How to be a Successful Model If You are Not Six Feet Tall

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7 Attributes of a Successful Fashion Model

By Bob Pardue

Have you ever looked at a successful model and said, "I am just as beautiful as this girl so I think I'll become a supermodel."

I would like to clarify one thing and please listen carefully ...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A NATURAL-BORN MODEL!!!

Yes, some people have a natural beauty and some learn more quickly than others. I'll agree that these attributes are important. But, I'll say it again - There is no such thing as a natural-born model.

If you believe this, let me ask you a question. Do you believe there is such a thing as a natural-born surgeon? Do you think that the most famous surgeon in the medical profession was born to be a doctor? I guess when he was delivered the doctor who brought him into this world said, "Look!!! It's a surgeon!!" I don't think so.

For this man to become this famous surgeon, it took many years of education, internship, and watching other doctors before he was even considered to do actual surgery. I'm really glad he did, aren't you?

And, even after all these grueling years this doctor still was not guaranteed to become well-known in the medical industry.

The point I'm trying to make is that, modeling can be a rewarding profession but it does require some effort on your part.

The following are some of the attributes of successful models ..

Learning ability and intelligence
Self confidence
Willingness to travel and leave friends and family behind
Good organization skills
A healthy body and lots of get-up-and-go!
A model who is comfortable in setting goals and not afraid to go after them with a dogged determination
Resistance to peer pressure - Stay drug and alcohol free
Don't just read these attributes. Study them, learn them, and make them a part of your own personality traits. If you don't have them at first, pretend that you do.

Remember, you will become what you think and the way that you act. You're not lying when you say, "I am in the process of writing down my goals for modeling and on my way to becoming successful." You're just telling the truth in advance!!

Bob Pardue is a professional model photographer located in the Southeastern US. His work has been published worldwide. Bob Pardue Photography

Becoming a model

By Ryan Fyfe

Every day I receive requests on how to becoming a model. Things like how to get started, finding and contacting a modeling agency, and getting a first photo shoot.

How to get started:
Before you get started doing anything, you should ask yourself these questions as they will help guide you for the rest of the process.

What do I want to get out of modeling?

What am I willing to put into becoming a model

What kind of model do I want to be? Fashion, Runway, swimsuit, sport,etc.

How flexible am I for traveling and for time

Once you evaluate these questions, There is two ways you can go. One is to contact a modeling agency which I will explain below. The other method is to act like your own agency and create your own portfolio. This is easily done over the internet, now with several places in which you can post pictures, and information on yourself to attract talent scouts.

If you choose to go the traditional route and to work with a modeling agency, It can be hard at times to know first of all how to find a good one, and what to look for in a modeling agency. You can easily look up and find agencies in phone books or online,etc. Before you do any of that, I would recommend contacting anyone you know, that is a model, and finding out about some of the experiences that they have had with modeling and general, and also specifically with different agencies in your area. Once you have a general idea of what the scene looks like, contact some of the agencies and set up an appointment to meet with them. Meeting with the agency can be the hardest and most nerve wrecking part of the whole experience. Be firm, and don’t allow the agency to take advantage of you!

Things to ask and look for are:

What have they done for other models?

What can they do for you?

Can they meet your needs as an invividual and as a model?

Does the agency have similar goals for you as the ones you have for yourself?

The final question “How to get a first photo shoot” depends on which route you take. If you go with an agency you will have to arrange with them, to have a photo shoot taken, and to start building your portfolio. If you decide to go on your own, you will have to build your own portfolio. Either by using photos that you already have, or by contacting a photographer to have a photo shoot done. I would recommend that hiring a photographer is the route to go, as it looks more professional, and the quality is much greater than simple family and friends photo’s,etc.

The Hidden Secrets of a Fashion Stylist

By Heidi Loney

So, you think that all of those girls you see on the cover of your favourite magazine and on TV really look that way? They don't come into the photo shoot like that. Just watch an episode of America's Next Top Model and you will see what I mean. It's what happens behind the scenes that is the real magic.

