Take It One Step At a Time...

Discovering that you want to model can be an exciting time in your life, regardless of how old you are. When it hits you, it ends up becoming all you can think about. Of course if you are not familiar with the process or the industry in general, your thoughts may end up running around wild in your head. Most people go straight for the Internet to find out how to become a model. However, as fun as the thought of doing photoshoots and other perks may be, it is important that you slow down and take things one step at a time. The answer isn't simply to find modeling agencies and start sending them your pictures.

I often get emails from aspiring models talking paragraphs about how much they want to model and need to know this, that or the other about the industry. Based on what they write, I can usually tell whether they have an inkling of how things work. Most of the time they don't, which is okay since no one is expected to be an expert on this stuff right away. But I do have some helpful quick tips for anyone that ends up getting bitten by the modeling bug:

1) Do Research First. Have questions about modeling? That's what the Internet is for! Aside from my blog there are tons of resources online. Even if you aren't sure of what you're reading, browse through as many websites as you can. Take time to read through what you find and digest the information. Still have questions? Then use your Internet skills to find people in the industry (like myself) that you can ask specific questions to. Chances are you will be more successful if the nature of your questions don't deal with basic stuff you can find out on your own. Being a model requires being a self-starter and being motivated. No one will do the legwork for you so be your own detective and discover what the industry is all about. There's plenty of info out there to keep you busy for a while.

2) Make Sure You Will Make The Cut. Anyone can say "I want to be a model!" but not everyone can actually "be" one. Once you've decided that you want to model be sure to know what the requirements are before you proceed any further. Be realistic as well. If you're 5'5" and don't think you're going to grow, look into commercial/print agencies, not fashion agencies. Hold off on submitting to fashion agencies until you actually grow more. Agencies won't "wait" around and take your word that you'll get to be 5'8" or taller. If you are much shorter (5'0" to 5'3") just know that the petite industry is not where the demand is and the chances of getting signed is not highly likely in most cases. In this situation, you may want to look into freelance opportunities instead.

3) If You Think Modeling Schools Are Your Way Into the Industry, You Are SOOOO Not Ready! I get so many emails from aspiring models asking me to refer them to the best modeling schools or asking what education they need in order to get signed to an agency. This is a HUGE indicator that you do not know even the basics about becoming a model and are NOT ready to pursue it. Modeling schools should be the absolute last resort, especially since submitting your images and attending casting calls are both free ways to get in touch with agencies without paying a "middleman." (If you've had a positive experience with a modeling school, that's great--but please don't send me comments or emails to try and argue why I should believe this is a legitimate alternative. You're entitled to your opinion as well as I am)

4) Hold Off On the Photoshoots. The idea of planning a photoshoot to prepare for putting together your portfolio is exciting but not necessary in the beginning stages (unless you're pursuing the freelance route). When it comes to inexperienced models, agencies prefer non professional, digital snapshots. While they will consider professional images, snapshots should be your priority. Besides, if you are not familiar with the modeling industry it will be even more of a challenge to learn how to find photographers and arrange your own shoot. However, getting signed with an agency will ensure that your portfolio will be put together properly under the guidance of your agent.

5) Understand The Way Agencies Work. Despite the success stories of your favorite supermodels, agencies do not come to you. You have to go to them, unless you happen to get lucky enough to be scouted or otherwise "discovered." Many aspiring models ask me get them information about the best agencies in New York are or other large markets but when I ask them for the specifics (height, measurements, etc.) they are nowhere near meeting the standards that the agencies are interested in. Nor are they located anywhere near that market. Relocation is usually the only option if you are not local to any good, reputable agencies. However, even relocation is not practical for most people. This is mostly true for print models (of course there are exceptions to the rule but I'm not talking about those). Usually this kind of modeling involves doing a lot of local gigs. Fashion and runway models are the jet setters 9 times out of 10. Learn to look locally and use the Internet to find the agencies--believe it or not, you don't already have to be an expert in modeling to know how to get this kind of information.

If you are in rush to make things happen and do not take the necessary steps to learn the industry, this will open you up for a lot of disappointment, not to mention making yourself more likely to be taken advantage of. Becoming a model is a process that doesn't always involve being discovered overnight. Many models get into the industry by their own efforts and that includes taking the time to do the research, having a good grasp of what is involved in the process and knowing exactly where to start. The more you know, the better results you'll get in return.

Learn accountability and take your career into your own hands but do it the right way.

Parents of Child Models, Please Read...

I just got a message from a concerned reader on one of the sites I regularly write modeling content for and I was so disturbed by the nature of her message that I felt I needed to do a quick post. This particular person told me that she had a friend whose daughter is 6-years-old and an aspiring child model. Apparently, her mother had professional photos done, which included having her child in a bikini. First off, the word "child" and "bikini" should not be in the same sentence in my opinion. A little girl wearing a cute two-piece around friends and family is one thing but to photograph her is inappropriate to me, simply because of her age. To make matters worse, these bikini pictures are on Myspace and a number of other free social networking sites. I'm assuming they're up in order to increase her daughter's exposure and hopes of snagging an agent. The friend of the mother contacted me to ask what my thoughts were on the subject and if her concern was simply her being overprotective. Additionally, she added that the mother also listed the specific name of the town they live in on the profiles. It is a small town that only has one school, etc.

