How to become a model.

You need to be very confident in order to be a model. You need to handle criticism well. Photographers, agents, and clients will usually say things to other people right in front of you like, “Are you going to airbrush that mole / scar / birthmark?” or they might tell you that your body is too soft, you should work out more. You should drop a few pounds. You should consider scar removal, fixing your teeth, etc. If you have any bad habits, they’ll let you know. As a model, I used to get nervous during photo shoots and would do this stupid thing with my mouth like always pressing my lips together like you do when you first put on lipgloss. Well, I hardly noticed I did it so often, but was immediately told to stop it, I’m wasting film. So as you can see, you have to be strong and take what people say about you into consideration. They are just trying to get the best photo in the fastest amount of time, so sometimes they’ll be harsh. If you’re a softie and cannot handle this type of criticism without being on the verge of crying, modeling probably isn’t for you.

Even being a site model, where you don’t usually have to deal with photographers and clients, you can still see comments other people leave. Sometimes people get jealous and leave rude comments. “Why are you a model, you’re not even pretty” is a common one. So you see, you have to have confidence in yourself. Know that you’re strong, beautiful, and one helluva fantastic model.

Becoming a model is a lot easier than you might think. You might want to start out volunteering to get some practice. Check your local event listings to see if there are any charity fashion shows that you can take part in. You can gain runway experience, get noticed by people in the industry, and volunteer your time for a good cause! You can also apply here at stunnazine to be a site model. Being seen in many places is great exposure for you! The more practice you get, and the more photos of yourself you have, the better off you’ll be! You need to take lots of photos of yourself to practice which poses work the best for you, and which don’t.

As we talked about earlier, you need to practice poses and show potential clients that you can model and you’re more than just a pretty face. Build a portfolio showing at least a dozen fantastic photos, all unique from each other. It can get expensive to hire photographers experienced in glamor photography. Getting a friend with a great camera to take pictures of you, and getting them printed at high resolution can be a much cheaper alternative. Sometimes, students in photography, or photographers just starting out will want to build their portfolios too. Use this to your advantage! You get a portfolio for your modeling pictures, and they get some photos for their photography business. It’s a win-win situation. Just bring a friend or parent with you if you don’t know the photographer, in case they try to take advantage of you.

You may also want to consider finding an agent. Be very careful when you do. Make sure they aren’t charging anything ridiculous. All they should need from you is a portfolio fee if you do not have your own portfolio. If you already have a portfolio, they shouldn’t need any other joining fees. All an agent should do after signing you on, is to take 5%-20% of your pay, depending on the agent’s policies. Read over the contract very carefully, have a second or third set of eyes read it over too in case you missed something. When you are working on your portfolio, be certain that you are not pressured into anything. Many photographers and agents may tell you they need lingerie shots or swimsuit shots. But if this doesn’t make you comfortable – don’t do it. Even if you’re okay with taking these types of photos, is that the type of modeling you wanna get into? Would you rather model nice clothes, or makeup? If so, then don’t fall victim to these kinds of shots. There have been many cases where the photographer or agent takes advantage of young girls that dress like that. The smartest photographers know that most young models have self-esteem issues, so they try and get them to dress less, and pose racy. They might keep those photos for their own personal use – and yes they own the copyrights to those photos – not you (even though they are photos of you). So be careful out there. Stand up for yourself, tell yourself you are pretty enough that you don’t need to do skin-revealing shots like that, find a good trustworthy agent, and get your face out there – for more people to see. Good Luck!

Home | Meet SZ Models | Apply to Become a Model for StunnaZine

Diet plans, fitness program, how to begin modeling