Recently, I worked on a television game show (sorry, I can't tell you the name) that featured beautiful models dressed in sexy outfits. They wanted the girls to be leggy and showing a lot of cleavage. Models are not typically busty, so we had to make them that way. The big secret here is a plunging push up bra and silcone gel inserts. Sometimes, we would even add extra padding into the bra to get the right shape. Panty lines are a no no in this industry, so we used a seamless thongs made from the thinnest microfibre fabric. To prevent the models from "falling out" of their cleavage bearing outfits, we placed two-way tape on the inside of their dresses and stuck it to their skin. Sometimes, we even sewed a few tacks through their outfit and bra so that it wouldn't shift. During long days of shooting, we would make adjustments or replace the tape as needed.

On another photo shoot for a hair salon, the models had to look like Bond Girls. For a braless look that still looks perky, I placed peel and stick advesive bras on the models and ran duct tape from underarm to underarm below their breasts to lift them up. The advesive bra prevents the duct tape from being stuck directly to skin. To add additional cleavage, I placed a cut off knee high filled with rice and knotted just under the breast and taped them right to the advesive bras. The final touch was rubbing baby oil onto their legs and arms to give it that sexy touch.

You can achieve the look they have too with a little help. Here are a few hints that you can use:

• Use toupee tape from wig shops or other double sided fashion tape that can be purchase in lingerie stores to keep dresses and plunging tops in place (think J-Lo)

• Apply bronzer and then coco butter to legs and arms to give your legs that sun-kissed glow without needing panty hose

• Use foundation garments such as slimmers or Spanx to smooth out bulges and tummies under pants and skirts or wear seamless panties, boy shorts or thongs.

• Get fitted for a bra to make sure you are wearing the correct cup and back size. A well fitting bra will make you look thinner. If you are pillowing, at the sides and top, then the cup is too small.

• To create the illusion of fuller breast, wear a padded push up bra, or add gel or fabric bra inserts just under the breasts. Or use the knee high filled with rice. It's cheap and really works.

• Add contour makeup to your cleavage to accentuate the look and highlight shadow to the breasts. Not too much as it will look fake.

Now all you need is to get a fabulous outfit, and you will be camera ready for the paparrazi.

Are You Physically Fit to Become a Top Fashion Model?

By Bob Pardue

Welcome to your first lesson about modeling. Some of these things may seem silly and irrelevent but believe me, you NEED TO KNOW THIS!

Although I am the first to admit that there are exceptions to every rule, below you'll find some of the attributes you need to have (or can learn) to become a model.

As in any industry, there is usually a fine line between success and failure in modeling.

To have a chance of becoming a successful model, you first need to think and act like a professional and successful person.

An example: When a weekend golfer comes to a large area of water and has to hit over it, many times the thought pops into his head, "I sure hope I don't hit it in the water!". As soon as he says it, the mental picture raises its ugly head visualizing his hitting the ball right in the middle of the pond.

You know what happens next?

You're absolutely right! He hits the ball in the water!

On the other hand, a professional golfer comes to the same body of water and she visualizes the ball floating effortlessly to the other side (or on the green). Does this make sense to you?

Once you begin to see yourself as a successful model you'll start doing the things to make it happen. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Well, it does require work but so does working a 9-5 job.

So, now that you're visualizing yourself as a successful model, let's get to some basics you must know ...

The Physical Requirements of Modeling

If you plan to model, especially as a high fashion or runway model, you need the following physical attributes ...

a) You need to be at least 5'8" tall or taller
b) Your body weight and proportions need to flatter your height
c) You need to have a good skin complexion without lots of pimples or blemishes
d) Your hair should be in good shape (no excessive split-ends or over-dying damage)
e) Your teeth should be well taken care of, straight and white (a dynamite smile)
Look closely in the mirror and be honest with yourself. We all have limitations. Some of these things listed above you can work to improve and some (like height) you were born with.

Even if you don't have all these model attributes, don't give up hope. There are other opportunities in modeling not mentioned in this article.

