How do you become a successful model?
In a society where beauty is highly valued, beautiful men and women, essentially obtain various other advantages that are key to fame and fortune. Modeling ranks high on that list. But it is one thing to be a model and totally another to be a successful one.
The modeling industry may seem dark and dingy to some. However, there are ones who stand resolute in their modeling pursuits just because they are ready for the battle of stark competition. Which is because they know where to go or what to do. Since smartly planned means almost done, here is an Eight-step guide to be the smart-beautiful duo required to be a successful model.
1) Do your research.
Know yourself, your body and the industry, essential it is to understand that the three form a complex web of interdependence.
Start from knowing what genre of the industry interests you, for example commercial, runway or fashion editorial. Be fully aware of your measurements and memorize them. You need to further research what is involved in the job as well as how you can optimise your marketability. To illustrate, someone who is not optimally tall will do good at commercial photo shoots rather than walking down the runway, since the photographer can play with angles to make the model look taller, someone who is good at acting is likely to fare better at commercial modelling, being on screens, in advertisements and someone who is better at dance and interpretative movement would likely be better at Runway modelling. An extremely photogenic woman would likely be best at editorial modelling.
It is always advisable to stick to one in order to build a consistent track record.
2) Be physically ready and healthy
After knowing the prospects of your genre, get into the required shape and health. Quit smoking, alcohol and everything that harms your body. There’s a myriad of beauty and health tips out there. No matter how cliché it sounds, the importance of healthy lifestyle needs emphasis in today’s world more than ever.
3) Invest in yourself
Get yourself certain outfits that enhance your features and your body. Let them be decent yet elegant and classy so that when you meet your agent or your photographer the focus lies more on you and not on your draperies.
Decent and fitting apparel like tank tops matched with leggings and jeggings in standard colours like Black, White, Grey for women and equally sober outfits for men will go perfect for the cause.
Hiring a professional photographer is the trend but one may really take the help of a friend/relative with a high-resolution camera and build an appropriate portfolio.
4) Meet the right kind of people
Meeting people that tell you, you have the potential and then using the potential to turn it into a model are two different things, like taking a diamond in the rough and polishing it until it is a gem. Don’t let anyone exploit your dreams, make sure you’re dealing with people who are actually legitimate and are not going to try sell you something that you don’t need. Do not randomly pick agents from yellow pages or enticing commercial advertisements. It is always advisable to go through paths attested by other friends, models or people having a firm foot in the profession. Getting into wrong hands is worse than getting nowhere.
5) Build a vast social network
Exhaust all resources and capitalise on big social network for instant popularity so that it becomes easy for agencies to hunt you. Get yourself a great pool of followers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and everywhere else possible where people already celebrate you as a beauty icon.
6) Know the contract before you sign
Understand the legalities of the contract you are signing up for. Know your rights and decline where you think you won’t be able to put up in future.
Discuss a great deal about the disclaimer and legal rights of your photographs because every photo you click is going to stay on the Internet and people are going to know you by your worst photos.
7) Build yourself a brand
After you have picked the initial flavour of the industry focus on building a brand of yourself by being selective about the projects you take. Consistency is your armour. Find your inspiration and practice the contents of your desired photoshoot. Patience is the key.
8) Stay yourself
It’s easy to lose yourself in the glamour industry..to get sloshed away with indulgence or worse, drown deep by criticism. Do not let yourself get affected by either of the two. Stay true to yourself. Don’t get disappointed by narrow circumstances. Be comfortable with who you are, your body. Let nothing pull you down. There will be days when you will feel like giving up or giving away but keep working, keep thriving.
You have freckles? Do not let that stop you.You have curves? Do not let that stop you. You have stretch marks? Do not let that stop you. Even your height! Don’t let that stop you. There is a place and space for everything in this wide-like-ocean industry.
And, although it may seem like modelling is simply posing and smiling, there is a lot of business involved when considering a modelling career. You have many decisions that you have to choose and applying these steps to your journey will make it worthwhile. Try them out and be the super model you wish to become just without the struggle.
Also read : July magazine of 2019
