Question Home

Position:Home>Visual Arts> I want to be a model but I don't know how to get started and I think I could


Question: I want to be a model but I don't know how to get started and I think I could be good at it!.!?
Alot of people always tell me I am very photogenic and I should be a model but I do not want to do runway because I am only 13 and not tall!. I am also kind of pale and have freckles could that mess me up!?

Here are some pictures!.!.
http://i352!.photobucket!.com/albums/r348/!.!.!.
http://i352!.photobucket!.com/albums/r348/!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
There is a lot of information you will need!. You are 13 so that's good you have a lot of time to grow and build your portfolio!. First off!.!.!. sense you are so young your parents will have to be okay with this!. No one will give you work unless your parents sign off on it and they will need to be available to go with you to any jobs, casting calls, go see's, or modeling calls from agencies!. It's best if you live around a big city but you can still get into a good agency through the internet!. All reputable agencies now allow models to submit photos on their websites!.

I would say the top agencies are (of course) FORD models, ELITE, DNA Models, Fusion Models, IMG Models, LA Models, and New York Model Management!. There are also a lot of Miami agencies as well!. This site has a good list of reputable agencies!.!.!.
http://models!.com/agencies/

Next thing, when you are sending pictures to an agency the best way to do this is with your own camera!. You DO NOT need professional pictures to get into an agency!. Nor do you need any experience!. If you have the right look you have it and that's that!. Actually, I know a lot of modeling agency scouts that will not call a model back if she sends him professional pictures!. The reason for this is because the images could have been retouched (and usually are)!. They want to see you as you are!. So what I would do is get in a bikini (I say this because they will want to see your body type), go outside on a nice sunny day in the afternoon (This is when the light is best), make sure your hair is pulled out of your face, and wear little to no makeup what so ever!. They prefer this because they want to see you as a clean slate because then they can determine what they can "make you into"!. I know, it sounds weird but they see you as a product and if they are supposed to "sell you" to a client for a project they need to know that your look is diverse enough that they can make you look like 20 different people!. Another reason for the no makeup is that a model has to have very good skin!. It costs thousands of dollars to retouch photos of someone with bad skin for an ad or cover!. Anyone can look good with lots of makeup but they want to know you look good without it that's what makes models and big name agencies special!. Same thing if you are going to a modeling agency "model call"!. This is where you stand in line with about 200 other potential models for hours so that you can meet personally with the agency!. You want to go in there wearing something that is classy yet professional with little to no makeup on!. You want to look "WOW" and stand out without looking like you are trying at all!.

Another thing is I don't know how tall you are but most agencies make their big bucks off of high fashion, editorial, print, and catalog work!. This is why most agencies have very strict guidelines for women!. Most agencies will not take anyone under 5'8" but they prefer 5'10" or taller!. You have to be able to fit into a size 2 - 4 dress also!. I know it's a big issue in this world today but a client usually uses sample sizes for runways and ads and therefor a model has to be able to fit into that sample!. You might be in luck though! Because a lot of agencies will take shorter girls if they are young enough and think that you will grow to be as tall as you need to be!. If you don't think that you will ever be 5'8" or taller you might still be in luck!. A lot of agencies have "children" and "petite" divisions! I don't know a ton about that end of the agency or division but I know if you research modeling agencies on that list I gave you, you can find the ones with petite divisions and "apply" in that area!.

Another thing is once you submit photographs to an agency, if you haven't heard back in 6 weeks that just means you weren't right for the agency at that time!. They're always looking for the next best things and if you want you can resend your photos to them 6 months later!. And just because you're not right for one agency doesn't mean you're not perfect for another!. Even Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum were turned down many times before they made it!. Actually, almost every paid model has been turned down for one reason or another at first!. You will also hear some very negative things but you can not take it to heart!. This business is tough and MEAN!. You might hear you aren't tall enough, skinny enough, unique enough!. I think Heidi Klum was told she was fat once! But you have to shake it off because it will happen but that's one persons opinion!. A running joke with some of the girls I worked with was, whenever someone would say something negative to use we would smile and say "Beauty is subjective!. Thank you for your time!." It always made us feel better!. Especially after 30 of those you get the one that says "your perfect for us"!.

You might also be able to find agencies in smaller cities if you live too far away from Chicago, LA, Miami, or NYC!. Usually every states capital has one or two good ones but on here's the most important piece of advice I can give you!.!.!. never ever pay an "agency" to be with them! People are duped out of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year by agency scams! This is usually what they do!.!.!. they post ad's in local newspapers, online, etc!.!.!. saying that they are looking for young beautiful girls to join their agency!. When you get there they usually have very professional looking offices in a nice building where they sit you down and go over the basics!. They may even go over their "client lists" and take a few of their own polaroids of you for their records!. When they tell you that they are interested in you they will start to mumble on about how they need you to do some test shots with their photographer to start your portfolio and start naming off packages!. They usually try to charge anywhere from $3000 for these photographs but I've even heard of ones asking for $8000! Here's the thing!.!.!. if an agency has enough work coming in they don't need your money to get you started!. If they need you to do test shots they will arrange for it and pay for everything!. Reputable agencies do this because they know that even if they put money into you, they are going to make more off of you than what they put in!. If you're having to pay for this what does it say for how much work they expect to be getting you!?! Sadly I know 2 girls that had this happen to them!. They got one "job" that just didn't seem right and after a few months of hearing nothing from their "representation" they called and the phone lines were disconnected and if they went to the business address they had up and disappeared! Not cool! I've heard of a few (very rare) instances where "modeling schools" have helped some women but for the money it's not worth it and I know MORE women who have payed thousands for these "schools" to teach them how to walk and pose who never got work than ones who did!. So "academy's" or "schools" aren't they way to go either!.

There are some good sites online for beginner models to use to meet photographers in their area and gain experience!. If you want to do this just to build experience it can be fun and free! A lot of photographers on these sites do what we call "TFP" (Time For Prints), or "TFCD" (Time For CD)!. This basically means that for your time, they will give you prints or a CD of your images for free to use as you like!. You will need to set up a page for yourself (for proper ways to introduce yourself check out other models pages to see what information they give)!. Usually you write a little about yourself, as you gain experience who you've worked with, things you are willing to do and more importantly are not willing to do, etc!.!.!. you'll also need mom or dad to be available to go to shoots with you every time! There are a lot of creeps out there posing as photographers so make sure they have a good portfolio and that you always have a "escort" with you while shooting!. I've found there are more of the creepers on onemodelplace then on modelmayhem!.

onemodelplace!.com
modelmayhem!.com

I know this is A LOT of information to process but there is so much more!.!.!. this is just the important stuff!. If you need anymore help I'm always up for helping! You can find me at www!.myspace!.com/tinkermells

Hope this helpedWww@QuestionHome@Com

go to a modeling place!. and from there u will do wonders

google modeling agencies and you shall find someWww@QuestionHome@Com