, sweat pants, or anything else that might look trashy) and, if female, apply your make-up to today’s fashion standards. If you are the least bit uncertain about how to dress nicely, or how to apply make-up correctly, you might want to consider a fashion consultant, make-up artist, or modeling school who can teach you. The more often you dress nice and fashionably, the more comfortable you’ll feel. This comfort, coupled with experience and training, will build confidence! This confidence with show through during photo shoots, meetings with modeling agencies, and possible employers. Most importantly, always be friendly and polite (and not conceited). This will carry you far.
- Get photographs (Basic, Book, Comp/Zed): In the beginning, you will not need anything more than some basic photographs that show “you”. These photographs are not to display your versatility like composites or your book, but merely a way for you to show modeling agencies who you are. It is advisable to use “real” film in lieu of digital cameras because the quality is much better. If you are just getting started in the industry, it is a good idea to get one or two photos of yourself and take them in to an agency during their “open call” (usually a specific day and time). The modeling agency will look at your photo(s) and resume, to determine if your look fits what they (and their clients) are seeking.
Another alternative is to create a portfolio (book). A book contains at least one head shot and several other shots that show the models versatility (the more versatility a model shows, the more assignments they’ll get). The photos can be color or a color/black and white mixture. Tear sheets, which are examples of ads you have done, should be included as well. You do not want to include too many photos in your book because it can become quite exhausting to the viewer. Stick to a maximum of 10 pages of your best work. It is very important to constantly update your book to reflect the latest styles and work that you have done.
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