So You Want to Become a Model? (PLEASE READ POST #1 BEFORE POSTING)

[BetteT]

I think that you should read their submission requirements. Some prefer snail mail .. ..some prefer emails. Most likely, they will ignore the other way ... so it's best to know their preference. If it's not on their site, then call them and ask.

I'd say that you would problably hear from them in less than a week after they actually look at your pics, if they want to see you.

 

[LaModaInspire13]

Hi. I'm 5'8" and still have growing to do and I obviously (since I'm on this thread) want to model.
I live just outside London and I know that the leading agencies here are Storm Model Management and Model's 1, are there any other agencies I should know about? And which is better? Storm or Model's 1?

Storm has Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn whereas Models 1 have Agyness among many others.

Any information would be gratefully appreciated.

 

[fritmayo]

I live just outside London and I know that the leading agencies here are Storm Model Management and Model's 1, are there any other agencies I should know about? And which is better? Storm or Model's 1?

There are at least 5-6 more agencies able to provide good jobs...
Select, FM, Union...just to name a few.

 

[Runaway]

I have an appointment with DNA models and Major models this week. I've sent them pictures and they've asked me to come in and meet them. I'm wearing skinny jeans, a tee, and combat boots. (Of course I'll have on a sweater and coat on top of my tee, December in NYC...brrrr) I'll leave my hair natural and wear a little concealer under my eyes.

I'm going to carry a pair of heels in my purse. Is there anything else I should take?

What should I expect when I get there? This is my first time to visit an agency.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cologne_rocks]

Runaway I don't know how it is in NY but usually you'll meet the scout of the agency who tells you a bit about them, asks you some common questions and finally takes a few snaps. That's it.

LaModaInspire13 I'm not so sure about Models1. For sure they have amazing girls, but well.... don't judge a book by its cover. But Storm, Premier and Select proved to be pretty good with discovering & nurturing young talent.

 

[LaModaInspire13]

Thanks fritmayo and cologne rocks. I think i prefer Storm for some reason but get sidetracked by Models 1 because theres proof on the Models 1 blog that the girls and guys get good work and they have scouting events frequently - even near me. Thanks for the advice. Premier and Select I will look into.

 

[P Louie V]

Hello everyone, i wanted to get some advice. Today i went to an open call at Q Management here in LA and the guy (guessing he was an agent, may have been a scout) seemed VERY interested in me. I handed him a book of my pictures (i've only booked a couple campaigns from being scouted on the street and the rest of the pics in my book arent professional, just snaps of me) and while he went through it numerous times he gave me a sort of interview (asking me an array of questions). He then passed my book around to other people in the office. There was another male aspiring model who came in while i was asked questions and about 2minutes after, the same agent guy reviewed his book and turned him away instantly. After the conversating between me and the agent(?) was finished, he took down my information and said they will be contacting me.

Does this sound promising? I think it went ok, since i was not turned away immediately but im a bit of a nervous wreck and dont know if i should celebrate or not

 

[juliahearts]

I sent out photos to about 30 different agencies. In NYC, LA, and London.
I got two replies already, from Nevs and London Elite, but they both said no.
I'm soo afraid everyone's going to say no.

All I want to do is model, I don't know what I'd do without it.
Everyone says I'm a natural. Photographers, friends, family, strangers.
I just really hope an agency will accept me.

Any tips about anything? I'll take anything. Thank you.

 

[cologne_rocks]

You can be the most beautiful girl ever, but without an "appropriate" bone structure & photogenical qualities it won't work.

 

[BetteT]

That's very true. Being pretty and tall ... does not necessarily mean that you have the right look to model. The camera must "love" you and you must posses something unusual, not found in a typical pretty girl ... in fact, you can be homely and still have the right look. Family and friends are not the right people to tell you that you have the right look. They may think you are beautiful, but they have not been trained in what to look for.

Agents know what will work in front of a camera and what their clients are looking for. If you don't generate any interest, then I'd say that you just don't have the bone structure. It's not an insult ... it's just a fact.

That is one of the reasons we do not let aspiring models post their photos in this thread and ask for feedback ... because most of us are not agents and we will probably steer the aspirants wrong and get their hopes up. I'm a stlyist and work with models all the time ... and even I cannot tell who will make it and who will not. It's an extremely elusive quality ... and it takes a trained eye. Only the agents can tell you if you have that special and very, very rare quality.

