Have you ever thought about how to kickstart your modeling career but you do not know where to start from? Here is a comprehensive guide on starting your career and seeing yourself perform better than your peers.
- Discover
Your Strengths
What features do you think you have? Which niche are you
settling for? These are the first questions you should ask yourself when
starting your career. You should not be applying the right strength in the
wrong place. As a male model, if you have ripped abs, this is very perfect for
fitness modeling, do not settle for where your strengths would not be
recognized.
- Get
Confident on Camera
Another tip for beginner models is to be familiar with being
on cameras. While it is very normal for you to feel nervous at first, it
becomes abnormal and uncalled for if you are shy or still nervous at subsequent
shoots. However, you can take continual practices to get acquainted with being
in front of cameras.
- Learn
Your Angles
Modeling goes a long way beyond your natural good looks; you
must know how you will work with your photographer to tell the story perfectly.
No one model has the 100% face, hence, practicing in front of the mirror and
learning your angles is highly important for you.
- Be
Willing to Invest
Modeling, just like any other career, requires an
investment of lots of time and money especially when you are just starting your
career. No one wakes up in a day with all the best portfolio and experience, it
is gained through uninterrupted investments.
- Build
a Portfolio
Your portfolio is like your resume, this is what your
prospective clients will ask for before handing out jobs to you. It is also
what modeling agencies use to represent you in your absence. Never settle for
the least portfolio, build it to a professional level, it has a lot to do with
building your modeling career.
- Gain
Exposure
It is a very good idea to have a professional-looking
portfolio, however, if you do not seek exposure then how are you supposed to
land jobs? A lot of people are gaining recognition and exposure on social media
platforms like Instagram and the likes. Create a professional account and
separate it from your account; do not forget to mention and tag modeling
agencies in your posts.
- Sign
with an Agency
Many models have decided to be freelance models, while both
have their advantages, signing with an agency offers a lot more than you
promoting yourself. Signing with an agency is very important when starting your
career since this handles the tedious task of getting clients.
- Always
Practice
If asked what makes the best people in all spheres of life,
it is a constant practice. The practice has a lot to offer you. It is during
practice sessions that you get to realize some facts and truths about yourself;
when you practice and prepare yourself before a shoot, you do the whole job
like a professional!
- Avoid
Scams
A lot of models have fallen victims of scams especially when
starting out their career, you need to be careful and know how to recognize a
red flag whenever one is in sight. In most cases, when agencies ask for an
annual registration fee, they are most likely not the best to go with. Also,
when making transactions, try to keep a record of all payments; one thing the
fashion industry is well known for is poor payment!
- Be
Persistent
Some models get work on intervals, others don’t. Some land
big commercials within their first months while others don’t. The truth is,
only a few populations of the crowd gets a big project within their first few
months into the industry. If you seem to be having more disapproval than
approval, never see this as a criterion to quit. Be persistent and keep trying
you have all it takes to be at the top of the industry; patience is all you
need
Working Conditions and Hours
Whether the shoot is for a campaign, ad or magazine, video,
and photoshoot sessions are usually long and unpredictable. This is due to the
large crew working together; ranging from the stylist, makeup artists,
photographer and even the model(s). Seldomly, when all is set, factors like
clothing could be the only delaying thing.
However, on an average scale, models can spend about 5 to 8
hours for a shoot. Note that shoots are made about weeks or months before the
exact season, this implies that models have to work frequently and put in a
good effort.
Top Modeling Agencies to Look Out for When Choosing a
Career Path in Modeling (for Africans)
As you already know that modeling agencies offer the best
services to get you at the top of your career, below is a list of the top
agencies to look out for when choosing a career path in modeling.
- Elite
Model Management
- Ford
Models
- IMG
Models
- Wilhelmina
Models
- Premier
Model Management
- Storm
Model Management
- Next
Management
- Marilyn
Agency
- Q
Management
- Models
1 Agency
- Exquisite
Models International
- Y-Ray
Models
- Zahara
Models
- Fashion
Instinct Modeling Agency
- Beige
Model Management
- ISIS
Model Management
- Black
Dove Model Agency
- Wave
Model Management
- Few
Model Agency
- Iris
Modeling Agency
- Glam
Model Management
Above all, modeling is not for everyone, however, if you are
highly interested in posing for commercials and magazines, you can get started
right where you are; with what you have. All that is required of you is to be
yourself, keep up with the flow and apply the concepts mentioned above.