Shoot the Model, Quickfire Interview – Round One – Stan Rapley
October 7th, 2010
Female models are of fascination for many, whether it be for their stunning beauty, their weight, who they’re dating or their other career endeavors. It is quite rare that we get an insight into the lives of Male models so I thought I’d get in touch with three that I’ve met on various shoots/projects and hit them with some quick-fire questions about their lives in the chaotic world of fashion… The first would be Guildfords Stan Rapley who I met on a shoot for 125 Magazine and bumped into unexpectedly at Guilfest again this summer. Head to Storm Models website for more images….
Did you always have aspirations to become a model?
No, as I started at the age of 15 I hadn’t really considered it before.
How did you first get into modeling, where/who spotted you?
I was scouted at a music festival by Storm model management.
Did you want to pursue it straight away or were their reservations?
I just jumped straight in, doing it on weekends or maybe taking the odd day off of school if the teachers were ok with it.
What did your family/friends think?
I mainly had a positive reponse but a few people told me to be cautious about the industry.
When you got signed to an agency was there anything they insisted you change or work on?
No.
Do you make an effort to eat healthily and work out?
Not at first, but I’d say I started trying to take care of myself when I was about 18.
Has anything shocked you about the fashion world?
Nothing major, there’s always been a lot of rumours surrounding it about drugs or dieting and things like that, which I found to be very rare or not true at all.
Is there a lot of competition between the models?
No more than any other job.
What aspects of the job do you like/dislike the most?
Payment for jobs can often take up to three months which gets pretty annoying. The travelling is definitely a plus though.
Have you been typecast in terms of your look and the kind of jobs you get?
Yeah I’m quite skinny and look a bit more feminine so usually get the more alternative kind of work as opposed to something commercial.
Describe a day in the life of a model?
Most days you’d usually be doing castings which would involve going around the city all day, if you’re at a job then it’s a lot of waiting around and smoking too many cigarettes!
How do people generally respond when you say your a model?
Some people find it interesting, others think it’s a fairly talentless job.
Is there a lot of inter industry dating… models dating models etc?
I’ve found not so much in England, but if a lot of models are in a different country they usually stick together and that’s when relationships start.
What are the biggest perks of the job?
Definitely the travelling.
Has the job made you more confident or more insecure?
It made me more confident but I’ve heard about girls who can come away with more insecurities than they started with.
Best job/campaign/shoot so far?
I’d say Mulberry or Topman were the biggest jobs but the ones I enjoyed the most were when the team had been great fun and I’d made good friends, those kind of jobs don’t even feel like work!
Worst shoot/job/campaign/catwalk experience?
One job in Japan where we went to this massive shipping port and we were taking pictures near all the freight containers. I’m pretty sure we weren’t supposed to be there and it was freezing, loud and I was dressed up like a weirdo!
Can you make a good living from it, or have you been doing other jobs?
I’ve never really found it stable enough on it’s own so I’ve been getting into different industries for the past year or two.
What do you think could be improved about the industry?
Sort out the way models are paid because right now it’s a bit of a joke.
What would be your dream campaign/job?
Maybe something with a really nice team in an amazing location, or of course something with a huge pay cheque.
Who do admire?
I think Hedi Slimane has done a great job for Dior, the whole image was really fresh and cool and I get the impression that his heart’s in it which is rare these days. Commissioning Justice to do the music for the Dior Homme show was a stroke of genius too!
Who are your personal style icons?
Probably musicians like the guys from Justice or Julian Casablancas.
Where do you shop?
I’ll get kind of basic stuff like plain t-shirts and hoodies from high street shops and if I see anything with some cool from a second hand shop I’ll go for that.
What do you seeing yourself doing when you are too old to model?
I’m already involved in the live music industry but I don’t think my position there is stable enough yet. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to do that the whole year round.
What are the main difference between the life of male and female models….
The workload for girls is about twice as big as the guys!
What advice would you give others who want to pursue a career in modeling?
Don’t fully depend on it and try and have a backup plan because it won’t last longer than ten years in any case.
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