How to join a modelling agency by Neon Models

Modelling agencies get hundreds of applications from aspiring models, so how can you make sure you give yourself the best chance of being noticed and signed?

Use decent quality photos to apply

All genuine modelling agencies will ask you to send a snapshot that they can assess to see if they want to meet you for an interview to see if they’d like to sign you to their books. While you don’t have to spend a fortune on these pictures, if you send in something in bad light taken on your mobile phone, they’re likely to throw them out without looking properly. So, try to get access to a decent camera (and someone who knows how to use it), and make sure the pictures are taken in good light (preferably natural light) and show you clearly and looking relaxed.

Read the guidelines

You might be surprised how many people don’t read the modelling agencies’ guidelines. This is just a silly mistake that can be easily avoided, and if you’re careful to make sure you follow their guidelines you can save yourself a lot of wasted effort and rejection. Most modelling agencies will specify if they work with males and females and what ages. Also, if they have minimum requirements such as height. Ignore their guidelines at your peril!

Choose your agency carefully

These days there are many different types of modelling and many different types of modelling agencies to meet all those requirements. The largest agencies will cater for everything from fashion shows to catalogues to TV commercials on an international basis, but smaller agencies will specialise and may be a better bet, especially if you don’t have classic model looks, aren’t so tall or are looking for alternative or body part modelling.

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Modelling Personality

Being a successful model is as much about personality as looks. You need to meet both the mental and physical requirements if you’re going to make it in this highly competitive business. So what do we mean when we talk about ‘modelling personality’? Well, it’s about having a professional attitude, being flexible and resilient.

Having a professional attitude

Modelling is a job, and you can’t lark around in a job, because someone is paying for your time, experience and skills. They expect to get their money’s worth. With modelling that means turning up on time, and being responsive to the needs to the photographer. It means arriving prepared and in the right ‘format’ with our without makeup and outfits as briefed, not dragging your heels and responding helpfully. Models who go that extra to give their clients what they need are that much more likely to get called back for repeat jobs.

Being flexible

The fashion industry moves fast and the people that work in it have to move fast as well. Castings may come up and be filled and booked within a few hours, so models that answer their phone on the first ring, drop everything and turn up within half an hour are more likely to get more modelling jobs than those who don’t get round to answering their phone until its too late. Also requirements may change at the last minite and model may be required to wear their own accessories or do their own make-up if supporting staff or items aren’t available.

Staying resilient

It’s a tough business. Fashion has a glamorous image and lots of people want to be a part of it. That means that rejection is an unfortunate but common part of being a model. Almost all models will get rejected at first, from agencies or directly from clients if they’re going freelance. And even if you do start to get paid work, there are always far more models invited to castings than are needed for jobs, so being selected for all of them is essentially an impossibility.

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Modelling Castings, Go Sees and Callbacks

If modelling agencies had it their way, they would simply recommend a model to a client and the contract would be signed. However, it’s rarely as simple as that, as clients want to see a range of models in the flesh and do test shoots to see how they come across in relation to whatever it is they’re trying to sell before making a decision.

Castings or Go Sees

There are many more models invited to every casting than there are jobs available, so it makes sense that most models go to far more castings than they actually get jobs. Castings can take place at very short notice, and professional models need to be able to drop everything and travel to the location as the job might be decided within hours.

Making a success of a casting

Some people may not take castings seriously as they are not the actual final job, but this is a critical error. If you don’t give it your all at the casting, then you’ll never win the final job, and your modelling career will never get off the ground. So it’s vital to arrive at castings on time or slightly early, smiling and being friendly. Clients are more likely to hire someone who makes them smile and is easy to work with and has a professional attitude, than someone who turns up late and spends the whole time grumbling.

Callbacks and shortlists

If you get called back after a casting, then you should definitely be happy, but it’s not time to celebrate until the actual job itself is secured. There can be several callbacks as the shortlist is whittled down, and each time it becomes even more important to behave professionally and be personable and cheerful. Models are sometimes also put on ‘hold’ meaning they should keep the time of the shoot free in case that are requested. If the model then receives another offer of work or a casting, they should check with the client first to see if they can be ‘released’.

Once the client has made a decision the model will be ‘booked’ and at this point the job is secure. It means that the model is guaranteed the work, and even if the shoot is cancelled for one reason or another – the model will receive some cancellation fees.

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Neon Models Advice for Male Models

In modern society, men are becoming more fashion conscious and more occupied with how they look, including grooming, clothing and accessories. This translates into more work for male models.

If you want to be a male model you should start out by taking some test shots to see how you come across photographically, and also to find out if you enjoy the experience. Some people clam or tense up when a camera is pointed at them, and you need to be able to look relaxed and calm even when a whole modelling shoot team is focussed on you.

As you would expect, male models are generally expected to be muscular, fit and toned. However, they should not be overly muscley, as the body builder’s physique has relatively limited appeal. The exception is male sports models, who tend to have very well defines bodies. As fashions change, there is more call for more slender males and even those with an androgynous look.

Male models need to have the right combination of body shape, stamina, resilience and the right attitude. Male models are usually aged between 18- 25, although there is call for younger and more mature models for certain products.

As with any modelling, if you want to make it as a male model, location is really important. You need to be where the studios, agencies and clients are and you need to be available to turn up to casting at short notice. In practise this means being based in London, preferably, but if that’s not possible, then being near any major city centre is a must.

Freelance modelling is becoming a more popular option, which means you can cut out the agency fees and keep more of your hard earned cash for yourself. However, freelance modelling does involve a lot more legwork and running the business side of being self-employed.

Most modelling agencies work with both male and female models, though generally they will have fewer male than female models on their books.

Modelling jobs are waiting for you!

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