What is Freelance Modelling and How to Get into the Industry?

When you decide to become a freelance model, you are choosing to be your own boss as you are essentially representing yourself. This means that you will be required to find all of your own work and book it. You will be responsible for building up your own portfolio, educating yourself on the latest trends and the modelling industry in general and you will need to ensure that you network appropriately and update your resume as you gain more experience. A freelance model has tons of flexibility and can pick and choose what castings they take, but it requires a lot of hard work, determination and perseverance as it is hard since no agency will be looking out for you. When figuring out whether freelance modelling is the route you want to go, you will need to be aware of the requirements it needs. This includes:

·       Being extremely attractive,

·       Having a toned body/physique,

·       Be between 5’6-6”

·       Having a brilliant smile that shines,

·       The knowledge or knack at being able to work the trends as they change,

·       An amazing attitude,

·       A robust work ethic,

·       Reliable and disciplined,

·       Knowing how to make contacts and network,

·       Being able to remain and be professional at all times,

·       Produce positive referrals,

·       Be able to arrive to every job early,

·       Be able to respect any co-workers.

What makes freelance modelling attractiveto many is that you can work in pretty much any field within the industry. Thismeans that you have access to castings in: print modelling (magazine, catalogue),commercial modelling, promotional modelling, fitness modelling, glamourmodelling, music video modelling, and even artistic modelling. This opens upthe amount of jobs you could potentially qualify for whereas when working withan agency you would usually be cast into one or two top tier fields.

Using the Non-exclusive Market to your Advantage

When you are a freelance model you do not have an agency to look out for you, but this also means that you do not have an agency to determine what work you can and cannot do. Since you are not exclusively signed on with a modelling agency, this allows you to sign on as a non-exclusive model for many agencies at once. Basically, as a signed on non-exclusive freelance model, the modelling agencies that you are signed under will be able to submit your portfolio for work and book you jobs. However, you will be required to pay a percentage fee to them after the job’s completion. However, if you are with reputable agencies, giving up the percentage fee is nothing since you will secure high rates for the jobs that you do take on. This allows you to have many opportunities lined up for yourself out in the field which is how you will get positive referrals and grow your career. There are plenty of non-exclusive modelling agencies out there, you just need to find them and see if they are accepting any new non-exclusive models. Of course there is a process you will need to go through, like any other modelling agency who are recruiting.

Plus, being non-exclusive allows you to work for yourself. This means you can find your own castings, your own freelance jobs. Just make sure you are careful with what you accept! When submitting your portfolio for freelance jobs, you will need to write about what types of modelling work you are looking for, what types of shoots you will do and if you only accept paid work and so on. Make it clear as to what you are looking for!

Know Yourself and Your Limits!

You need to know what your limits are, what you are not willing to do and what you are perfectly comfortable with. You have to figure out whether you are willing to do nude shots, or whether you are interested in doing glamour modelling which requires you to be 18+ because of its provocative nature. You need to know what poses you are capable of and what you cannot do. Once you figure this out, you will be able to set a rate for yourself. This is a must! As a freelance model you will be asked for your rate over and over, and you need to be prepared to give one.

You also need to figure out whether you are going to only accept paying jobs or if you are okay with trade jobs. A trade job is where you will model and get something in return for that work. In most cases it is clothing or other products that you see on set or that is required for use for the job.

Always make sure you are educating yourself. Modelling as a wide variety of skills associated with it. Make sure you are brushing up on these other skills like: posing, makeup, flexibility, etc. These will help broaden the amount of jobs you are able to accept!

Use Internet Presence to Broadcast Yourself!

This is very important! As a freelance model you need to have your own personal website. If you want to be taken seriously you need to have a website that potential clients can contact you through. Having a Facebook page, a Tumblr account or any other social media account with your photographs and portfolio on it is definitely not enough and really not all that professional (anyone can make those accounts).

Rather take those social media accounts and use them to network. You can use them to find freelance modelling work, but a professional website provides you with credibility. Use social media as a networking avenue, but always direct any contacts you make to your professional website. Now because many models don’t use personal websites, this will help you stand out against the crowd! Don’t make the website too flashy, but make it so that it represents who you are, what your values are, and what you are looking for with regards to paying jobs.

Find and Use a Reputable Resource Center

Although the internet is a great place to find information, not all of the information on it will be correct or trustworthy. If you are just getting into the industry of being a freelance model, you may want to find a company that deals with solely fresh faces. They can provide you with proper resources, teach you how to build up your portfolio and give you pointers on what trends or field of work you may work best in. When looking for a company that has these types of resources, don’t look at modelling agencies. Look for a company that wants to provide you support for things like: professional website building, portfolio management, photoshoots, career advice, job castings, etc. A good resource to take a look at is First Step Modelling, a solely resource company that looks at helping new models get into the industry.