Bob Pardue is a professional stock and female photographer located in the Southeastern USA. Get a freemodeling mini-course by subscribing today

How To Become A Fashion Model

By Niko Prehn

Whether you want to become a male model, a teen model or if you want to know how to become a plus size model, you need to know the following. Above all you need to be tough. To not take the rejection badly and come to accept it in any other way than personally.

Where to get started
The best way to get started is to go and see the best modeling agencies you can. In the UK they are represented by the AMA (Association of Model Agents) and there are similar associations in almost all countries. These will be the busiest agencies with the most work. Most see aspiring models between 10-12 Mon - Fri.

What to wear & what pictures to take
You must wear little or no makeup, clothes that show your body shape and take along snapshots of yourself. You do not need to take professional pictures, holiday snaps will do as they know what they are looking for. These agencies get bombarded everyday so don't expect an overly welcome reaction. Remember, they already have probably hundreds of models so they are not desperate to attract more. However, if you are suitable then this is the right way to get noticed. Alternatively you could send in photos and some respond to emails, but I would recommend just going in if you want to get some more honest feedback on your photos and on how to become a model generally.

Scam artists
There are soooooooo many modeling scams that it is impossible to list them all. They just go on forever and some people are just so tricky that they constantly come up with new ways of getting girls to part with their (or their parents) hard earned cash. It is sometimes difficult to accept what lengths some people will go to take advantage of some people wide eyed innocence and dreams. My advice is to take along a friend or parent whenever you meet a photographer or when you go and see agents. Having an outsider's view will help because you will probably throw most of your caution in the wind, in the excitement of the moment.

So You Want To Be A Fashion Model?

By Jon Arnold

Have you ever thought about becoming a fashion model? Do you think you have what it takes for that kind of job? The typical fashion model travels to exotic places, models the latest clothes, fashions, and accessories from top designers, and can even be featured in various magazines, which of course can also then lead to being pursued by manufacturers for you to do product endorsements.

But that is typically not where a fashion model STARTS. Like anything else, a fashion model or teen model usually starts significantly lower on the totem pole while they are gaining visibility with potential clients and top modeling agencies around the world. But if you are willing to “pay your dues”, the rewards can be fabulous from many perspectives, including travel, mingling with celebrities, attending exclusive events, and of course from a financial perspective. Top models can earn upwards of thousands of dollars per day.

Fashion modeling is no longer limited to just the “perfect” people anymore with the great looks, superb hair, and a Barbie-doll figure. Particularly in recent years, the fashion designers have started to realize that by only targeting the “perfect” people, they were ignoring a large portion, indeed a MAJORITY, of the audiences they could potentially target to sell their merchandise, accessories, and fashions.

That being the case, there is also a market for fashion models that almost spans the entire range of types of people; i.e., the petite, the “plus size”, the teen, the “mature”, and yes even the retiree crowd. Think about it, all those types of people have money also, and are willing to spend it if they are aware of the possibilities and availability of their products. And selling their creations and fashions is what they are in business for! To become a successful fashion model today, you no longer need to be limited to the group that is about 5 foot 8 inches tall at 120 pounds with perfect bouncy hair and about 22 years old.

There are many types of modeling jobs available, and virtually any of them would be a good start for someone with the motivation and desire to get into some of the top spots and top agencies. There is catalog modeling, runway modeling, showroom modeling, promotional or trade show modeling, television modeling, as well as print modeling like in newspapers or magazines.

Make no mistake about it, it is a tough market and there will likely be some long hours involved. But for those with the motivation and desire to succeed in this very competitive industry, the rewards can far outweigh the negatives.

Fashion Models - Start Your Engines

By Bob Pardue

How to Promote Yourself as a Freelance Model

If you would rather promote yourself ...

Some models would rather promote themselves instead of listing through an agency. Nothing wrong with this but it does require more work on your part.

If you are signed with an agency, they promote the business, they talk to the clients in your behalf, they set up the shooting dates, they take the heat if you don't make it to the session, etc.