 

[juliahearts]

Alright, thanks for the information and advice.
But I know i'm not a typical pretty girl. I know I have the bone structure. I look different. I think I have the model look.

I got two more responses, no. I'm so nervous. :/

 

[LaModaInspire13]

just stay confident. if you don't believe you have what it takes, how are they meant to?

 

[juliahearts]

That's true. Thanks

Oh, and another question,
Would it okay if I sent the same agencies different photos a week later?
Or is that too soon? Or unprofessional?

 

[BetteT]

If you want to send them a week later, I don't think it would hurt but don't do that every week or they will think that you are a pest.

But do send pictures every couple of months and keep it up for a year and see what happens. They might not need your look today because they already have a model who looks like you ... but that could change if they loose her or if they get a new client who has different needs and you look like what the client might want. It's being at the right place at the right time, with the right look ... whatever the flavor of the week is and which agency needs it at that moment.

It's even better to go to open calls ... to see if you can get any feedback from them. They might indicate that you have the look but they just don't need it right now. They might make a suggestion about changing your look or the other types of work or agencies that might work for your "type". However, If you get flat out no's repeatedly (they usually will say that you are "not right for them: or that you look "too commercial" which means pretty but not a fashion model) without any encouragement from any agent ... then you pretty much know .....

 

[juliahearts]

If you want to send them a week later, I don't think it would hurt but don't do that every week or they will think that you are a pest.

But do send piciutres every few months and keep it up for a year and see what happens. They might not need your look today because they already have a model who looks like you ... but that could change if they loose her or if they get a new client who has different needs and you look like what the client might want. It's also being at the right place at the right time, with the right look ... whatever the flavor of the week is.

Okay, thank you so much! Builds my confidence a bit. I'm losing it :/ haha.

 

[cologne_rocks]

juliahearts, can you give me the list of agencies you applied at in New York? I know a few rather small but efficient motheragencies in New York & and its environs which first develop new talent with tests etc before they introduce them to the "huge" agencies. It's definitely the better way.

 

[juliahearts]

juliahearts, can you give me the list of agencies you applied at in New York? I know a few rather small but efficient motheragencies in New York & and its environs which first develop new talent with tests etc before they introduce them to the "huge" agencies. It's definitely the better way.

DNA
Muse
Q Management
Trump
Supreme
B1
Major
Silent

 

[myown]

how talll do you have to be at least?
I mean, I know Models are tall. BUt like Zippora, I´m as tall as she is (/was when first listed)

It's even better to go to open calls ... to see if you can get any feedback from them. They might indicate that you have the look but they just don't need it right now. They might make a suggestion about changing your look or the other types of work or agencies that might work for your "type". However, If you get flat out no's repeatedly (they usually will say that you are "not right for them: or that you look "too commercial" which means pretty but not a fashion model) without any encouragement from any agent ... then you pretty much know .....

how do I find out about these?

 

[cologne_rocks]

There are a few short girls who're pretty successful, but most of them do have influental families. (Adwoa Aboah, Zippora, Cara D from the new Burberry ads...). You need to be 173cm at least, I'd say. Plus perfect body proportions, and an extremely expressive face. Even then you'll have a hard furrow to plough.

Are you from Germany? (as for the open calls....)

 

[theBlueRider]

There are a few short girls who're pretty successful, but most of them do have influental families. (Adwoa Aboah, Zippora, Cara D from the new Burberry ads...). You need to be 173cm at least, I'd say. Plus perfect body proportions, and an extremely expressive face. Even then you'll have a hard furrow to plough.

Are you from Germany? (as for the open calls....)

2nd Cologne_rocks

There is more pressure today to be even taller, taller ****edited*** than ever before. It's not like in the 90's or early 2000's when say 175/176 was normal/ideal (naomi, linda, cindy, christy, heidi to isabeli fontana etc).

If you are still young about 13, 14, 15, then there is a better chance to get into modeling if you're under 175 and over 173. But once you're 17, 18, 19, agencies expect girls to be at competitive heights, 176-182 with very very little exception anymore.

A girl who is young and short will have to develop into an exceptional model compared to her 178 counterparts. Many times you'll see the shorter girls drop off into the commercial world when they're around 18, 19 because they couldn't compete with 178 girls who can pose, walk and have it all.

Zippora started very young and her mom works at Red Eleven...
Kate Moss was discovered at a very young age and was probably expected to grow a little more but didn't. You'll see that the youngest girls tend to be a tad shorter than the established girls because agencies expect them to grow a little more.