How to Get into the Fashion Industry: Becoming a FashionModel
In order to get into fashion modelling, you
are going to have to fit into one of the markets. This is either runway,
catalogue, print, showroom, swim suit/lingerie, body part, or glamour
modelling. All of these markets will have certain specifications that need to
be met, like a height of no little than 5’8” or a completely smooth complexion,
or over the age of eighteen for glamour modelling. The first thing you need to
do is make sure you recognize which market you are best suited for and then
start sending simple photographs off to agencies. The best way to make your
break is to either contact a company that can give you advice, like First Step
Modelling, or start making contacts through modelling scouts. If you have the
following characteristics, you will definitely get noticed:
·
Between the heights of 5’8” and
6’,
·
No larger than a size 6,
·
Between the ages of 14-20.
·
Symmetrical face with great
angles,
·
A confident walk and pure
complexion.
If by chance you have still gone unnoticed,
try hanging out at public places where a lot of young people hang out.
Modelling scouts are always looking for fresh new faces, and that’s one of the
best ways to get discovered. However, you can send your photographs off to
modelling agencies, just make sure you do your research beforehand. There are a
lot of ‘agencies’ out there that don’t run legitimate opportunities. If you do
choose to send photographs off, make sure you use a natural face, minimal
makeup, with natural poses. Don’t pull any ‘supermodel’ poses and don’t try too
hard to look gorgeous as that is not what modelling agencies are looking for.
If this doesn’t work for you, try going to
open casting calls. You can find out when these are by talking to an agency’s
receptionist desk. Just when you go, make sure you take a simple portfolio with
your height, weight, measurements, and shoe size with you. You want to give
them something to keep for future contact if they like you at the casting call.
The best way to present yourself is in a simple outfit with clean hair and nice
nails. If you try too hard to look the part (sophisticated, provocative, sexy,
chic, trendy) then you’re more than likely going to get sent away. The agency
wants to see your natural beauty and if you don’t have the fashion knowledge to
pull off something complex, it’s going to show.
Remember that being a fashion model is hard
work. You have to act and be a certain way so that you can wear different
fashions comfortably. The work is demanding and stressful and you will need to
work extremely hard to maintain a certain image. Diet and exercise are on the
top of the list along with keeping up to date on the latest fashion trends.
For instance, swim suit models will need to
wear multiple swimsuits on the beach in one shoot. This may put you under a red
hot sun for hours on burning sand, or it may be super windy and chilly that day
and it will be a long day filled with constant smiling and changing of
swimsuits.
The Average Salary of a New Fashion Model in the Industry
Although making money in the fashion
industry is not always easy, the fashion market is even more difficult. It is
an extremely competitive field and in most cases new models won’t make enough
at the beginning of their career to even live off of. This means that secondary
employment may be necessary while you work on landing more jobs in the
modelling field. However, you can build up your career so that you can rely on
modelling work solely, it just will be difficult and trying at first. The
average annual salary for a new model will be round $32,000 according to The
Art Career Project, but you can make much more! Keep in mind thought, in
some cases, you might be paid out with fashion products rather than money.
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