For all you parents of aspiring child models, I'll tell you like I told her: when it comes to children and the Internet, there is no such thing as being too overprotective. Any images of young girls in bikinis, no matter how cute or darling, are exactly the kind of images that pedophiles look for while online. Such images are not protected, which means anyone can right-click and save it for their own intentions. These kind of pictures should NEVER be posted online. 6-year-old child models--and kids in this age range in general--should always be photographed with clothes on and not showing any excessive skin. One-piece swimsuits are okay but even then, such innocent images are not seen that way by pedophiles. Kiddie porn is rampant and a booming business and believe me, you'd be surprised by how many sites do not have to look far to find what they know their audience wants. It's just wrong.

What's even more scary is that you have NO idea who is clicking and saving the pictures. There's no list that you can check to see what people are downloading. Aspiring child models should stick to modeling images that are very commercial and safe. There really is no need for your child model to be in a swimsuit unless it is something approved by your agent. If you are without agency representation for your child, stick to typical images of them in fun and colorful outfits--leave out the swimwear, boy or girl.

As far as listing the location of the actual city where you live, this is also a no-no. Instead of saying specifically where you are, list your location as the nearest large city. This is common practice in the industry anyway. For example, the town I live in is not that well known for most people outside of California so when it comes to my location, I simply say that I am in the San Francisco area. No harm, no foul.

Parents, be diligent about how you manage your child's modeling career--mainly if you do not have an agent. This is why I stress that parents get their child agency representation as soon as possible. They have the resources and the knowledge needed to know exactly how to market your child in a way that will not make them vulnerable to online sickos.

I Hate Being the Guinea Pig

I am one of those models that makes it a priority to arrive early for everything: castings, go-sees, auditions, shoots, etc. Oftentimes I'm there before the actual client or they'll be surprised that someone actually did show up early and they won't even be ready. In most cases being the early bird has greatly benefited me but recently this seemingly good habit ended up backfiring on me. Since I want to keep it real with my readers I'm going to share my experience that may not be a big deal to some but for me it still makes me cringe. lol.

I was in Los Angeles for a casting for a beauty editorial shoot. It was an open casting from 10am-2pm, which meant I could attend anytime I wanted. Of course I wanted to be there early since I was not sure how many people would be there and also wanted to make a good first impression.

The details of the casting I received in the email were pretty straight forward: the casting director and photographer would be doing test shoots as well as videotaping each model in order to get an idea of our personality. Simple enough, right? Well, the casting started at 10am but I actually got there at 10:45am. I was the only model at the place so I signed in and waited for about 20 minutes because the casting people weren't even ready. So I patiently waited until they called me. One guy had the camera for the test shoot while the other guy (I'm assuming he was the casting director) had a small camcorder to record the casting. I figured they would do the test shoots and then ask me a couple of questions on camera. Nope. Instead, the casting director had the camcorder on while the photographer was taking my test shots. He asked me to play with my hair, which I did. But apparently it wasn't what he wanted so he clarified by saying that he wanted me to mess up my hair and look all wild and raw. Ooookkkaaay.....totally not what I was expecting but hey, nothing's run of the mill in modeling sometimes, right? Well, needless to say, I was caught off guard so I did my best to mess up my hair...based on my modeling pictures on my blog you all know I don't have THAT much hair to work with lol so it was a bit tricky. I did my best but if I had known I was going to have to demolish my perfectly curled and brushed coif, I would have put in some extensions to have more to work with.

Although my facial expressions and poses were "workin' it" inside my head I was totally panicking and completely felt thrown off my game. It was one of the most awkward castings I'd attended in quite some time. To make matters worse, when I was done and thanked them for their time, I turned around to find about 8 models in the sitting area who had been watching me the entire time. Ugh. It was one of those situations where being first wasn't beneficial for me. For one thing because the casting team didn't seem too sure of what to have the models do for the casting and the whole "mess your hair up and pose" idea seemed like something they just came up with. Second, being first meant that my casting is more than likely going to be the weakest, whereas the next models throughout the day will be better. And third, because the other models were present they were able to prepare ahead of time and I'm pretty sure they did a better job than me. What sucked even more was that on the drive back from Los Angeles, I thought up about half a dozen poses I could have done. Argh!

Eh, you win some, you lose some. I don't think I booked that particular gig but I have learned a lesson: it's best to be early when you've actually booked the shoot but if it's an open casting call where I don't have an appointment time, I'm totally going to go in later and cheat off of the competition. LOL. Ah, this crazy industry!

Answering a Reader Question #63

Breanna Wrote: 

Hello,
I always have alot of people tell me i should be a model because i look exotic im vietnamese n black bt i have no experience or anything like that and i see alot of magazines were you can submit photos but i always feel like it's for already established models is that true? i would like to submit for the beauty of the week but am not so sure if i should.

