An actor friend of mine recently asked for advice on how to break into the modelling industry. After getting over myself, I gave him a brief explanation, as much as I could on messenger without it looking overwhelming.
Now I’ve had some time to think about it, I’ve got some more to say. The main question he asked was ‘how do you get the work?’
I think my answer to that disappointed him, I’ve built up a good reputations and mainly work on recommendations as well as being with a couple of agencies.
But before you even think of agencies you need a strong portfolio.
If you think about it in the same way as applying for a regular job, you need some basic knowledge and experience.
A portfolio is exactly that.
Showing that you know what you’re doing. You know what lighting works best for you, what angles are good, how to work with the camera.
Unfortunately in order to build up a portfolio it usually means doing a lot of shoots for free. It is known as TFP (time for print), neither you or the photographer or MUA is getting any money from this. It is purely for portfolio basis.
You will be doing these shoots for sometime until you have a decent sized portfolio. I still do them every so often just as a refresher.
The point of a portfolio is to show how good are you are at modelling. Make sure it shows your personality, how diverse you are. Unless you’re going into a specific area of modelling e.g fitness model, hair model you need to show that you’re a chameleon.
To organise and book these shoots there are quiet a few legitimate modelling casting websites. I won’t go into that now (that’ll be a whole separate blog) Besides what works for one person might not work for another, as long as you do your research you’ll know which is right for you.
You can also use the power of social media, mainly facebook. There are plenty of modelling groups on facebook that’ll be based in your area, your country, even some that post international shoots if you happen to be holidaying somewhere nice and sunny with good scenery why not take advantage
Once you have a portfolio in place be sure to have two copies. One that is an online copy on a website or facebook page with a wide range of pictures. The other should be a hard copy, a physical portfolio with a dozen of your best pictures that you can take to castings with you.
That’s all I’ve done. So good luck and I’ll see you out there! xxx
