Getting Started as a Model
A Modeling Guide for Kids and Adult Models
What is involved in Modeling? Modeling isn’t all glamorous as it is made out to be. It involves a commitment of the child and the parent. It means work for the model in addition to everything else that goes on in the child’s life such as school, homework, enrichment programs, family life, playtime, etc. The child needs a healthy work-life balance lifestyle. The child must have a life outside of modeling and acting. The parent must be available including at short notice to take the child to castings, auditions, and bookings; be prepared to travel back and forth, sometimes for miles or hours with no guarantee of paid work. It is quite exciting at the beginning. Parents who live 2-5 hours away from castings and auditions soon become disheartened after a year or so of numerous of trips and their child not booking any jobs. Most castings and auditions take place during the weekday - before, during, and after school hours. For the most part, the child will miss many hours off school - factor in travel, casting, audition, and booking time which can end up taking the best part of the day, if not, all day. One most important thing to consider that most parents do not consider from the onset is their finances - yes, it does cost money! You will incur expenses for marketing to get started as well as to keep up-to-date with photos, comp card, and a portfolio/book. Typical expenses incurred are traveling, parking, wardrobe, sometimes accommodation, and most importantly, time-lost income from your job.
What makes a successful child model? An outgoing personality, being comfortable with new people and in a new environment, ability to follow directions, great listening skills, and being well-behaved and that includes the parent or guardian being well-behaved too!
Is your child interested in becoming a model? As a parent, you should question your feelings and reasons for wanting your child to be a model. Validating your child’s beauty or having someone else validate your child’s beauty isn’t a valid reason. Love conquers all and having love and showing love for your child is all that the child needs especially in this industry. You do not want to be a pushy and over-bearing parent; a pushy parent will cause friction with the child-parent relationship and an over-bearing parent will in addition to causing friction with the child, will get on everyone’s nerves including the agency, client, and other parents resulting in them staying away from the parent and ultimately the child. Modeling can build tremendous confidence in the child and have a very positive outlook on how the child views work in the future. However, it can have a knock-on effect on a forced child leading to a negative outlook on work and resentment toward the parent.
Another harsh but true and sad reality in this industry is that over time the parent becomes very competitive, sometimes, obsessed - not the child, even though there is absolutely no need for the parent to be that way. Hence the reason the parent should question his/her feelings and reasons for wanting their child to be a model. An obsessed or competitive parent destroys otherwise great bonding relationships that the child forms with other children at castings, auditions, and on-set because of the parent’s insecurities. I have seen it all too often happen. In the end, the child loses out on what would otherwise be life-long healthy friendships. If the parent can simply understand that every child is different with their own unique set of talents, the parent would not need to compare their child to other children. When a child books a job over another child, parents begin to question why his/her child did not book the job and even go so far as to contact the agency to question the booker. The choice is that of the client and not the agency! There are a whole host of reasons why the client made such a decision. It is nothing personal to the child who did not book the job. Parents, allow your child to be a child, form healthy friendships, and enjoy the experience, have fun with it! Most importantly, be happy for other children’s successes, support, and lift each other!
Modeling can be fun and a great experience but only if the child is interested in pursuing it. It is best to have an open and honest conversation with the child about how modeling works and ask if it is something that he/she would like to pursue. With a young child, it is more difficult as they are unable to form an opinion. However, observe how the child responds to modeling over the course of time. Look for signs that will tell you whether modeling is or isn’t for the child e.g., happy, interacts well with others, sociable, outgoing, moody, acting out, always crying, etc.
Steps to Become a Model
You will need professional images to get you started and it starts with hiring a professional photographer and not just any professional photographer, but one that is experienced in shooting models and works in the modeling industry.
First off, check the photographer’s portfolio. Determine whether you like their style of photography and whether the photographer can shoot the type of roles that you are hoping to go after with their artistic direction.
Have photos taken in studio and outdoor settings. Studio images give a clean look and draw attention to the model. Outdoor images taken on location for lifestyle, draw less attention to the model and more attention to role play. Studio and outdoor images make your model book stand out.
Hiring a professional creative team that includes a hair and make-up artist, a hairstylist and a wardrobe stylist will complete your session looks with the photographer.
Preparation is key to a successful photo session! Do your research on modeling poses. Practice in front of a mirror by doing several poses and expressions with your head, arms, hands, legs, and feet. Practicing helps you to not feel awkward especially with limbs, shy, or intimated in front of the camera and the creative team. You want to be relaxed and to be you!
A wardrobe is an important step. Your clothes should reflect the type of modeling roles that you have determined as well as a few basic garments such as denim and a plain white or black shirt that reveals your body type.
Always be professional at your photo session and do not be afraid to ask your photographer questions. You should be able to listen to instructions and take directions very well. The photo session with your photographer is a practice run of what it will be like being on set as a booked talent. Some photographers will provide feedback to the agency if the model was sent by the agency – so be on your best behavior!
Be strategic when making your selection of images for your model book. Select the absolute best images from each look (change of wardrobe) including a variety of headshots – smiling and serious, half-body and full body shots, and in different orientations – portrait and landscape, mainly portrait.
With your best images selected, you will want to have a professional model book. Your model book is what you will use to show the agencies and the clients at a casting/audition.
You can purchase a black photo book with no spiral bindings or rings that you can insert your own printed images. This is the old-style way of doing it. Alternatively, you can have a portfolio book professionally printed with a selection of print layouts and a print size of 8 x 10, 9 x 12 or 11 x 14 inches with up to 40 images with 20 images being standard as clients may not have the time to look through 40 images.
In addition, have a comp card also known as a composite card, or Z card printed. A comp card is like a mini resume and includes a headshot at the front of the card and up to 9 images at the back showing variety, again using your best images to showcase your abilities; and your statistics. The model provides the client with a comp card at a casting/audition. A digital comp card is used as an attachment when submitting to an agency or for a freelance model job.
For a comprehensive guide on modeling and acting, see my ebook, The Ultimate Guide to Modeling and Acting.
Turner Talent
Turner Talent is a safe and informative place to start your modeling or acting career. Kelli and Erica are a mother-and-daughter team Turner Talent provides talent development and coaching services. You may schedule a consultation with Turner Talent.
Websites for Models
Whilst a print model book is for face to face meetings, nowadays requests are made online. You may want to consider an online modeling portfolio website, websites for models. An online modeling portfolio website allows you to market yourself and to be seen by agencies and potential clients.