Hey, Breanna, thanks for the question! You do not have to be an established model in order to be chosen as a JET "Beauty of the Week." Many of the young ladies that submit their photos are not experienced or "pro" models, while others are. Experience in the modeling industry is not a requirement in order to send in your photos. All you need is a great picture and you'll be good to go!

A good majority of the magazines that allow models to submit their images do not require you to be a professional model. However, they will want professional quality pictures. So all you need to do is do a test shoot with a pro photographer in your area and that's it! Good luck!

Addressing a Reader Comment #2

Anonymous Wrote: Why is it that commercial modeling is considered as representing the "average woman"? commercial models have the same measurement requirements for waist, bust, and hips as fashion models (give or take one inch) except they are shorter so it looks more proportionate. so to be honest the strain to be thin is just as hard. the "average woman" has measurements of 42" hips and 36" waist and is the height of 5'4". So it seems commercial is just as physically hard to obtain as fashion except of the height factor. 34", 24",34" is seen the same by girls viewing it on either the runway of someone who is 5'10" or their favorite tv commercial extra who is 5'7". so how is being that small really considered "average"? 

You know, those are questions that I have often asked myself. And to be honest, there is really nothing I can say that would satisfactorily answer them. But what I do want you and other people to understand is the reality of the modeling industry. Models are commodities. We are not hired to change the world or make a difference in people's lives. We are hired to make people money. The modeling industry (fashion, commercial/print, etc.) is not about ethics, morals or being role models. It is first and foremost a business and its goal is to make as much money as possible. The modeling industry's priority is to sell people something that is not real. So no, models do not necessarily represent the average woman or even the average person. The facade is just that--a facade. People don't always buy a product because the model selling it is representing the "average" person. People mainly buy products because the model selling it is physically appealing. The advertising industry has whole sectors devoted to consumer research and sad to say it is because of the general public's actions/reactions that they take the steps they do when it comes to hiring models to push a product, designer or idea.

Commercial/print models are popularly known as representing the average woman but that isn't exactly accurate. What these types of models are supposed to represent is a more down to earth, girl/guy next door image. We're supposed to be the people you would see walking around in the mall or drinking coffee at the local cafe. Unlike fashion and runway models, who are seen as untouchable, print models are hired to be the "approachable" image of a company, product or idea. While the ideal measurements for print models are similar to that of a fashion model's, print agencies are much more flexible when it comes to signing people. They are hardly ever asked to lose weight. I've run into many print models in the field that fall outside of those measurements so no, not all print models are required to fit into an impossible weight range.

The modeling world is a difficult one to break. I'm sure you've noticed they do not adapt so well to change. For example, I was answering modeling questions on a forum one day and someone stated that they could not readily believe that there are models that are 5'10" and 115 lbs. I replied back that if you look up any fashion or runway model, including the Victoria's Secret Angels, a large majority meet those stats. I also said that I did not feel it was healthy but it was a standard that agencies and clients demanded, therefore it was totally possible. One of the other users on the forums, who is an ex-model and now works as a head booker for DNA Models, followed up my reply with her own, stating that she agreed 100% with what I said and did not even attempt to stick up for the industry when it came to the fact that being 5'10" and 115 lbs or smaller was not healthy. That is her reality on a daily basis. That's how strong the industry's roots go when it comes to such topics. Models are not meant to be role models...they are meant to sell clothes, accessories and products. Can models be role models? Sure, why not? However, that was never their original purpose and the sooner the public can see that, the better. We are simply doing our jobs.

There are models for virtually everything these days. Plus size models may be larger in size but they have an even bigger challenge with keeping their weight and stats up to par. Petite models are required to maintain these same strict standards. Print models are more flexible but still required to meet certain qualifications that do not necessarily make this field a "free for all." Want to see models that really represent the average person? Then there are "real people models." This field of modeling is slowly growing in demand so there are options. You have to look for them.

Do I disagree with what you've said? Actually, I completely agree with you. However, if there is anything I've learned in over a decade of being a commodity to a multimillion (if not multi-billion) dollar industry is that we are not selling reality. We sell an image. Do I condone or encourage this perception? Definitely not. I do what I can to present an accurate view of the modeling world in my blog for people to hopefully better understand how things work and why. And while I do not agree with a lot of the practices and politics, it is something that is bigger than me. The modeling world has been operating for decades and is set in its ways. The reason models and modeling is seen as such an enigma is because not everyone can become one. If anyone could be a model, the novelty would wear off quickly and the modeling, fashion and advertising industry would lose a ton of money. Do I wish things were different? Certainly. But continuing to ask age-old questions about a system that is set in its ways, while thought provoking, doesn't contribute to a solution. It's like asking why do football players make more than teachers? Why do we spend more money on war and weapons than on schools and healthcare? It is unfortunate that the modeling industry operates in the way it does but as long as you can put it into the perspective that it is a "made up" reality, it tends to be somewhat easier to deal with. No one says you have to be like a print or runway model. The real concern becomes when people blur the lines between what is real and what is not.