Mistakes New Models Make & What To Do Instead
Modeling is much harder than it looks, and one of the biggest mistakes new models tend to make is showing up underprepared. This could mean staying out late and not getting enough sleep prior to a shoot, not practicing signature poses, and not believing that the gig is going to be wearing in any way. Yet, photo shoots can be lengthy and intense, complete with many makeup and hair changes, as well as outfit and scenery changes. A model must show up healthy, alert, and ready to work.
Another huge mistake many models make when they’re first starting out is forgetting their portfolio at home. This means the client or agency you’re showing up for won’t get a chance to review all of your work or hang on to material that will help you get booked in the future. This ties into a third common mistake – showing up without doing any research.
If you don’t bother to research the agency or client, you won’t have a solid understanding of what’s to be expected of you or what they’re looking for in a model, in general. You’ll likely have no idea what to do when you’re put in front of the camera. Being underprepared looks very unprofessional. It will come across a lack of motivation to succeed in a highly competitive field.
One thing you can do to properly prepare is to browse fashion magazines. This is the easiest and most inexpensive way to learn the modeling business from the comfort of your own home. Flip through some of the top magazines, such as Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan, read the relevant articles and study the photos. Take a close look at how the models are positioned, and how they move in a spread that spans several pages. Different positions are meant to evoke different emotions from the magazine’s readers.
Learn about the industry insiders that appear in the pages, taking note of designers, photographers, and makeup artists. Note the models’ names as well. If you have one or two that you particularly admire, you may want to focus on how they are posing and research their careers paths as a follow-up exercise. This will give you some insight into how best to get your start and how to work your talent and connections to get your career off the ground.
Modeling really is tough work, and you have to be motivated to put in the work to get noticed. So, take care of yourself before you head to a shoot and make sure you know a thing or two about what you’re getting yourself into ahead of time.
