With the flashing lights, hefty paychecks, chic clothes, and glamorous parties, modeling is a career that many people dream of having. But because of these enticements, the competition is as intense as ever.
This means that a lot of modeling career tips are being thrown around for individuals on the lookout for a chance to break into the modeling scene. However, there’s some career advice that remain insightful no matter what your ideal runway looks like.
Here are three modeling career tips which also happen to be relevant regardless of your industry.
1. Envision yourself as the model you want to be.
“Model” is an all-encompassing term that is defined as “a person with a role either to promote, display or advertise commercial products, or to serve as a visual aide for people who are creating works of art or to pose for photography.”
However, there aremany different categories of models. There are runway models, plus size models, hand or foot models, swimsuit models, print and editorial models, promotional models, and trade show models, to name a few.
Therefore, before you, a budding model, decide to dive head-first into the professional modeling world, you need to spend some time deciding what kind of model you want to be. This is the only way for you to ensure you are pursuing the right types of jobs and opportunities.
This logic extends to all workers in all industries. Before sending out another cover letter, take some time to sit and contemplate upon your skills. What physical assets (as a model) make you stand out? What is it about you that will make you valuable to a company? Why are you the perfect fit for specific projects?
Remember, too, to avoid applying for every modeling posting that you see. If you make it to the interview round for a modeling stint, they are going to ask you similar questions, so it will help to have previously thought about them.
2. Seek to learn from the best.
Once you are certain that modeling is something you want to pursue, you must continually seek to learn from the best. Whether it is studying different supermodels’ signature walks and poses, print models’ facial expressions, or hand models’ hand placement, it is essential to pay attention to what those who have found success are doing.
This is true regardless of your industry. No matter what step on the ladder to success you are on, you must continually seek to learn from the best.Study your chosen nicheand remind yourself there are always areas for you to improve and people from whom you can learn from.
Never assume that you know it all, ever. Instead, stay humble, and always study and learn from the masters.
3. Never stop networking.
Signing with a modeling agency is the goal of many aspiring models and is something that needs to be pursued if you are serious about your modeling career. However, it can take a while for an agency to pick a budding model up. So in the meantime, you must continue to network as much as possible for exposure and for the experience.
Even if you have a good position in a stable modeling agency, you should always be networking. You never know, there may be better opportunities out there for you. It never hurts to be open to other possibilities.
This is a career tip that remains valuable and beneficial whatever modeling niche you intend to be in, or what level in your modeling career you eventually reach. It works the same way as well for professionals forging a career in other fields.
Just like in other fields, you also cannot predict what the effects of management changes in the future may be, or what your work scenario will be if, by chance, your company has to downsize or ultimately close its doors. For these reasons, always strive to build relationships and network as doing so will benefit you in the long run.
Whether you are going down the modeling path or are on some other career path, to progress in your career, you are going to have to repeatedly be honest and realistic with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses. This step can be the hardest part to do alone, so ask close friends and family for their honest opinions and be open to feedback from those within your inner circle.
AUTHOR BIO:
Jessicka Bell co-founded the AgenC, one of the leading model/talent agencies in the Middle East, in 2014. After just three years in the market, the AgenC now works with most (if not all) of the heavy hitters in media and fashion, as well as represents over 1,000 talents ranging from international models through to cast, kids, creatives and photographers.
