houseoftalentsydney

Hi! I have second thoughts in posting this question, but anyway I managed to collect all the guts to ask this... A friend of mine wants to be model. Can you give me tips on how to be a model? She’s 18 years old. She’s 5’6 and very raw in modeling. She’s really interested.

myts10 Loc: SE Ohio

Send her to my house. I can learn more about portraits and she can learn modeling.
From videos I have watched and articles I have read, a photographer will direct the model, Posing her the way that is best for her, the product, or what ever. And it seems no two are exactly the same but very close. I have also talked with specialty models, I guess they would be called. One was a foot model, only did shoes and socks. Another was a hand model, I understand there are both male and female hand models.
She might have to go to a photographer and have a portfolio shot.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Oldest daughter was a model in N.Y. for Elite mod. agency. She went to a modeling school, $6,000, Had many shoots in N.Y. for clothes. Youngest daughter was a foot, shoe, and hand model for Tv adds. Did their port folios. Your friend will need a portfolio to get work. As for schools and agents aviod Barbzon like the plague.

randymoe

Be very careful.

This is most likely the wrong way to start.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

House, sign her up on "modelmayhem.com" in your area. Will help if you are in or near a big city especially if it has a college or JC with a photo program since they will have a studio for student use. Everything she will need is on that site: Photographers, hairstylist, make-up artist etc. They all need portfolios to break into the business. All are very serious. You can coordinate all of the above into one shoot. It's a win-win for all. Contrary to popular belief most of the models I have shot are only 5' tall. They just look tall if they are the only ones in the photo. Runway models are tall.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

This is good advice. Two other things worth adding are (1) modelling is surprisingly hard work and (2) you HAVE to be in a big city (London, Paris, NY...) in order to get much work. Part of my job when I worked in advertising in London was hiring models. It's all a bit stressful.

Cheers,

R.

barryb Loc: Kansas

I have a large # of professionals that I am Facebook friends with, and many frequently post requests for models on certain shoots. She would do well to start learning her craft, but watch out for the many pit-falls involved, including paying big bucks for a portfolio, schooling, etc.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

just be super careful....lots of scam artists and perverts out there.

CamObs Loc: South America (Texas)

Did model photog for 4 years, dated a model and seen the mayhem. 1. She will need an agency. 2. To get into an agency, she will either need to be very lucky or VERY photogenic and will need a portfolio. This is the catch 22. To get work you have to have done work. That means a LOT of pro-bono stuff and a lot of slezebag photogs along the way. 3. She will probably need to go to a school. 4. She will need to remember that models are clothes hangers and their only function is to make the products look good. If she wants to do the glamor thing, go to acting school not modeling school. 4. The business surrounding modeling is awful. No one cares for the person, only the product sales. 5. She will have to lose ALL inhibitions. Being half naked in front of 50 people is the norm. 6. She will have to have a day job to pay the bills. Only about 1% (my estimate) of models make a living wage. 7. Life span of a model is (at the max) 10 years, then you start to lose work. In order to make it that long, she will have to stay out of the sun, stay off drugs and alcohol and basically become a night person. It's a dismal business.
On the other hand, she could be part of the 1% and maybe win the lottery at the same time.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

One thing is important, her height, she is too short for high end mainstream modelling, they are usually 5' 8" or 9" as a minimum and above so if she were to go for auditions with others she would look very short. The clothes made for models are always made for the taller models because the outfits just fall better on longer torsos so let her know that up front.

For just local modelling she is fine however there are loads of scam outfit about who insist she gets her portfolio shots from their own suggested photographer at a high price and they cut a cut from the photographer and then they just files the images away.

She needs to go to a reputable agency and ask to see who is on the books and what jobs the agency has given these models. Any place that shows jobs like doing drink give aways at bars or shows etc are not good agencies. A proper model does not give away jello shots etc in bars, that is more a Hooters type for that sort of work.

Of course it also depends on what sort of modelling she wants to do.

shopnascar Loc: San Luis Obispo, CA

I think we have a Phisherman among us. Who would describe a new model as "raw" that was not quite familiar with the industry.
That said, I think most of you shared some very good advice and I am proud of being a member of such a responsible group of photogs.
Well done ladies and gents!

randymoe

My initial thought exactly.

Santana

I would take a snap shot of her face and one full body... but do not sent her to a modeling school... they'll just take your money....instead sent the photos to a modeling agency not school...trust me if she has model skills the agency it going to notice that right away..and keep in mind if anyone asks you for money..walk away.
sandy

billybob40

Go to youtude.com/modeling and Ford modeling. Before she puts her name out there have her see ALL the ins and outs of it.
Have her talk to models in your area. Call photographer in you area and see it they need a model from time to time. And if you do take a girl friend with you. I been photographing woman for 5 year this time, and when I was 19 some 45 years ago. I was a male model and photographer. Theres a lot of good (money) and bad in this type of business. Check this out before you think abot doing it.
Some links to help.....
http://www.modelingshoot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=4CB76jLJ0Zw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ieXthGmPU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFsD7ddmU6Y&feature=fvwp&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=g-7hnA0d8jw
Tell you friend I hope this will help in some way. Good Luck
Oh I do a lot of this model for photos, the pictures below or samples.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Have you Googled it??? Here are two links that stand out. http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Model and http://www.howtobeamodel.org/