But, there are many models who are "loners" in the pool of modeling and want complete control over who they work with and why.

If you are one of these models, read on ...

There are several ways to promote yourself. I will try to mention some ways for you to promote your modeling talent and a step by step format to follow.

First things first ..

In self promotion, the first step to take is putting together a professional portfolio.

Once you've followed the portfolio guidelines from above, it's a good idea to have comp cards and business cards made.

A) Business Cards - Your business card should have as much information on it as possible. It's not expensive to have extra words listed and this way you can include things other than the name and phone number.

For best results and at just a little extra cost, I would suggest putting your photo (preferably a headshot) on the card. People don't tend to throw away photos as quickly as they do just cards. Below the photo (or on your card if you choose not to include the photo) you should list ..

Your name, contact phone number, email and don't forget to put your web address on the card You may want to also include in bulleted form your attributes (i.e. height and weight), special skills and the type of modeling you specialize in (your modeling strength area)

B) Composite Cards - You'll definitely want to get composite cards (comp cards) made to hand out to possible clients / agents and to leave with clients or photographers you work with. A comp card is one of the least expensive pieces of printed promotional material but packs a big punch in saying, "I'm a professional model".

Here is a basic layout of a comp card ..

Front - Photo covering the front of the card (I suggest a good, strong headshot here) along with your name in bold letters.

Back - From four to six photos showing different looks (indoor and outdoor) in a variety of outfits with at least one good body shot (swimwear or tight-fitting clothing).

The back of the card will list important information about you and your stats including ...

Contact information (Who to contact, phone, email, web address, etc.)
Height
Weight
Bust size / cup size
Waist size
Hip size
Dress size
Shoe size
Hair color
Hair length (short, shoulder length, long)
Eye color
Type(s) of modeling jobs preferred (i.e. commercial, fashion shows, catalog, promotional, etc.)
No need to feel overwhelmed with the details of getting your comp card ready. There are many companies online such as CompCard.Com who have versions and templates online which will help you every step of the way.

Remember too that there are many different versions of comp cards so it's all a matter of personal preference as to which style you choose.

C) Modeling Websites - When it comes to websites, I could probably write complete chapters on the subject but I will try as best I can to simplify this part.

Your website - Paid or Free?

Should you pay to have your own website created or go with one of the free web listing services online? Your choice in the type of web promotion you do depends upon your level of experience and the amount of budget you have to work with.

If you are, in actuallity, an eccentric millionaire and are just pursuing modeling out of boredom, by all means hire a professional web designer and start from scratch to build a website that other models will be in awe of! But, even if you go this route, there's the promotional costs and time to think about; time that could be better used to improve your modeling abilities and make contacts with clients who need you for their photo projects.

I personally feel that it's better to start but using a few of the online services (paid and free) to get your name out there. You can do a search and find many listing places but two sites that seem to have lots of buzz at the time of this writing are ..

One Model Place & Model Mayhem

Both of these sites offer a basic free package or a paid premium package. Either way, this is a less expensive way to get your feet wet and find out if you've got a look which is in demand.

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A word of warning about putting your model photos online

Remember to stay safe when placing your photos online. Don't provide too much personal information about yourself or location untill you've thoroughly checked out the person who is contacting you.

If you are under 18 years of age, put your parents' email address in the contact section and have them deal with any incoming offers.

Never, Never meet a photographer or potential client alone. Take a parent or friend (preferably male) with you untill you are completely satisfied that you're in a safe environment. I cannot stress this enough!!

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There are other ways to promote yourself on or off the Internet such as contacting local upscale clothing or department stores for fashion shows or catalog work, jewelry stores if you offer hand modeling, hair salons, etc.

This is your starting point in becoming a real model. See if you can come up with more creative ways to promote yourself as a professional model.

Remember, you can have the most awsome beauty & talent in the world but if nobody knows where to find you ... It'll all be in vain! So, get off your backside and go to work!!

Bob Pardue is a professional fashion model & teen lifestyle stock photographer. His work has been published worldwide